TOURISM INDIA AUGUST 2015 by TOURISM INDIA

ISSN 2249-4-2461

August 2015 Vol. 16 No. 04 Price: India ` 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

eT Visa for 113 Countries @ 16 Airports

Crisis Time Again; Work Meticulously for Better Future The two recent ongoing global crises; Greece debt woes and the China’s market meltdown are expected to create an adverse impact on inbound tourism into India this season, according to hoteliers and travel companies. Indian stock market crashed in to a seven year low, after China’s economic uncertainties and the losing value of Indian Rupee against US Dollar. On the contrary, India has witnessed capital inflows and analysts are expecting a rise in inflows in the wake of the Chinese market crash as they are not ruling out a significant hike in fund allocation to emerging markets like India. Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan had recently said, “India will face only a limited impact from the global woes and also indicated that the country’s macro policies were good and we had enough buffers, including foreign exchange reserves to protect against any possible eventuality”. “I would say economy is picking up. We see some signs of capital investment picking up. There is a continuing needs, which the government is trying to address, of putting some of the stalled projects back on track,” said Rajan. According to an industry expert, in situations like economic crisis, business travel gets affected first. There is not expected to be much slowdown in leisure travel, but business travel is likely to come down. India Tourism industry has badly affected the 2008 global crisis and 2011 aftermath. But last two years the steady growth in our economy and global perspective about India after Narendra Modi taken over as Prime minister of India may help our sector to withstand the current crisis. Our domestic sector is growing day by day and two and three tier cities are showing positive trends in intra travel. Many domestic operators are optimistic in our domestic traffic even if we face another global economy crisis. Tourism and hospitality Industry associations and leaders must start to work out various strategies along with Tourism ministry officials to counter the crisis, when it arises at anytime. Everybody in the industry is actively involved in marketing strategies during this off season period and industry associations are discussing the future threats and prospects through their annual conventions, hope coming days will be very crucial to India Tourism to cruise better waters. Ravisankar K.V. Editor

August 2015 Vol No. 16 No 04

Managing Editor Ravisankar K.V. Executive Editor Rajani A. Sub Editor Anand V. Art Editor N. Bhattathiri Layout Artist Jessy George Co-ordinator-Circulation Divya N.S Legal Advisor Adv. C.P Udhayabhanu Financial Advisor Bhadrakumar FCA

Thomas Cook India acquires Kuoni India & Hong Kong for Rs. 535 Crore

Corporate Advisor Krishna prasad

E T Visa for 113 Countries @ 16 Airports Business Offices: UK-England: T. Haridas, 86 Tooting High St. London SW 17 ORN. Mob: +7775833754 Germany-Berlin: Thomas Kannankeril, Reiseburo Skyreisen, Potsdamer Str. 189,10783 Berlin, Tel:+49 30/82309240. Fax:+49 30/82309241 Middle East Asia: P.M. Abdul Salam PB No. 14775, Dubai, UAE. Tel: +971 50 6747686 New Delhi: D. Anil Kumar Tel: +91 011-24634248, Mobile: +91 98681 23311 Mumbai: K.V. Sathyanath, Sanjith Tel : +91 22 29209285 Kolkata: Jayasree Singh Tel: +91 33-24187750, Mob: 9433060333 Hyderabad: Premraj A. Mobile: +91 9446514732 Bangalore: Damodaran. K. Nair Mobile: +91- 9035616040 Pondicherry : K. Ramasubrahmaniam Mob: +91 9894977161

Editorial & Corporate Office: Tourism India Magazine, SRL C-36, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam (P.O.), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 695 010. Tel: +91 471 2315256 Fax: +91 471 2315197 Email: info@tourismindiaonline.com Editorial : editor@ tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 98470 60531 Marketing : email: marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob : +91 9947260531 Circulation : circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 99471 60531 Internet edition: www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital edition: www.issuu.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Tourism India Magazine All rights reserved. Copyright ÂŠ 2014 Edited, Printed and Published by K.V. Ravisankarfor TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD., SRL C-36, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam (P.O.), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 695 010. at Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram - 695 010.

New Eco-Tourism Initiatives

August 2015 Vol. 16 No. 04 Price: India ` 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

eT Visa for 113 Countries @ 16 Airports

Photo Courtesy

Ministry of Tourism Govt. of India

The 5 Amazing Theme Parks in California

Dunedin, the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand

Monaco Yacht Show

Explore South Coast Jamaica

60 Fam Tour - West Bengal 11

ndia’s leading foreign exchange and travel service provider Thomas Cook India, has acquired its rival Kuoni’s travel business in India and Hong Kong for `535 crore. According to media statement, Kuoni Group has signed an agreement with Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd through its travel provider Thomas Cook India to sell Kuoni’s Indian travel activities, which form a legal entity with outbound tour operating, business travel unit, travel agencies, and Destination Management business. Mr. Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax Holdings said, “Acquisition of Kuoni’s tour operating and retailing businesses in India & Hong Kong as well as the Indian Inbound business reaffirms our belief in the India market potential, as also our strategic intent to explore viable geographies, including the larger Asia opportunity.” 12

Mr. Peter Meier, CEO of Kuoni Group said: “With the sale of the tour operating activities in India and Hong Kong, we have completed the sale of the outbound business as announced in January. I’m very pleased that we found forward-looking solutions for the units in India and Hong Kong. Mr. Rajeev Wagle, Managing Director of Kuoni India said, “While we will continue to operate as two separate companies & brands - a partnership like this - where each partner brings complementary strengths and capabilities to the table, has the potential to create a far more capable, more innovative, more efficient and most importantly - an organisation that can add more value to travellers in the markets we serve.

Mr. Dipak Deva, CEO of Destination ManagementIndia & South Asia of SITA said, Fairfax/Thomas Cook India are taking on all of our 460 employees in Destination Management (Sita and Distant Frontiers) at the existing locations in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and will continue to run the business activities. Our Destination Management brands Sita and Distant Frontiers will continue to operate as independent companies like in the past and with the current management. He also add: “ I am very excited about the journey that we are embarking upon today and the long- term growth opportunity that this new partnership with

Thomas Cook India brings with it. I expect that the significant strength, reach, scale, expertise and passion of our respective brands, networks and people will help us deliver a superior experience for our customers. Thomas Cook India has footprint over 232 locations in 95 cities across India, Mauritius & Sri Lanka. It will take all 1,800 employee of Kuoni’s Travel business unit and will continue to run the business activities as an “independent entity”. Thomas Cook India is a listed company at the National Stock Exchange of India and is majorityowned by Canadian group Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, a Toronto based financial services holding company, backed by owned by billionaire investor Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial Holdings, with a portfolio of assets in excess of 38 billion Canadian Dollars invested worldwide. Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd through Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. owns 73.96% on a fully diluted basis of the Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited), a provider of specialised Human Resource related Services and 55.01% of Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Ltd, engaged in time share and resort business and holiday activities.

overnment of India had launched e Tourist Visa on 27 November 2014. So far the scheme has been extended to passport holders of 77 countries for entry at nine Indian Airports designated for providing eTourist visa service. Now this facility is being extended to passport holders of 36 more countries/territories from 15 August 2015. The new countries being added to this scheme are: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Belgium, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, East Timor, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, Malaysia, Mongolia,Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles,Slovenia and Spain, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turks & Caicos Island, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela. With this addition the total count of countries under the scheme will go up to 113. Simultaneously, we are

going to add 7 more designated airports for entry on e-Tourist Visa from 15 August2015. New Airports being included in the scheme are: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy and Varanasi. With this total number of designated airports will go up to 16. Since the launch of the scheme more than 200000 e-Tourist Visas have been issued till now. It is expected that this substantial addition of countries and airports will give a big boost to the tourism industry in the country. 13

ir France India announced launch of special economy fares to New York at unbelievable prices. Flyers can now explore the cosmopolitan city of New York famous for its art, fashion and skylines with this ‘must grab’ offer. The special fares are available at an unbelievable price starting at INR 52,000 all-inclusive in Economy for bookings made on or before August 31, 2015. This offer is valid for tickets issued in

India for passengers travelling to or from Mumbai between September 10, 2015 and December 15, 2015 and valid only on Air France code share flights to/from BOM (AF5109 and AF5108) To avail this offer, customers can choose to book tickets online at www.airfrance.in, contact the Air France Sales & Service Centre at 1800 1800 033 or contact the travel agent. Conditions apply.

So whether it’s about experiencing an entertaining vacation with your family OR about walking down the famous streets of the city that never sleeps, Air France can be your best bet for your dream to come true. Air France operates 27 weekly flights from India: Daily from Delhi Double daily from Mumbai (including code share) Six times a week from Bangalore.

