TOURISM INDIA FEBRUARY 2021

ININININCREDIBLE INDIA

WONDERFUL WORLD AVIATION ONLINE TECHNOLOGY

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FEBRUARY 2021 VOL. 23 NO. 10 Pages 68

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Editor’s Note

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To Revive Redefine the Strategy

he evolving nature of the pandemic forced many countries to reintroduce the travel restrictions more strictly like a mandatory test, quarantines all on the other hand weighs on the resumption of international travel. At the same time, the COVID-19 vaccine and its gradual rollout will help to restore customer confidence and easing travel restrictions contribute to slowly normalize travel during the year ahead.

To accommodate the current trends in the new normal and to gain the maximum output of our market efforts, we have to re-strategize our marketing activities. In order to regain the traveller confidence during this unprecedented time the detailed study about changes in consumers’ behaviour is also very important. Experts foresee the growing demand for openair and nature-based tourism activities, with domestic tourism and ‘slow travel’ experiences is another area that gains increasing interest among travellers.

The Maldives is an excellent model which is one of the few countries open to international tourists during the Covid pandemic more than any other nationalities last year and now the wealthy Indians flocked the shores of the Maldives for vacations There are strict Travel rules and restrictions in the Maldives. Without a negative COVID-19 passengers are not allowed to enter the country. In case they become positive while in the country, only after getting a negative RT PCR test result 72 hours before the flight they can board a flight. The Maldives has granted tourist visas for people of all nationalities on arrival

that makes the Maldives more attractive for travellers . Visa on arrival makes the Maldives more tourist-friendly and saves them from the hassle of visa pre-approval procedures.

The clear blue waters and golden beaches and the almost virus-free environment are huge draws that make Maldives attractive to travellers. Bollywood stars have been spotted vacationing there during the months between December-April which the perfect weather days in the Maldives with a pleasant climate.

Even though all world regions are affected, Asia and the Pacific is the first region to suffer the impact of the pandemic and the one with the highest level of travel restrictions currently in place and recorded the largest decrease in arrivals in the year 2020.

Experts have opinionated that the return to pre-pandemic levels will happen before 2023. UNWTO’s extended scenarios for 2021-2024, predict a period of two-and-a-half to four years for international tourism to return to 2019 levels.

As the global tourism sector prepares for its recovery in7 the months ahead different types of challenges will also be faced. Once the impact of the worldwide rollout of vaccination programmes is felt and travel restrictions are eased more light will shed on the path of recovery.

A strong summer of travel is the ray of hope with a combination of mask-wearing, the global vaccination rollout, and testing on departure, and unlocking the door to international travel once more.

Rajani A Editor

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Contents

FEBRUARY 2021 VOL. 23 NO. 10

10 Cover Photo & courtesy: Actress Neelam Kothari Soni Location: The Lily Beach Resort & Spa Maldives

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

UNION BUDGET DISAPPOINTS INDIAN TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY

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Over 100 mn global jobs could be recovered in 2021

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Measures for integrating health and hygiene protocols

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EXPLORING SAFE TRAVEL IN THE AGE OF VACCINES

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UNWTO Crisis Committee: Recommendations and Next Steps

BUSINESS & EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES

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EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD A-29, KUMARA VILAS, ELANKOM GARDENS, VELLAYAMBALAM, SASTHAMANGALAM P.O., TRIVANDRUM, KERALA, INDIA 695010 TEL: +91 471 2315256 MOB: 9847060531 CONTACT US Editorial Enquiries editor@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9847060531 Advertisement Enquiries marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9745598126 Circulation & Subscription Enquiries circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9745598126 Online Edition www.tourismindia.org www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital Edition: https://issue.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD. All rights reserved Copyright @2021 Printed and Published by Ravisankar K V on behalf of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD, A-29, Kumara Vilas, Elankom Gardens, Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695010 at Aarsha Offset Graphix, Mettukkada, Thycaud.P.O., Trivandrum- 695014 Editor: Rajani A

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THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS

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POLOLIKASHVILI WILL LEAD UNWTO AS SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR ONE MORE TERM PATA: Growth Scenarios for Asia Pacific Fragile and Uneven to 2023

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WTTC says governments should abandon the concept of ‘high-risk

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2020: WORST YEAR IN TOURISM HISTORY WITH 1 BN FEWER INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS

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2020 Worst Year in History for Air Travel Demand

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Kerala should ramp up its commitment to RT: Suman Billa

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ITB Berlin NOW: Technology is accelerating the travel industry’s recovery

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A stream comes true! Berlin Travel Festival returns as a virtual event in March 2021

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Emirates & Etihad the First Airlines Globally to Launch IATA Travel Pass

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Valentine’s Day with Courtyard By Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal

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Maldives THE TOP destination for Indians in 2020

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MALDIVES RECORDS 100,000 + TOURIST ARRIVALS

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VISTARA TO LAUNCH DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN MUMBAI-MALDIVES

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THE BEST OF MOVIES & TV MEETS THE BEST OF HOSPITALITY

48 Dive into the tropical nation with Capital Travel 52

EQUATOR VILLAGE MALDIVES: AN EXOTIC ADVENTURE

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AMILLA MALDIVES RESORT TRANSFORMS INTO NEVERLAND FOR EASTER

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Rediscover the USA

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Avani Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites FEBRUARY 2021 TOURISM INDIA

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NEWS/ NATIONAL

UNION BUDGET DISAPPOINTS INDIAN TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY The union budget laid out budget proposals for enhancing rail, road, ports, metro lite infrastructure & PPP in buses, airports & ports including vista coaches in tourist routes, but lack of immediate support disappoints tourism industry in the country

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he union budget 2021-22 laid out proposals for enhancing rail, road, ports, metro lite infrastructure & PPP in buses, airports & ports including vista coaches in tourist routes.

These infrastructure measures may boost tourism over the long term but only once they are implemented. The measures to change the small companies capitalisation and turnover and support to the single-person company may boost the micro & small tourism entrepreneurs in boosting their organised state.

The new agri infra cess will be a further dampener.

“Lack of immediate direct support in the budget has disappointed the Indian travel and 10

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tourism industry”, while infrastructure measure announced as budget announcements, may boost tourism over the long term, the opportunity for immediate support has regretfully been missed out,” stated Nakul Anand, Chairman-FAITH, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) & cause partner AIRDA. However, the tourism, travel & hospitality industry was looking at support for immediate and short-term measures for critical revival. This has not happened in the budget announcements.

FAITH had proposed a Nation-

Mr. Nakul Anand Chairman-FAITH

al Tourism Council of Chief Ministers headed by the PM along with the tourism minister and an immediate need for common industry status across the country for the complete tourism industry.

SEIS of 10% to all foreign exchange earning members in tourism should have been made applicable for 5 years to ensure a post-COVID recovery. The SEIS for 2020-2021 should have been released in A Global Mice Bidding Fund was required to have been set up with ₹ 500 Crs to restart immediately and double India’s mice share.

There was a need for a Corpus of at least ₹ 2500 crores for a global branding budget to enable Sub Branding of three Tourism segments Indian MICE, Indian adventure, Indian Heritage under the Incredible India main brand to enhance each of these verticals’ global outreach.

To generate post-COVID corporate travel resumption it was required to incentive Indian corporates to undertake domestic mice (meetings, incentives, conferences & events) by offering a 200% weighted income tax expense.

A Natural & Cultural Heritage Restoration Fund should have been set up with a corpus of at least ₹ 2000 crores which would have restarted tourism post-COVID and encouraged sustainable and responsible development around each vertical of adventure tourism & cultural tourism.

Post-COVID, there was a requirement for a truly seamless tourist transportation experiwww.tourismindia.org

ence by standardizing all tourism transportation taxes making them payable at a single point which will facilitate the ease of doing business.

To increase the intensity of high-quality hotel accommodation & Mice Infrastructure in India all hotels & mice venues across the country needed to be tagged as vital social infrastructure. This would have boosted hospitality Capex driven demand in the aftermath of the pandemic.

COVID has damaged the travel & tour intermediaries. It was

critical to protect the business of Indian travel agents & tour operators and a structured mechanism was required to future secure travel agents’ payments to ensure that security for travel agents & operators’ survival.

FAITH Associations had been vigorously interacting with all Government Stakeholders with the hope to immediately pull Indian tourism out of the COVID recessionary conditions in the crisis of the century for tourism, travel & hospitality.