A Perfect Portrait of God’s Own Country

KERALA TOURISM MAGAZNE www.keralatourismmagazine.com

A mirror to Kerala’s Business, Industry & Development

BRAND KERALA MAGAZINE www.brandkerala.biz

inistry of Tourism has launched the ‘Campaign Clean India’ to sensitize all sections of society on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in public places particularly monuments and tourist destinations. This Campaign is to be sustained through adoption and involvement of private and public sector stakeholders as part of their Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR). It is a voluntary scheme and no funds have been allocated by the Government for this campaign. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has adopted Qutab Minar in Delhi and an MOU has been signed between Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the Ministry of Tourism for undertaking vari-

ous works at Taj Mahal, Agra under this campaign. Further, Ministry of Tourism has started two new Schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD from 2014 – 15. Under these schemes the Ministry provides financial support for Infrastructure development including wayside amenities, garbage bins, sewerage/effluent disposal, etc.

countries, air connectivity, availability of reasonably priced hotel accommodation, good tourism infrastructure, etc. The figures of FTAs do not include the arrivals of NRIs whereas the

figures of INDs include the departures of NRIs.

he numbers of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to India during 2012, 2013 and 2014 were 6.58 million, 6.97 million and 7.68 million, respectively. Some of the factors responsible for inbound tourists and outbound tourists from any country, including India, are economic conditions of the source and destination

he Ministry of Tourism undertakes various promotional and marketing activities including advertising to promote tourism products and destinations in major international markets overseas. Several of

these advertisements are released to cover many countries and regions and are not country specific. The expenditure on this account is incurred from the budget allocated under the Restructured Scheme of Overseas Pro-

Financial Year

Expenditure (Rs. in Crore)

2012-13

182.83

2013-14

195.29

2014-15

166.35

2015-16 (till date)

24.99*

motion & Marketing Development Assistance (OPMD). The details of the expenditure incurred during the last three years and the current year under OPMD head is as given below:-

*Provisional (b): The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2012, 2013 and 2014 along with the growth rate over previous year is as below:

Year

Foreign Tourist Arrivals â&#x20AC;&#x201C;FTAs (in millions)

Growth Rate (%)

2012

6.58

4.3

2013

6.97

5.9

2014

7.68

10.2

Nationality-wise break-up of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2012, 2013 and 2014 along with the percentage share and growth over previous year is annexed. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through Tourism in India during 2012, 2013 and 2014 along with the growth rate over previous year is as below : Year

Foreign Exchange Earning (Rs. in Crore)

2012 2013 2014

94,487 1,07,671 1,23,320

Growth Rate (%)

21.8 14.0 14.5

(c): Rank of India in world in terms of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) is as under:Year

Rank

2012

41st

2013

42nd

2014

41st

Rank of India in world in terms of Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) is as under:Year

Rank

2012

16th

2013

16th

2014

15t

nath, Ajmer, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Dwarka, Amravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni and Guwahati. ii. Central Financial Assistance: Ministry of Tourism operates various schemes through which Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to States/Union Territories (UTs) and other central agencies for overall development of tourism in the country.

oreign Exchange Earnings in Jan-June 2015 Register a Growth of 6.2% over same period of previous year The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to India during January â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June, 2015 were 3.85 million with a growth of 3.4% over corresponding period of 2014. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism in India during January â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June, 2015 were Rs.60,302 crore with a growth of 6.2% over corresponding period of 2014. Steps taken by the Government to boost tourism in the country are as below:

New Schemes: Pursuant to the announcement made in the Budget 201415, the following two new schemes were launched in 2014-15 under Central Sector:

a) Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Infrastructure Development as Theme-Based Tourist Circuits. Twelve Circuits have been identified for development under this Scheme. The circuits identified are NorthEast India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and Ramayana Circuit. b) National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD). In the first phase, 12 cities have been identified for infrastructure development. The cities identified are Amritsar, Kedar-

iii. Publicity and Promotion:

The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination, including the various tourism destinations and products of every State/Union Territory of the country, in the domestic and international markets. As part of its promotional activities, Ministry of Tourism undertakes centralized international media campaigns (prints, electronics and online) under the Incredible India brand-line in key source markets as well as potential markets across the world. The Ministry of Tourism also provides financial assistance to stakeholders for promotion of tourism in the international and domestic markets under the Marketing Development

Assistance Scheme.

iv. e -Tourist Visa:

At present, e-Tourist Visa facility is available for citizens of 77 countries arriving at 9 airports in India. The e-Tourist Visa enables the prospective visitor to apply for an Indian Visa from his/ her home country online without visiting the Indian Mission and also pay the visa fee online. Once approved, the applicant receives an email authorizing him/her to travel to India and he/ she can travel with a print out of this authorization. On arrival, the visitor presents the authorization to the immigration authorities who then stamp the entry into the country.

v Cleanliness and Hygiene:

To tackle the problem of hygiene and cleanliness at tourist destinations, the Ministry of Tourism has taken the initiative of Campaign Clean India with a vision to ensure an acceptable level of cleanliness and hygiene practices at tourist destinations. This campaign is to be sustained through adoption and involvement of private and public sector stake-

holders as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). vi. Trained Language Speaking Guides: Selection and Training of Regional Level Tourist Guides, including linguist guides, is an ongoing process and the Ministry conducts the training programmes, through the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), periodically.

vii Safety of Women Tourists:

The Ministry of Tourism had advised the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations to set up Tourist Police at prominent tourist spots. As a result, the State Governments / UT Administrations of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have deployed Tourist Police, in one form or the other Foreign Exchange Earnings from Tourism register a growth of 8.05% in the period July 2014-June 2015 over the same period of 2013-14 Rs.33.17 Crore Sanctioned For Development of Buddhist Circuit During

the year 2014-15. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism in India during July, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June, 2015 was Rs.1, 24,488 Crore with a growth rate of 8.05% over July, 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June, 2014. The Ministry of Tourism does not compile the exclusive data of domestic and foreign tourists visiting Buddhist sites. However, 12819.52 Lakh Domestic Tourist Visits and 223.35 Lakh Foreign Tourist Visits to different States/UTs, including the visits to Buddhist sites during 2014 have been reported. The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities. The Ministry has identified Buddhist Circuit as one of the twelve thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. For development of Buddhist Circuit, Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs.33.17 Crore during the year 2014-15. 19

overnment of India launched Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), presently known as e-Tourist Visa scheme on 27th November 2014. At present e-Tourist Visa facility is available for citizens of 77 countries (including 3 countries for which the facility was extended on 31st July 2015) arriving at 9 Airports in India. The following are the important highlights of eTourist Visa during July, 2015: (i) During the month of July, 2015 a total of 21,476 tourist arrived on 20

e-Tourist Visa as compared to 2,462 during the month of July, 2014 registering a growth of 772.3%. (ii) During January-July, 2015 a total of 1,47,690 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 14,415 during JanuaryJuly, 2014 registering a growth of 924.6% . (iii) This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 74 countries as against coverage of earlier TVoA scheme for 12 countries. (iv) The percentage shares of top 10 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facility during July

2015 were as follows: USA (33.67%), Australia (7.74%), France (7.13%), Germany (6.80%), UAE (6.71%), Canada (6.30%), Republic of Korea (5.57%), Mexico (2.80%), Japan (2.38%) and Russian Federation (2.29%). (v) The percentage shares of different ports in tourist arrivals on eTourist Visa during July 2015 were as follows: New Delhi (42.98%), Mumbai (20.72%), Bengaluru (10.36%), Chennai (10.32%), Hyderabad (5.30%), Kochi (5.15%), Kolkata (2.53%), Trivandrum (1.99%) and Goa (0.65%).

rchaeological Survey of India has identified 25 Adarsh Monuments (centrally protected monuments), to provide Wi-Fi facility, which would be

available free of cost for the first 30 minutes and thereafter it is chargeable on additional usage. List of 25 monuments is given below.

Details of Adarsh Smarak (protected monuments) identified for providing Wi-Fi facility

No.

Name of Monument

State

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

Rang Ghar, Sibsagar Vaishali- Kolhua Humayunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tomb, Delhi Qutb Complex, Delhi Red Fort, Delhi Rani-ki-Vav, Patan Rock-cut Temples, Masroor Leh Palace, Leh Sun Temple at Martand Ruins at Hampi, Bellary Group of Monuments at Pattadakal Elephanta Caves, Mumbai Fort at Daultabad Monuments at Mandu Group of temples at Khajuraho Sun Temple, Konark Kumbhalgarh Fort, Kelwada Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram Brihadeshwar Temple, Thanjavur Taj Mahal, Agra Group of Monuments at Fatehpur Sikri Ancient Site at Sravasti Excavated Site Sarnath, Varanasi Group of Temples at Jageshwar Hazardwari Palace, Murshidabad

Assam Bihar NCT Delhi Gujarat Himachal Pradesh Jammu & Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir Karnataka Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Odisha Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh

Uttarakhand West Bengal

ourism Minister thanks Keralites who have supported the Visit Kerala campaign and made it popular The hash tag Visit Kerala was trending in Twitter along with Kargil Vijay Divas, Anna Hazare and Yakub Memon on 26th July, 2015 when Dog Rights activists across India organized protests in metros like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore calling for boycotting tourism and products from Kerala against the alleged culling of rabid

and aggressive street dogs. In the past couple of weeks, the Kerala government and its tourism sector have faced a backlash through social networking mediums over the stray dog issue in the state, with a group of animal activists and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) launching an online campaign to boycott Kerala. The online Kerala community incensed by this “Boycott Kerala” campaign which was aggressively promoted on Facebook came out to defend the state in numbers. In fact, the ‘#Visit Kerala’ campaign, initially started by Kerala Tourism to market the state, has been taken up passionately by the local people in response to the allegations. I am happy that Keralites have taken up the Visit Kerala campaign and made it popular, by reaching out and connecting to a large online audience. It has strengthened Kerala Tourism’s Visit Kerala 2015-16 initiatives and I am confident that it will attract more tourists to the state, Tourism Minister Mr. A P Anilkumar said. The Minister also added that the allegation by animal activists that Kerala government has taken

a decision at an all-party meet to cull stray dogs is totally baseless. “Their subsequent widespread “Worldwide Boycott Kerala Movement 2015” on the social medium is based on misinformation,” the minister said, making a strong rebuttal of the allegation. “The government has decided to implement an Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme at veterinary hospitals,” noted Mr. Anilkumar. It has been decided to start sterilization in 50 veterinary hospitals with primary facilities across the state, and to implement anti-rabies immunization in all veter-

inary hospitals. In the initial stage, ABC will be implemented in 50 centers across 14 districts and this will gradually be taken up in 500 centers. “I do not believe that the online campaign will affect Kerala’s tourism. The state registers a steady growth in the domestic and international tourist arrivals annually,” said Kerala Tourism Secretary Mr.G Kamala Vardhana Rao IAS.“Kerala is an animal-friendly and petloving state. We will soon implement measures for the registration of pet dogs through local selfgoverning bodies.” 23

he Ministry of Tourism does not compile the data regarding crime against foreign or domestic tourists. However, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs has started collecting data on crime against foreign tourists since 2014. During the year 2014, as per the information regarding states/UTs, there are 129 cases under the category “Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty” including cases registered, cases charge sheeted, cases convicted, persons arrested, persons charge sheeted and persons convicted under crime against foreign tourists. Similarly 86 cases were reported under the category “Rape” including cases registered, cases charge sheeted, cases convicted, persons arrest24

ed, persons charge sheeted and persons convicted. Finally, 8 cases were registered under the category “Insult to the modesty of women” including cases registered, cases charge sheeted, cases convicted, persons arrested, persons charge sheeted and persons convicted under crimes against foreign tourists during the year 2014. The major countries from where the arrival of foreign women tourists was in decline during the year 2014 are Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey, Afghanistan, Japan and Republic of Korea. The steps taken by Ministry of Tourism to ensure the safety and security of

tourists, including foreign tourists are as below: i) The Ministry of Tourism, on a pilot basis, has set up the ‘Incredible India Help Line’ to guide the tourists. ii) Adoption of code of conduct for Safe and Hon’ble Tourism, which contains a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents, in particular women and children. iii) All the Chief Ministers of the State Governments and Administrators of Union Territory Administrations have been asked to take immediate effective steps for ensuring a conducive and friendly environment for all tourists and also request them to publicize the steps being taken/proposed to be taken to increase the sense of security amongst the present/prospective visitors and also to counter the negative publicity, if any. v) In the wake of some unfortunate incidents involving foreign tourists, Ministry of Tourism has also posted an advisory on its

vi)

 

  



 

website www.incredibleindia.org. Guidelines on Safety & Security of Tourist for State Governments/ Union Territories and Tips for Travellers have been formulated in August 2014 and circulated to all State Governments and Union Territories. These guidelines have been issued with an objective to help/provide direction to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations in formulating guidelines for tourist’s safety and security. The guidelines also include ‘tips for travellers’ and cover the following: Precautions to be taken during pre-travel arrangements. Travel information on calamities/situations by the State Government. Identifying, locating tourists in times of emergency. Government communication and inter agency coordination. Regulations of service providers (Transport Services, Accommodation Sector). Regulating leisure and recreational services including adventure sports. Address insolvencies and dispute settlement. Enforcement.

he Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma held a meeting with Tourism Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Dinesh Dhanai in New Delhi recently. The meeting was a follow up of the earlier meetings to seek central assistance for development of tourism in the state of Uttarakhand. Mr. Dinesh Dhanai said that the state government is keen to finish the ongoing tourism related infrastructure projects at the earliest to promote tourism in the state. Mr. Dinesh Dhanai requested Dr Mahesh Sharma to allow diversion of funds released earlier for tourism projects which could not be undertaken to those incomplete projects started under the scheme of PID-

DC but waiting for release of outstanding funds. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has funds to the tune of Rs 14.39 Cr which can be useful for those project which are 60-70% completed, he added. Mr. Dinesh Dhanai also requested that the project of constructing a ropeway between Tehri lake and New Tehri to be included in the first phase of Swadesh Darshan Scheme itself. Dr. Mahesh Sharma assured that the demands of the state government will be examined and all possible assistance will be extended to help the state of Uttarakhand for development of tourism. Senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism and State Government were also present at the meeting. 25

hri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs today met Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister of Civil Aviation on the issue of air safety in flight operations in North-Eastern States. Meeting was also attended by Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) and CMD, Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd. (PHHL). In light of recent tragic incident of helicopter crash in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh, in which DC, Tirap and two Pilots of Pawan Hans lost their lives, both the Ministers expressed concern and decided to review and strengthen the safety measures to avoid any such incident in future. Minister of Civil Avia-

tion informed that inquiry has already been ordered into the incident which is being conducted by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and being monitored by Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA). He also instructed the DGCA to collect the details of all the past

Shri Kiren Rijiju meets Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju incidents and analyze, which will aid in creating a robust and safe air service system in North East. Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs highlighted the fact that North East is the rainiest and cloudiest area in the world and due to difficult mountain terrain aircraft operation needs constant

technological up- gradation to ensure safety and confidence building. Both the Ministers felt that necessary technological corrections are immediately required. Shri Kiren Rijiju also highlighted the need for replacement of old MI 172 old Helicopter with a new ones with less than ten years of age, establishing communication centre like Air Traffic Controller (ATC) at Naharlagun Helipad in Arunachal Pradesh by DGCA and installation of Helicopter Tracking System in the Pawan Hans fleet flying in Arunachal Pradesh & other States of North East. Shri Kiren Rijiju requested the Civil Aviation Minister to immediately send the team of DGCA to Arunachal Pradesh for inspection of important helipads for up-gradation purpose and also to operationalize Tawang helipad. He also took up the case of introducing fixed wing aircraft operations as most of the ALGs in Arunachal Pradesh are in advance stage of completion. It was also decided to check the availability of funds with the Ministry of Development of NorthEastern Region (DONER) for improving the air service in the North East. Lastly, CMD, Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd. was also directed to immediately release the compensation to the deceased.

he Tourism Industry has requested the Government of India for the following fiscal benefits including tax rebate and relaxations: i. Inclusion of tourism infrastructure like hotels/resorts/tourist lodges/banquet halls/ convention and exhibition centers etc. for benefits of Section 32 AC of Income Tax Act 1961 by lowering the minimum threshold investment limit to Rs.5.00 crore. ii. Extension of benefits under Section 35 AD of Income Tax Act 1961 to business concerns who are making capital investment in setting up of smaller category of hotels/guest houses/dharamsalas/tourist hostels/ motels/wellness facilities/medical facilities and other associated infrastructure like installation of house boats/ adventure and leisure tourism facilities. iii. Weighted deduction of 200% in line with Research & Development sectors in India for expenditure incurred to-

wards marketing and promotional activities of the country as inbound tourism destination. iv Establishment of special tourism zones in India. v. Lower withholding of tax and interest paid to foreign banks or financial institutions for loan taken in tourism sector. vi. Deduction in respect of profit and gains from taxable income for business of hotels, convention centers and other tourism specific infrastructure. vii. Foreign exchange earning linked deduction on profits for Income Tax computation. viii. Exemption on Service Tax from Heritage Hotels and Heritage Trains. ix. Exemption on Service Tax on room tariff to be increased. x. Service Tax to be exempted for unit to be

set up within special tourism zones. xi. Exemption on Service Tax on all the incidental activities or services like hotel stay, Rent a Cab, Tour Operators etc. if the main event is exempted by Government from the ambit of Service Tax. xii. Extend CENVAT credit on the entire tourism components of Travel intermediaries on abated value (tour operators, travel agents, rent a cab operators) as against just on the same line of business. In order to ascertain the incidence of high taxations on tourism sector and its impact in making Indian tourism industry products un-compatible, a study on Taxes levied on tourism sector vis-Ă -vis Export sector has been conducted, and the findings of the study have been shared with the stakeholders

‘

osmography to Cartography’, an exhibition on historic Indian maps was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma at National Museum in New Delhi recently. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of US Ambassador to India, Mr Richard Verma. Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and Tourism (Additional Charge), Mr N K Sinha, DG, National Museum, Shri Sanjiv Mittal and Shri Prshant K Lahoti (Kalakriti Archives, Hyderabd) were

present on the occasion. Inaugurating the exhibition, Dr Mahesh Sharma said that India has a rich cultural heritage, and that “Cosmology to Cartography” is a way to know the real history of India. The exhibition is a classical way to know more about our culture and history, he added. Highlighting the importance of Indian culture, Dr Mahesh Sharma said that Indian culture is appreciated all over the world. Mr Richard Verma said that the maps created in the 15th and 16th century were remarkable in quality and are comparable in accuracy to the

modern day maps prepared with the help of satellites. Dr Mahesh Sharma released two books, ‘Purapashaan kaal me Manav’ and ‘Raghogarh Paintings’ from National Museum Collection on the occasion. He also released a catalogue on the exhibition ‘Cosmography to Cartography’ Cosmography to Cartography will draw on the Kalakriti Archive, collected by Shri Prshant Lahoti. The Archive is believed to house India’s most comprehensive private collection of historic maps. Two objects in the exhibition

will also be drawn from the collections of the National Museum. The exhibition has been curated by Dr Vivek Nanda and Dr Alex Johnson. Through a selection of over 72 maps, the exhibition showcases the evolution and growth of modern cartography from early cosmological representations of the ‘World of Mortals’. In doing so it also testifies to the competing global interests and influences – religious, economic and political which have contributed to the perception of ‘India’ as we understand it today. The exhibition features an extraordinary variety of painted and printed Indian maps produced in the sub-continent and outside, including original manuscript representations. It also captures the development of Indian printing industry, which

although established by the Europeans, came to be heavily influenced by Indian artistic styles and technology. Monumental original paintings of profound religious symbolism from the 15th to 19th Centuries will be juxtaposed with historical maps of India, many of which are unique and have never before been placed on public view. Covering themes from pilgrimage to clashing empires, the exhibition begins with Jain and Hindu cosmological representations, including the depiction of the universe as a vast ‘Cosmic Man’. This progresses to magnificent painted hangings on a monumental scale depicting sacred rivers and pilgrimage sites, and also to representations of the pilgrim’s destination, the temple.

The exhibition also includes cartographic depictions of the ancient European conception of the subcontinent, and the first vaguely accurate maps of India made in the wake of Vasco Da Gama’s arrival in 1498. This documents the evolution of map-making as part of the military contest for supremacy by various European powers and ultimately the cartographic consolidation of India through the map makers of the British Raj. During the 16th Century, Portugal had a virtual monopoly on the European interaction with India. However, from the early 1600s, new powers arrived in India, and the maps of the British, Dutch, French, Danish and Flemish speak about their endeavours and their complex interactions with various Indian players. 29

ffering opportunities for investors and decision-makers to network, and in a bid to attract investments into the lucrative tourism sector, Kerala Tourism participated in the first ever exclusive Tourism Investors Meet (TIM), organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce 30

and Industry (FICCI) and the Tourism Finance Corporation, which was recently concluded in New Delhi. “This is an ideal platform for the tourism industry to network with key leaders and decision makers in various sectors in the country,” said Kerala Tourism Secretary Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao, while presenting Kerala’s tourism potential. “We have showcased the incentives provided to developers for setting up projects and highlighted the various investment opportunities available,” he added.

The TIM brought together investors, policy makers and industry leaders from various enterprises and institutions. “We hope to get more private investors for the tourism sector post this meet,” said Dr M Beena, MD, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), who also represented the state during the meet. Apart from the presentations on possible investment avenues and incentives by the state governments, the meet included special sessions on tourism infrastructure and opportunities for investment and pre-structured one-to-one business meetings between state governments and prominent investors.

nder the PRASAD scheme, two pilgrim sites in Uttar Pradesh namely Mathura and Vrin-

davan are amongst the 12 sites identified under the scheme. The following projects under the scheme

have been sanctioned to the State of Uttar Pradesh during the year 2014-15:

Sl.No. Project Name

Amount Sanctioned (Rs. in Lakh)

1 2.

1493.00

Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit Phase – II Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan

Two new schemes i.e. ‘Swadesh Darshan’ and ‘PRASAD’ have been introduced by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme 12 theme based circuits have been identified for integrated tourism development in the country. These are Ramayana Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Eco Circuit, Rural Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, North East Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Himalayan Circuit,

Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit and Tribal Circuit. The State of Uttar Pradesh is covered in many of these circuits. Development and promotion of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism infrastructure projects that are complete as per exist-

936.00 ing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds and utilization of funds released earlier. The State Government of Uttar Pradesh has undertaken various measures to develop and promote tourism in the State. The tourist spots are publicized through website/ posters/brochures, participation in international and national travel marts and seminars. 31

he Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to boost tourism including Eco-Tourism in the country. However, promotion and development of tourism including Eco-Tourism is the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism infrastructure projects including EcoTourism projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of scheme/ funds and utilization of funds released earlier. Sl. No.

State

The following initiatives are taken by the Ministry to boost Eco-Tourism in the country: (i) Evolved & adopted Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for three major segments of the tourism industry, namely accommodation, tour operators, and Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes & Rivers sectors, applicable for the entire country. (ii) Guidelines for approval of Hotel Projects at the implementation stage and also for Classification/ Re-classification of operational hotels un-

der various categories mandate incorporation of various ecofriendly measures like installation of Sewage Treatment Plant, Rain water Harvesting, Waste Management System, Pollution Control and Introduction of non-Chlorofluorocarbon equipment for refrigeration and air conditioners, energy and water conservation measures. (iii) Promoting Eco-Tourism, inter-alia through domestic and international campaigns and also by supporting seminars, conference and events focusing on development of Eco-Tourism in the country, from time to time. (c): Under the Eco-Tourism theme, “Swadesh Darshan theme based scheme” for development of tourism infrastructure, following proposals are received in the Ministry.

Name of the Project

Telangana

Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit in Mahaboobnagar District

Chhattisgarh

Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit in Rajmergarh –KabirChabutra-Achanakmar Tiger Reserve- Kurdar-Sirpur-Kodar Dam-GangrelDam-Kanger Valley National Park

Kerala

Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit in Gavi – Pathanamthitta

lue Square Consultants has been appointed as the marketing and sales representative for Best Value Tourism LLC, a reputed Destination Management Travel Company in Dubai, which is approved by Department of Tourism Commerce & Marketing. With this new addition, Blue Square Consultants has an interesting portfolio of both emerging and well established tourism brands. Best Value Tourism (BVT) has a wealth of experience in organizing leisure travel for everyone ranging from students and young people to the most discerning of travellers who demand the ultimate in luxury. BVT’s

dedicated staffs are well travelled and can therefore are experts in designing tailor made holidays for any kind of traveller. Ms. Lubaina Sheerazi,

COO, Blue Square Consultants, says, “We are elated to acquire representation of Best Value Tourism and get an opportunity to promote one of the most loved destinations of Indians – Dubai. Best Value Tourism is a one stop holiday shop focusing on providing the most cost effective, high-

quality services personalized for worldwide clientele” Dubai is one of the most famous cities in the world. A tourist can experience everything from rugged mountains and aweinspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages and ancient houses with wind towers to luxurious residential districts and from the colourful souks (markets) to ultra-modern shopping malls. No wonder this amazing city, in the heart of the desert, belongs to a new generation of cities.

A Perfect Portrait of God’s Own Country

KERALA TOURISM MAGAZNE www.keralatourismmagazine.com

A mirror to Kerala’s Business, Industry & Development

BRAND KERALA MAGAZINE www.brandkerala.biz

e, Touri s m India heartily express our condolence on the unexpected demise of Dr. Polly Mathew, founder of Somatheeram Ayurvedic Resort, Chowara, South of Kovalam, at Trivandrum in Kerala. Dr. Polly was our dearest friend and well wisher who supported and encouraged us in all our ventures. Polly Mathew, the veteran investor and successful businessman was the catalyst in reviving Ayurveda as an international brand. He was a great contributor to the ‘wellness tourism’ in India. He played his key role in making Southern Kerala especially Kovalam to Poovar belt as a foreigner’s hot spot. His venture Somatheeram became an international brand, especially in Germany, even before Kerala came up with the tag line ‘Gods Own Country’. He and his brother 34

Mr. Baby Mathew pioneered and transformed Somatheeram into one of India’s leading Ayurveda centres and helped branding Kerala and India as an Ayurveda destination worldwide. His contribution to the tourism sector and Kerala economy was immense. Dr. Polly Mathew lived for over thirty years in Germany with his wife and children. His idea to found India’s first Ayurveda Resort evolved after studying the European market and understanding its needs for alternatives to allopathic medicine. This was back in the end of the 1980’s when Ayurveda was not known internationally yet, Somatheeram has therefore also been a German-Indian successstory. Monheim am Rhein, the small German city, which is located close to Dusseldorf was the residing town of Dr. Polly Mathew, his wife Treesa Polly and his sons James Polly, Dr.

Jimson Polly and Johns Mathew. Dr. Polly Mathew is also the Managing Director of Somatheeram GmbH, the German wing of Somatheeram Health Group. The Somatheeram Health Group has been awarded 10-times as ‘Best Ayurveda Centre’ by the Government of Kerala and also received the ‘National Tourism Award’ by the Indian government 3-times already. Dr. Polly Mathew is the Good will Ambassador for the World Malayalee Council (WMC) and recipient of ‘Ayurveda Global Pracharak Award’, ‘Garshom Award’, ‘Mother Theresa Award’, ‘Tourism Excellence Award’, ‘Excellence in Health Leadership Award’ and various other International and National awards. His demise is a great loss to Indian Tourism Industry. We express our deepest condolence to his bereaved family and dear ones.

s 84495.62 Lakh funds have been sanctioned to States/UTs for developing tourism destinations and circuits during 2014-15, which Includes Projects relating to Product/Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits (PIDDC), Human Resource Development (HRD), Fairs and Festivals & Rural Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects subject to availability of funds, inter-se priority, liquidation of pending utilization certificates against the funds released

earlier and adherence to the relevant scheme guidelines. The Ministry of Tourism has launched the following two new schemes pursuant to the Budget 201415 announcements. 1. Swadesh Darshan for Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits around Specific Themes. 2. National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) to beautify and improve the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths. Twelve theme based circuits i.e. North East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit,

Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and Ramaya n a Circuit have been identified for development under â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Swadesh Darshanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Under PRASAD, initially twelve cities have been identified namely Ajmer, Amritsar, Amravati, Dwarka, Gaya, Kedarnath, Kamakhaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi and Velankanni. The revised budget allocation for these schemes in the financial year 201415 were Rs.20.00 crore and Rs.15.60 crore respectively. In the current financial year, the budget provision for these schemes is Rs.600.00 crore for Swadesh Darshan and Rs. 100.00 crore for PRASAD. These are Central Sector Schemes; hence State/Union Territory-wise allocations have not been made. 35

otel Jaisalkot Jaisalmer, the Heritage Palace and the Rigel Agra Partner with RezNext for Revenue Management Services RezNext the world’s only true real-time enterprise distribution Technology Company is emerging as the preferred revenue management service partner for leading hoteliers. 3 luxury properties based in northern and western India have selected RezNext’s revenue management service to improve their revenue streams and profitability. Hotel Jaisalkot Jaisalmer, the Heritage Palace, and the Rigel Agra are the 3 destination properties that have signed up for RezNext’s revenue management services. RezNext offers end-to-end revenue services from optimising current strategy, identifying new up sell or cross-sell opportunities, restructuring target market segments, refining the 36

channel mix and the distri-

bution strategy to maximising yield and improving long term profitability. “Luxury properties typically operate in a very dynamic market where the expectation from guests for instant gratification is very high. Hence it is important to have efficient selling strategies in place. This requires a unified view of revenue data across the property and a quick response mechanism powered by real-time data intelligence. With limited resources, such properties cannot man a specialised revenue team focussing on improving revenues and profitability. This is where RezNext bridges the gap in the market. With seasoned hospitality leaders from the revenue management space, RezNext is able to provide holistic revenue

services to suit the unique nature of a hotel’s business,” said Mike Kistner, Chief Executive Officer, and RezNextGlobal Solutions. “We are excited to be the preferred revenue strategy partner for these 3 properties,” added Mike Kistner. Spread over 15 acres, Hotel Jaisalkot Jaisalmer stands tall as a strong majestic fort. A reflection of true royalty, this property is located close to Thar Desert and offers an amazing experiential stay. It is an ideal getaway for those seeking to discover the real beauty of Jaisalmer especially during the desert festival. The Heritage Palace, Jaipur is a tastefully designed property and serves as a great hotel to relax and celebrate the winter festival in Jaipur. The Rigel Agra is conveniently located close to the Taj Mahal and caters to both leisure and business travellers. “These properties are

he year 2015 is being observed as the “Visit India Year” in China. Various promotional activities are being organized to showcase and promote the varied tourism destinations and products of India in China, with the objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals from China to India. These include advertising in the local print and outdoor media, participation in travel fairs and exhibitions, organizing Know India seminars & workshops for Chinese Tour Operators

in different cities, publication of brochures, joint advertising and joint promotion with tourism stakeholders, airlines etc. and inviting media personalities, tour operators, opinion makers etc. to visit the country under the Hospitality Scheme of the Ministry. Ministry of Tourism had organized a Chinese Tourist Facilitator Programme in 2014 for the executives

based in destinations that are impacted with seasonal fluctuations. Hence the need to optimise revenue during the season is very critical to make up for the expected loss of business during off seasons,” said Dhiraj Trivedi, President, Revenue Management Services, and RezNext Global Solutions. “At RezNext we conduct a deep audit of the hotel’s

business to understand its market strategy, pricing mix, channel mix, online reputation. We also examine consumer behaviour, analyse competitor activity, demand and supply curve and execute the most profitable revenue strategy for our clients,” added Dhiraj Trivedi. According to Mr. Mohammed Shafi, Managing Director, The Heritage

and tour managers of tour operators handling Chinese tourists. The participants were nominated by Indian Association of Tour Operators. A total of 118 Chinese tourist facilitators were trained through this programme.

Palace, “We are happy to partner with RezNext to manage our revenue strategy. We look forward to working with the RezNext team to know our demand forecasts accurately, and implement recommendations for selling strategies such as open/close rates and room categories, stay controls, and overbooking levels.” 37

nder the HSRT programme, courses are offered in hospitality trades namely Food Production, Food and Beverage Service, Housekeeping Utility and Bakery and Patisserie. The persons who are minimum 8th pass and in the age group of 18 to 28 years are eligible to take the courses. The programme is delivered by Ministry of Tourism (MoT) sponsored Institutes of Hotel Management, Food

Craft Institutes, State Tourism Development Corporations amongst others. Presently training courses are also in place to bring up tourist escorts, tourist facilitators, event facilitators, security guards, tour assistants, transfer assistants and office assistants. The programme is fully funded by the MoT. A total of 207156 persons have been trained since the inception of the

programme in the year 2009-10 till 30/06/2015. In December, 2014, the scope of HSRT programme was expanded to allow the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)/National Skill Development Agency (NSDA)/ government approved private hospitality Institutes as also the industrial units, industry associations and skill imparting bodies with proven credentials for its

ourism Toronto announced recentlythat Johanne Bélanger has been appointed President and CEO, effective September 1, 2015. Ms. Bélanger was President of Freeman Audio Visual Canada for the past 10 years and, throughout her career, has been a globally recognized leader in exhibitions and events. She also served as Chair of Tourism Toronto’s Board of Directors from 2012 to 2014 and has been a member of the Board since 2009. In 2014 she was inducted into the Meetings and Incentive Travel Hall of Fame and has also served as President of the Board of Directors for InfoComm International, the trade association representing the professional audio visual and information communications industries worldwide. In 2014, Ms. Bélanger received the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Out-

standing Achievement in Industry Leadership Award. “Johanne is a dynamic leader and brings a combination of global experience and a partnershipfocused approach,” said Heather McCrory, Chair of Tourism Toronto’s Board of Directors. “With a strong team in place and a continued emphasis on generating sustained growth from key international markets, we are delighted to have Johanne step in to guide the organization through its next phase.” “It’s been a privilege to be part of Tourism Toronto’s Board leadership and I’m truly excited to move into a more hands-on role in such a rapidly evolving industry,” said Ms. Bélanger. “We are building on a successful foundation and now have the opportunity to connect the tourism business to more partners and related sec-

tors of the economy and drive growth in the years ahead.” The Toronto region is the most-visited destination in Canada, welcoming 14.3 million overnight visitors last year. Toronto set new tourism records last year including the most international visits ever at 1.42 million, and saw growth from the important U.S. market for the fourth consecutive year with 2.3 million Americans visiting the destination. The tourism and hospitality sector employs 315,000 people across the region. “Our destination is riding a wave of momentum and moving up the must-see list for travelers around the world. We have an opportunity now to capitalize on that wave and further entrench the Toronto region as a place to visit, to meet and then to come back and visit again,” said Ms. Bélanger. 39

madeus partners with Bangkok Start-up Weekend 2015 as part of Amadeus NEXT. The 54hour frenzy of business model creation, coding and design resulted in ideas to improve the future of travel in Asia Pacific Travellers today have more power than ever before. With a smart mobile device in nearly every hand, travellers are wellinformed and demand better service throughout the entire travel lifecycle. To find new ways to meet traveller needs in this ‘Age of Traveller Power’, global travel technology leader Amadeus, together with Tech Sauce, a Bangkok-based technology start-up organisation, just wrapped up “Bangkok Start-up Weekend 2015: Travel Edition, powered by Amadeus.” The event, held from 24 to 26 July 2015, saw more than 55 participants including developers, entre-

preneurs and tech enthusiasts, passionate about marrying technology and travel, come up with original and pioneering ways to address travellers’ pain points and improve the travel experience. Amadeus equipped participants with industry expertise and coaching from in-house experts as well as access to the Amadeus Travel Innovation Sandbox, a set of APIs to access Amadeus content for testing and prototyping. “Travel and technology are two of the fastest moving industries that exist today. We know that fresh, innovative and often disruptive ideas are constantly being generated from start-ups across the region. That is why it is so exciting to support this event and be able to listen to, learn from and work with talented individuals, and together envisage innovative ideas that could

potentially revolutionise our industry,” said Simon Akeroyd, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development. Amadeus’ participation in Bangkok Start-up Weekend 2015 is just one of the initiatives from Amadeus NEXT, a programme to nurture, mentor and partner with travel start-ups in Asia Pacific. The programme leverages Amadeus’ technology, expertise, reach and funding to evolve new and original ideas in travel. Amadeus NEXT also drives an internal culture of new idea development and lean thinking through internal hackathons and a start-up academy. Globally, Amadeus invests more than 15% of its revenue each year towards R&D and innovation, and also has a dedicated Amadeus Venture Fund which offers early stage minority investments in start-ups.

artha Global Marketing has recently been appointed by Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau (BHCVB) as their representative in India. Sartha Global Marketing has been tasked to implement intensive public relations and travel trade outreach, educating potential travelers on the destination’s unique attributes, thereby attracting more visitors to Beverly Hills from India. Centrally located in the greater Los Angeles area, Beverly Hills is a renowned icon of sophistication, luxury and personalized customer service. A premier vacation and business travel destination, Beverly Hills offers unforgettable experiences, ranging from luxury hotels, exclusive restaurants, world-class shopping, extraordinary art and cultural attractions, such as the famed Rodeo Drive. Beverly Hills is also synonymous with

Hollywood glamour as it enjoys an international reputation as the home and playground of A-list movie stars and the celebrity elite. “We are very pleased to select Sartha Global Marketing as our India representative. India is a very important and fast expanding market and we believe that the Sartha Global team has the credentials and skills to highlight Beverly Hills and the destination’s vast luxury offerings to travelers in India.’’ said Julie Wagner,

Chief Executive Officer, BHCVB. Sheema Vohra, Managing Director Sartha Global Marketing added, “We are very thrilled to represent Beverly Hills in India. The destination symbolizes style and glamour and Indians love movie stars, unique shopping experiences and a growing need for luxury. This should make Beverly Hills a much sought-after destination of choice.” With beautiful weather year-round, acclaimed full-service and boutique hotel accommodations, superb dining, and unrivalled shopping, Beverly Hills is always ready to welcome its customers. The city is not only known worldwide for its grand mansions and chic shops along Rodeo Drive, but also for its multitude of art and architecture, spas and salons etc.

he district of Pathanamthitta will soon have an elevated status in Kerala tourism map with the Adavi Boat Festival and Gaja Vijnanolsavam to be held at Konni, a hilly town in the district. A picturesque forest patch, 10 km from Konni and 17 kilometers from Pathanamthitta, Adavi is situated

Adavi and Konni to have face-lift with boat race, rafting, camping and tree-top cottages

on the banks of river Kallar, with nearly 5-km river frontage. The Konni Forest Development Agency, in collaboration with District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and Pathanamthitta District Administration will host the events at advent of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Onam celebrations.

its forests and aquatic life, Adavi is suited to be a top ecofriendly destination in Kerala,” said Kerala Forest Minister Shri Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. “The natural, man-made and eco-friendly attractions of Adavi are certain to draw visitors from within India and abroad in the coming days,” said the local MLA and Minister for Revenue and Coir, Shri Adoor Prakash. The occasion will also witness a Gaja Vijnanolsavam, an elephant festival at Konni elephant camp. Adavi, which is just five kilometres from M u n d o m moozhy on the proposed Achencoil-Chittar hill highway, is a weekend getaway, especially for the people coming from Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram thanks to its proximity. It is also an eas-

Pathanamthitta emerging as an ecotourism destination

Shri A P Anil Kumar, Minister for Tourism will inaugurate the Adavi boat festival on August 21st, aiming at branding the town as a unique tourism destination and introducing Coracle riding as a first of its kind tourism product in Kerala. “With an abundance of nature’s blessings in

ily accessible destination for foreign tourists who can chose Adavi for a day trip from places like Munnar and Thekkady. Coracle rafting in the Kallar river is an innovative venture, which promises a neverbefore experience to travellers. An Eco-Tourism Centre with river rafts, Coracle rafting, adventure trekking, accommodation options on tree-top cottages, tenting options and walkways are the attractions coming up in Adavi. Bamboo huts, which will be coming up in Adavi in a month, will also be another attractive camping option for the tourists. The Eco-Tourism Centre also has a refreshment area, public convenience areas and ample parking space for tourists and their vehicles. The boat festival will be a three-day event with a common daily activity plan targeting different tourist attractions each day. This includes a familiarisation trip for the media and inaugural guests, treasure

hunt for general public, a cultural programme and a ‘Know the Elephant’ programme at the Konni Elephant camp. The Gaja Vijanolsavam was first conducted in September last year with the support of Minister for Revenue and Coir, Shri Adoor Prakash, under the auspices of Konni Forest Development Agency. The programme had helped in raising the profile of Konni-Adavi eco-tourism apart from imparting awareness about forest and wildlife conservation among school children and general public. The five-day festival this year, which starts on August 20, aims at imparting awareness about forest and elephant conservation among school children and general public, to ensure public participation in the development of the eco-tourism destination and enhancing income-generating opportunities for the local community through increased tourist arrivals. “There are lots of untapped tourism potentials in Pathanamthitta. Besides the heritage tourism products in the district like the Arunmula Kannadi, Aranmula boat race, Konni and Adavi will further raise the status of Kerala on the global tourism map,” said Pathanamthitta District Collector, Shri S Harikishore. 44

Flights of fancy A northern royal albatross sits on its nest at Taiaroa Head, Otago Peninsula, the only mainland albatross colony in the world and wonderfully accessible to visitors.

Flights of fancy bring birders to Dunedin Our avian friends come in all shapes and sizes around Dunedin, the wildlife capital of New Zealand. Nestled between bush and hills and girdled by food-rich offshore currents, Dunedin has achieved the reputation as the wildlife capital of New Zealand. In addition to its flagship penguin and albatross residents, the city and environs offer the visiting birder a diverse mix of avifauna – whether endemic, introduced, or migrant.

Two hotspots close to the city are Otago Peninsula, with its thriving menagerie of seabird species, and Orokonui Eco sanctuary, an avian oasis where resident bush birds rub wingtips with rare and endangered newcomers in a visitor-friendly environment. Otago Peninsula – Albatross city With its unique ‘mega fauna’, Otago Peninsula has long been top of any birder’s bucket list. Heading the tally is the northern royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head, the only

A white-faced heron roosting alongside A male tomtit in full voice at Orokonui Eco little shags on the Vauxhall Boat Club jet- sanctuary, a 30-minute drive from Dunedin, ty, Otago Harbour. this is not a zoo but 307 hectares of wooded river valley protected by a predator-proof fence in which birds and other creatures range.

mainland albatross colony in the world and wonderfully accessible to visitors. This is truly an albatross city, where birds pair up, breed, produce young and leave on their grand circumnavigations of the Southern Ocean, only to return and repeat the whole cycle. The colony resembles a busy airport, and there is always something to see as these giants of the sky lumber into the air or lower their landing gear for touchdown. When a nor’ easterly is blowing, a watch on the sea cliffs below the visitor centre is sure to be rewarded with the sight of a great white shape sweeping past as it glides along the approach path to the nesting grounds on 3-metre fixed wings. Spotted shags nest on these same cliffs, well within camera range, and the mounded nests of colourful Stewart Island shags can be seen from

the albatross observation area. To get to the viewing site, visitors walk through a chaotic breeding colony of red-billed gulls – a declining if not yet endangered seabird. Penguins at Pilot’s Beach At the base of Taiaroa Head, at Pilots Beach, is a burgeoning colony of little blue penguins; in the evenings, guided tours allow visitors to see hundreds of these charismatic seabirds swarming ashore under special lights. But, there is so much more to see in this bird-rich place. Each spring, millions of sooty shearwaters – mutton birds or titi, as Māori call them – pass off the coast in endless waves. A great place to observe them – as well as passing shags, Australasian gannets and other seabirds – is the Mole, directly across the harbour entrance at Aramoana. Otago Peninsula’s

A male tomtit in full voice at Orokonui Eco sanctuary, a 30-minute drive from Dunedin, this is not a zoo but 307 hectares of wooded river valley protected by a predator-proof fence in which birds and other creatures range

other avian superstar is the yellow-eyed penguin, which nests on bushy headlands on the oceanfacing side of the peninsula and is best seen in the late afternoon when the adult birds begin to come ashore after a day out fishing at sea. Visitors can take a tour run by tourism operators like Penguin Place, or visit beaches like Sandfly Bay or Boulder Beach and be rewarded with encounters with New Zealand sea lions as well as returning yellow-eyes. Nothing comes closer to the spirit of the peninsula than trudging back from Boulder Beach at dusk, with the haunting calls of penguins echoing across the dunes. Birds of garden and bush A European birder taking a stroll through the city would find its avifauna surprisingly familiar – house sparrows nesting in the eaves, blackbirds, 45

Flights of fancy A bellbird feeds on native myrtle berries during autumn at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.

starlings and thrushes on the lawns, mixed flocks of finches scouring weedy corners for seeds in the spring. Those taking the short drive to view the city from the Signal Hill lookout may do so to the accompaniment of a skylark serenade mingled with the wheezy notes of yellowhammers. As well as species introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century by nostalgic British settlers, there are self-introduced species from Australia of which the most familiar are the welcome swallow, white-faced heron, royal spoonbill and – in damp paddocks and playing fields – the spur-winged plover (a lapwing species). In spring, kowhai trees clothed in bright yellow flowers are a magnet for the tiny silvereye, another Australian guest that found a niche here alongside our two native honeyeaters, the bellbird and the tui. These three sweettongued residents can be found in the Dunedin Bo46

tanic Garden, where several other native birds such as the fantail, grey warbler and our large wood pigeon can usually be spotted. The Botanic Garden is also a good place to see ¬– or more likely, hear – the shining cuckoo, which announces its arrival from its Melanesian wintering grounds each September with characteristic slurring notes. Along with the long-tailed cuckoo, it is New Zealand’s only landbased migrant. Orokonui Eco Sanctuary Forest remnants around Dunedin are well supplied with small bush birds; in addition to those listed above, they include the inquisitive tomtit and robin (now confined to a few favoured locations), and the brown creeper that flits around the canopy in small flocks and will encourage the passing bush walker to “move right along” with their noisy chatter. The Racemans Track and the Chalkies in the Silver Stream catchment near Mosgiel are good

places to see all these species, as is the spectacular bush along the Waipori River near the start of the Government Track. (There is road access from Berwick, and visitors can lunch in the picnic grounds or even take a dip in the river.) In more open scrubby areas, such as the Flagstaff walkway on the hills above the city, listen for the “tic” of fern birds as pairs make contact with each other. If you are interested in forest birds, and only have time to visit one spot, then Orokonui Eco sanctuary is a one-stop birding shop. A 30-minute drive from the city via the Northern Motorway, this is not a zoo but 307 hectares of wooded river valley protected by a predator-proof fence in which birds and other creatures range free. A convenient place to see all the bush birds mentioned above, which thrive here, Orokonui is also a Noah’s Ark for several treasured species that otherwise survive only in isolated pockets on the mainland or a few island sanctuaries. These include kea – New Zealand’s forest parrot – Haast kiwi and saddleback, not to mention three special reptiles – tuatara, Otago skink and the mottled green jewelled gecko, a southern speciality.

Wetland birds and beyond No visiting birder should neglect the area’s abundant wetlands and coastal wildlife. Several estuaries – most notably Blueskin Bay, the Waikouaiti River at Karitane, Aramoana and the Kaikorai Estuary – indent the coastline close to the city and all are rich feeding and roosting grounds for a variety of seabirds and waders. A walk along Warrington Beach (on Blueskin Bay) at high tide during summer will reward visitors with the sight of a mass of field-grey bodies enlivened with splashes of russet plumage – these are bar-tailed godwits which arrive here in their thousands each spring from Alaska after making the longest unbroken migration of any bird. Smaller groups of pied oystercatchers and variable oystercatchers – another southern specialty – huddle round them at the roost, and Caspian terns are often seen in the area, with white-fronted terns and the occasional gannet fishing offshore. Another good spot for water birds are Hoopers and Papanui Inlets, two lagoons scooped out of Otago Peninsula which is havens for ducks, shelducks, black swans and an array of wading birds. White-faced herons, pied

oystercatchers and pied stilts probe the shallow waters and are joined in summer by bar-tailed godwits and increasing numbers of royal spoonbills in elegant breeding plumage. Swamphens or pukeko pick and bob in damp paddocks and creeks, and where a freshet flows into Hoopers Inlet beside the road, southern black-backed gulls, spur-winged plovers and – occasionally – Caspian terns can be seen bathing. In winter, sacred kingfishers flash down from the telephone wires to catch crabs at low tide or decorate the roofs of boatsheds at the start of Allans Beach Road. Other wetland areas well worth a visit include Hawksbury Lagoon on the coast near Waikouaiti, where spoonbills work the shallow margins, and large flocks of ducks gather on the open water, although binoculars are need to tell the Australasian shovelers from the grey teal and rafts of grey duck (now almost always hybridised with the introduced mallard). Whitefaced herons and pied stilts are easily seen here, along with freshwater shags and introduced black swans and Canada geese. Abundant cover makes the lagoon a good spot for photography. The Waihola–Waipori wetlands are another rich source of native ducks, and were hunted here by early Maori, and secretive fern

birds breed in abundance at the Sinclair Wetlands near Berwick. Fern birds also breed in the hills above the city – Swampy Summit is a good place to look out for them -and those prepared to put on a pair of boots will encounter some of the birds of open country such as wheeling harrier hawks and native pipits flitting through the tussocks. Further out, on the Taieri Plain and the neighbouring ranges, you might be lucky enough to hear the shrill “kekkekkek” of a New Zealand falcon and glimpse it speeding overhead on rapid, sickleshaped wings. Further out still, in the Strath Taieri catchment, pied oystercatchers, black-backed gulls and banded dotterels breed on the rugged high tops of the Rock and Pillar range. Although not as rich in bird species as some other parts of the world, Dunedin and its environs offer diverse habitats and landforms in a small compass, as well as the chance to see marine mammals – including dolphins and whales – at close quarters. The area has good roads and well-made walking tracks, and good coffee and muffins are on hand to fortify those wanting to explore the albatross colony at Taiaroa Head or the Orokonui Eco sanctuary. 47

heme parks are all about fun, excitement and amusement. While planning your holiday in the Golden State do not miss out on the incredible theme parks the Country promises to have. Ranging from Disneyland classics to beachfront carousels, the Golden State’s best-in-class theme parks deliver amusement to everyone. One can take a tram ride to tour movie back lots at Universal Studios Hollywood, or ride on a beachfront carousel in Santa Cruz. The Joyous ride to the theme parks is open for all age group and is equally a matter of fun for both kids and elders. 1. Disney Land ResortThe Disney Land Re-

sort theme parks has been leading the way since 1955, inviting visitors to spend the day in the ultimate land of make-believe. This beloved Anaheim institution serves up vintage icons like the Matterhorn Bobsleds as well as new innovations, like laser lights and soaring fountains in the nightly show World of Color, or mystical mouse antics in Mickey and the Magical Map. The resort, which consists of the original Disneyland Park and the adjacent Disney California Adventure Park, has themed “lands” with related rides, shows, and attractions. The Park is equipped with all modern facilities to make things easier for the visitors. It has free map handy to make sure one is heading in the right direction (with all

the different “lands” and activities it’s easy to get a bit disoriented). After getting in, reduce wait time in lines by using the resort’s Fast Pass system (one can use the ticket to book a dedicated time later in the day). And also free Disneyland Wait Time app can be downloaded to know where to head next for shortest line. 2. Universal Studios Hollywood - Movie magic, mega attractions - If Hollywood is the land of make believe, then this is the right chance to step into that fantasy world. On a sprawling complex on the east side of the Hollywood Hills, this movie studio/ part theme park blends behind-the-scenes tours with rides that swoosh, swoop, and dive through moviethemed worlds. An adjacent, neon-lit complex of shops, eateries, and entertainment spaces known as Universal City Walk lets you stretch out the experience beyond the park. 3. LEGO LAND California – It is hard to say who enjoys LEGOLAND more: the little ones running around in a magical world created by 60 million LEGO plastic bricks, or their parents who get a kick out of it too. Walk through Miniland USA for a visual and

structural jaw-dropper: expansive miniaturized recreations of Washington D.C., New York, and San Francisco, as well as scenes from Star Wars. There’s also a chance to go behind-the-scenes to look at the soundstage and models used during the LEGO Movie. While the focus here leans towards making little ones smile, there’s plenty to entertain older visitors too: the park has more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions, including three rollercoaster’s. 4. SeaWorld San Diego – From swooshing and swooping rides to interactive shows and million-gallon aquariums, this theme park truly makes a big, big splash. One can See and learn about the amazing undersea worlds of animals from around the globe, including walruses, sea lions, polar bears, and penguins. Also one can See (and touch) harmless rays and sharks, and be entertained by Shamu and other killer whales, as well as dolphins, in daily shows and presentations. 5. Knotts Berry – Takes Pride in claiming itself to have more worldclass roller coasters than any other destination. This theme park, roughly an hour’s drive

northeast of Los Angeles is certainly a daredevil’s paradise. Teens and young adults flock here to get spun, flung, and plummeted on rides with names like Goliath, Twisted Colossus, Viper, Sling Shot, and Apocalypse. If one needs a place to settle the brain back into the skull, or the little ones who aren’t quite ready to ride a chair upside down at 65 miles/105 km per hour, head for mellower Bugs Bunny World, with pint-size rides and dressed-up Looney Tunes characters saying hi to the kids. For a cool retreat in summer, one can bring bathing suits and head to adjacent Hurricane Harbor to have a slip and slide on more than 20 water slides, also a ride to a make-believe African river, and relax-

ing time beside a tropical lagoon. The harbor is open May through September.

he Vale of Glamorgan beauty spot now joins last year’s winner Penarth Pier Pavilion in the Special Places hall of fame. Over the past 12 weeks thousands of people have been voting for their top Special Places in Wales, as part of National Trust Wales’s national conversation to find the nation’s most treasured place. Dyffryn Gardens was placed in the top five in July, as winner of the parks and gardens category and has recently been announced as the people’s official number one Special Place in Wales. Launched in May, Spe50

cial Places kick-started a summer of campaigning by many iconic places in Wales to be the place that represents all that’s great about our country. An iconic Welsh landmark that’s steeped in history, Dyffryn Gardens s co o p e d more than a third of the final votes, and was nominated for its breath-taking landscaped gardens, which include its famous cacti collection, arboretum and the recently-renovated 1920s garden rooms. Nestled in the heart of Vale of Glamorgan, the site was taken on by the National Trust in 2013 and since then has reinforced its reputation as a mustsee tourist attraction for visitors both old and new. Its latest projects include the restoration of its famous garden rooms, which saw a number of the intimate garden rooms restored back to their 1920s splendour. These garden rooms re-opened just last month as part of the gar-

dens’ Late Night Thursday events over the summer period. In the last two weeks alone, more than 4,000 votes have poured in for Dyffryn Gardens. Speaking of the accolade, Property manager at Dyffryn Gardens, Gerry Donovan said: “We are blown away by the support that members of the public have shown for us. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has voted for us. Winning special places is such an honour especially as we were up against such beautiful and inspiring places. We hope that from winning lots more people will hear about us so that they can experience the magic of Dyffryn too.” Special Places ambassador, TV personality and weather presenter, Sian Lloyd will presented the team at Dyffryn with their prize, which includes money for a celebration event and official winners plaque. Speaking of the win, Sian said: “Special Places brought so many famous landmarks to the fore, but it’s easy to see why Dyffryn Gardens stole our hearts this summer and walked away with the prize. “The team at the gardens have put so much work into bringing the famous gardens to life over the last few years – the

place is steeped in history and it’s very clear it has touched the lives of so many locals and out of towners who come and visit the gardens all year round. There was some amazing competition this year but I’m confident the right winner came out on top!” Justin Albert, National Trust Director for Wales, said: “Well done Dyffryn Gardens for securing the win in such a tightly fought contest. All the fine five were winners in their own right and really it’s very hard to pick between any of them. They are all fabulous special places. So, for Dyffryn to win among such exalted national treasures is testament to how engaging the gardens are to the Welsh public.” The all-Wales competition brought together the nation’s leading heritage and tourism bodies in a joint celebration of all the places in Wales the people deem so special, including Cadw, Cynnal Cymru, Heritage Lottery Fund, Visit Wales, RSPB, Ramblers Cymru and Keep Wales Tidy. Heritage Lottery Fund also played a significant role in the restoration of Dyffryn Gardens, providing a number of grants to bring both the gardens and house back to their full glory in 2006.

ourism New Zealand’s annual travel trade event, Kiwi Link India was successfully held in Mumbai from July 13 to July 15, 2015 with frontline training taking place in Delhi on July 16. Kiwi Link India 2015 saw participation from 36 operators from New Zealand, as well as four airlines - Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, and Immigration New Zealand and was attended by 80 Indian delegates. Following a new format this year, Tourism New Zealand hosted key buyers from around India in Mumbai for the first three days of the event. The event served as a platform for New Zealand operators to interact with

Indian tourism product managers, planners and owners through full day workshops and frontline training. A fabulous gala night was held in Mumbai with an Indian theme. A special shadow act, which highlighted New Zealand’s offerings in an artistic way, was also showcased at the event. Through Kiwi Link India 2015, Tourism New Zealand aims to highlight the destination’s unique range of offerings to the various segments of Indian travellers. The event also served as an opportunity for operators from New Zealand to educate their travel and trade partners in India on the new products and services that are available at the destination.

est Bengal Tourism Department has organized a familiarisation (fam) trip to West Bengal by inviting the major tour operators and media delegates from Kerala. The fam trip has started from June 1st to June 13th. The main objective of the fam tour was to introduce the wide range of enticing destinations around West Bengal as part of a promotional campaign and their by emanate the vast tourism potential of West Bengal around the globe. A team of 9, consist of,

tour operators and media delegates, had participated in the WBTDCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promotional campaign. The team members from Kerala comprehended, KPM Basheer-Hindu Business Line, Anand V- Tourism India Magazine, Thomas Varghese- Mercury Tours, Juby Mathew- Cox & Kings, Vinesh VydhyaGlobe Travel Centre, Manish Johnson-Moon Days, Shajimon CJ- Le Passage to India, Santhosh Pai-Pioneer Travels, Ajith DanielJet Tours. The familiarization trip

comprised almost every tourist attractions in West Bengal from north to south. The trip encompassed peregrination to places like Sundarbans National park, Baharampur, Mirik, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Lataguri, Jaldapara Wild Life Park, and Kolkata City Tour. The members praised the itinerary and all had experienced the sumptuous, stupendous culture, heritage and diversity of West Bengal at its best.

hile strolling along the historic streets of St. Augustine, visitors now can listen to the stories of the people who lived there more than four centuries ago. They can learn about the tall ships and adventurers who came ashore from far flung parts of the world, the battles and pirate raids and raging fires that almost destroyed this Spanish colonial city, the political intrigues—and much more. “Florida Stories”, a new walking-tour mobile app, brings this important human drama alive. Produced by the Florida Humanities Council, this 10-stop self-guided, illustrated audio tour is now available for free download to mobile phones. It is also available online for listening and downloads to computers. “We are excited to provide this convenient way

for Floridians and visitors to hear the fascinating stories of our oldest

city,” said Janine Farver, executive director of the Florida Humanities Council, affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. “People can listen to the behindthe-scenes stories of St. Augustine while exploring its historic buildings and streets.” The app is available just as the city celebrates the 450th anniversary of its 1565 founding. Visitors can download the app directly onto their Apple or Android mobile phones or via a QR code shown on rack cards in St. Augustine’s Visitors Center. The tours are also available online at www. FLstories.org. The Florida Humanities

Council developed this app with funds from the State of Florida and NEH. This is the first in an anticipated series of “Florida Stories” walking tours of distinctive communities around the state. The St. Augustine script, written by public historian Elsbeth Gordon and read by actor Chaz Mena, brings this city’s past alive. Gordon is author of the book, “Walking St. Augustine: An Illustrated Guide and Pocket History to America’s Oldest City,” published by the University Press of Florida. In it, she focuses on the people who lived in what was once a little wooden city at the edge of a vast ocean and untamed wilderness—and on the landmark events as the city evolved and key points to visit today. Mena, a Miami-based actor, has portrayed St. Augustine’s Spanish founder Pedro Menéndez on stage in the Florida Humanities Council’s “Dreamers & Schemers” programs. 53

onaco -Greatest Showcase of Luxury Yachting In the WorldEvery year in the end of September, the Principality of Monaco hosts the world’s greatest meeting of super yachts: The Monaco Yacht Show. This year Monaco Yacht Show is from 23 -26 September 2015. The 2015 edition of the Monaco Yacht Show will underline the beginning of a new era as the show will celebrate its 25th edition, but above all because it will display a new look with extra berths and a reorganization of its exhibition area. Created in the year

1991, the show has grown to become the ultimate luxury rendezvous for the international elite clientele. The MYS is the unique occasion in the year to visit an outstanding fleet of 120 custom-made super yachts & mega yachts from 25 to 100 meters long, of which around forty new launches in world première, in the glamorous setting of Monaco. More than hundreds of the world’s most significant luxury yachts will be showcased in Port Hercules, either available for luxury yacht charter or being exhibited to promote a shipyards expertise in new builds. It is the only

chance in the year to see such an impressive array of top yachting companies, high-tech nautical products and luxury yachting services, all within 9,000 square meters of exhibition space. The 2015 edition of the show is expected to see a fabulous collection of 100 luxury super yachts from 25 to 90 meters in length, and many of them are expected to make their premiere at the show. With an average attendance of 34,000 professional visitors, business decision makers and high net worth clients from worldwide, the iconic port

Hercules becomes the international hub of super yacht business during four days. During which hundred of events are organized by the brands on board the yachts, on the exhibition or in the prestigious Monte Carlo luxury hotels. Famed for catering to and providing only the very best, the Monaco Yacht Show has the privilege of benefiting from the recognition and the support of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. Last shows edition broke the events attendance record CEOs and managers of the leading yacht companies, yacht owners, wealthy customers and owners representatives converged to meet up to do some serious

business and this September will undoubtedly be the same. The Monaco show remains the place to be whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to step onboard this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest super yacht offerings or discover the most innovative and tailormade products and services that make luxury yachting the ultimate art of life. Monaco is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most desirable destinations with over 300 days of sunshine a year and mild temperatures, it celebrates with enthusiasm the arts, culture, sumptuous cuisine, spas, beautiful surroundings, spectacular landscapes and high-adrenaline activities like the Formula One Grand Prix, casino gaming, land and water sports and exciting nightlife.

Tourists will be more than happy enjoying luxurious accommodation, family restaurants and exceptional landscape in Monte Carlo. This charming destination adds that magnificence experience to your holiday which everyone dreams for. The place is gorgeously clean, the hotels are a marvel, the people are beautiful and the food is delicious. There are wonderful restaurants, shops, attractions, coast, nightlife, sports facilities and culture all within walking distance. You can have a fulfilling romantic experience with the world class spas, set in gorgeous surroundings and offering a variety of therapies and treatments from around the world. 55

ristine and untouched, Jamaica’s South Coast is the most unspoiled part of this Caribbean island where the true heart of the nation beats. Jamaica’s South Coast is a vast and beautifully exotic territory yet relatively virgin. It is this very diversity that makes it so appealing to eco-tourists and nature enthusiasts around the globe. Fishing villages, miles of beaches, centuries old great houses, natural waterfalls and wetlands create an atmosphere for adventure and relaxation. The towns of Mandeville, Whitehouse, Treasure Beach and Black River are picturesque and enticing. The South Coast with its beauty unblemished and natural won56

ders of flora and fauna virtually untouched extends a warm invitation to the discerning holiday visitor. Along the South Coast there are several charming small hotels, guesthouses, villas and resort properties. Treasure Beach features a good choice of small unique hotels and guest houses at scenic ocean side and beach locations. Jake’s Resort, in Treasure Beach is known to be one of the best places to stay in the Caribbean, let alone Jamaica. This beachfront property features a mosaic ally tiled sea-water swimming pool and a string of vividly designed colorful, thatch-roofed cottages along the cliffs.

Whitehouse features the all-inclusive Sandals Whitehouse European Village. Mandeville, high up in the cool mountains features a golf resort hotel among other accommodations. Most hotels offer restaurant and bar facilities. Sightseeing can build an appetite, and local fare is delicious along the South Coast region, with a special focus on seafood. Overlooking the black sands of Jamaica’s southern shoreline, Little Ochie Seafood is one of the best places to eat seafood in the island. Patrons can enjoy over 75 freshly caught seafood dishes including curried or jerked shark, conch fritters, conch sal-

ad, jerk, curried, grilled or barbecued lobster, conch, squid and seaweed soup, fried or steamed fish and festival and bammy to name a few. Jack Sprat Seafood Restaurant, located in Calabash Bay, is excellent for chilling with friends and family. An open-air restaurant located directly on the beach, Jack Sprat Cafe offers a selection of ice cream, pizza and full seafood dinners. International-Caribbean cuisine is the order of the day at Mandeville’s finest restaurant, Bloomfield Great House. Guests can dine on an open-air verandah, which offers a spectacular view of the Mandeville lights at night, or in the antiquesfilled main dining room. Centre of the region is the breezy hill town of Mandeville, founded lying 2,000 feet above sea level. The British colonial influence is strong here, from the village green bordered by a church and courthouse to the Manchester Club, which

boasts Jamaica’s oldest golf course founded in 1868. The surrounding area, and the south coast region, has numerous natural attractions and wildlife refuges. With its natural beauty and slow pace, Jamaica’s south is sought after by more discerning visitors intent on secluded relaxation rather than glitz and glamour. There are many wonderful things to do in this region, everything from beautiful snorkeling, bike rides through the gorgeous rural Jamaica and bird watching. Located east of Treasure Beach, the famous Lovers Leap has one of the most scenic vistas in Jamaica a sheer 1600-foot cliff overlooking the sea. One can take a boat ride up the meandering Black river, past sultry crocodiles and through mysterious mangroves. Tiers of cascading water in YS Falls, a rainforest of possibilities allure one to rope swing over the calming cool water and plunge into bliss. Nestling in the

sugar cane fields of St Elizabeth parish, the Appleton Rum Estate offers the chance to find out all there is to know about the production of rum. Off-the-beaten track, untarnished and unspoiled, the South Coast is truly Jamaica’s best-kept secret.

oliday Inn Souvenir Study investigates habits and preferences of traveller’s from across the Asia, Middle East and Africa region According to the second set of findings from the Holiday Inn® Souvenir Study,70 per cent of respondents feel that souvenirs are an important part of the holiday experience, and only 20 per cent of travellers return home empty handed. Almost half of the respondents attributed this to the desire of bringing part of the holiday home though only one in 10 respondents are souvenir hobbyists. It was also 58

found that younger travellers are more likely to place importance on buying souvenirs when compared to older travellers. The new results follow on from the first edition of the Holiday Inn Souvenir Study, the “Evolution of Souvenirs”, which explored the development of souvenirs over time. With over 1 billion tourists traversing the globe every year, the survey results, which are showcased in info graphic, takes a closer look at the multi-million dollar souvenir industry, discovering the latest trends in sou-

venir buying behaviour across the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. The Value of Souvenirs info graphic reveals travellers’ motivations behind souvenir buying, their preferred souvenir buying haunts and gift preference. As a region, buying souvenirs for family members remained as the top priority with an average expense of US$30 per gift, with travellers from Australia, Southeast Asia and Middle East prioritising their partners first. Buying gifts for co-workers

fell lower on the list, except for travellers from Japan, where it is customary to give souvenirs to colleagues. The average budget set aside for colleagues is about US$13. Across the region, Japanese travellers were also found to be the most receptive to souvenir requests from others ahead of a trip. With the growing trend towards locally-sourced and handmade products, over half of all travellers opt to do their souvenir shopping in local markets or specialty stores. Contrary to popular belief, less than a quarter of travellers will purchase sou-

venirs from tourist landmarks or attractions. The least preferred souvenirs were found to be novelty and educational items, and decorative trinkets. Over 900 travellers, from Australasia, India, Japan, the Middle East, South East Asia and South Africa took part in the survey, which focused on understanding the value travellers place on buying and receiving souvenirs as part of their travel experience. According to the findings from the survey, 34% of Indian travellers are happy to accommodate a souvenir request from their friends or family. One of the most popu-

lar souvenirs, that tourists visiting India can purchase are miniature replicas of the Taj Mahal. The monument is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings ever created and an example of Mughal art. The third and final info graphic in the Holiday Inn Souvenir Study will explore the wackiest and most wonderful souvenirs received by travellers from across the region. Keep updated on the Souvenirs study and all other Holiday Inn news and campaigns by visiting HolidayInn.com/Communications.

Edited, Printed and Published by K.V. Ravisankar for TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD., SRL C-36, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam (P.O.), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 695 010. at Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram - 695 010.

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