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NEWS/ INTERNATIONAL

OVER 100 MN GLOBAL JOBS COULD BE RECOVERED IN 2021 Global body World Travel & Tourism Council predicts a strong summer of travel ahead and New research gives hope for sector left struggling for survival by COVID-19

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ore than 100 million jobs could return to the global Travel & Tourism sector during 2021, as the world recovers from the crippling COVID-19 pandemic, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

A strong summer of travel is expected as the sector begins its road to recovery from late March onwards, with many major travel companies reporting a significant rise in forwarding bookings.

The sector’s revival is backed

by WTTC’s latest economic 12

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forecast, which gives further hope for the year ahead to businesses and millions of people employed in the sector worldwide. WTTC’s most optimistic scenario predicts as many as 111 million jobs could be revived with travel recovery starting from late March, factors in widespread vaccination programmes, and swift adoption of comprehensive test-and-trace regimes, together with continual, strong international coordination from the private and public sectors.

However, the forecast’s more conservative outcome would

still see a return of 84 million jobs, but this would be 25% below 2019 levels, with 82 million fewer jobs.

Under this scenario, the recovery of international travel is pushed to the second half of 2021. Vaccines would be rolled out more gradually, slowing down the removal of worldwide travel barriers and restrictions currently in place, while depressing demand to travel and reducing consumer confidence.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We are looking forward to a strong summer of travel, thanks to a combina-

tion of mask-wearing, the global vaccination rollout, and testing on departure unlocking the door to international travel once more.

“Our latest research supports this and shows there is definitely hope on the horizon for the global Travel & Tourism sector in the year ahead, with the possible recovery of up to 111 million jobs.

“This projected outcome will come as huge relief and be welcomed as the beginning of the long-awaited recovery, for a sector which has for so long suffered the brunt of hugely damaging travel restrictions.

“Now we believe the sector’s return will become a reality, thanks in part to WTTC’s commitment and determination to

‘Best-case scenario’ could see 111 million jobs recovered; At least 84 million global Travel & Tourism jobs predicted to return this year

save and support the sector, through some of the darkest days of the pandemic.

“But we must guard against complacency as the recovery is not a foregone conclusion.

There is still a long way to go and we will encounter many more bumps in the road ahead.

Vaccinations in major source markets, such as the UK and the U.S., will help us navigate our way out of the pandemic into

a world where travel can once again thrive.

“We cannot rely solely upon one solution and the rollout of vaccines to restart international travel; testing on departure will still be critical to restore travel while respecting the safety protocols and recovering as many jobs as possible across Travel & Tourism, and throughout the wider economy.”

WTTC believes these latest predictions outline the significant challenges faced by the global sector as it prepares for its recovery in the months ahead once the impact of the worldwide rollout of vaccination programmes is felt and travel restrictions are eased.

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MEASURES FOR INTEGRATING HEALTH AND HYGIENE PROTOCOLS INTO COMPANY CULTURE Follow up to innovative health and safety protocols released throughout 2020

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he World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), has released major guidelines focusing on how private sector organisations may seek to implement health and hygiene protocols throughout their organisations and thereby improve public confidence in the Travel & Tourism sector.

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The guidelines are a follow up to the health and safety protocols WTTC released in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and following the signing of a memorandum of collaboration with IOSH. The Safe Travels protocols were designed to rebuild confidence among consumers so they may travel safely once restrictions are lifted. They provide consistency to destinations

and countries as well as guidance to travellers about the approach to health and hygiene in the post COVID-19 world.

As organisations within Travel & Tourism aim to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic which has battered the sector, rebuilding consumer confidence through health and hygiene protocols in all operations has emerged as one of the biggest priorities for

WTTC, and the wider sector.

Thus, ensuring that the protocols of health and hygiene are adopted and ingrained into organisational DNA, is a key component of rebuilding consumer confidence. Acknowledging Common Pitfalls , Introduction for Managers , Managers’ Toolkit , Additional Material for Managers in Customer-Facing Roles are the four parts of the guidelines.

As the chartered body for occupational safety and health professionals and leading developer of safety and health training courses, IOSH is ideally placed to provide support in preventing accidents and ill health in the sector.

This collaboration aims to further help the Travel & Tourism sector recover from the pandemic by leveraging IOSH’s experience and practical solutions to help the organisations and businesses best look after the safety and health of their workforce.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “WTTC is delighted to partner with IOSH once again on such important guidelines. Consumer and employee confidence are key components in the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector, and we believe this document will play a significant role in that process. Meaningful engagement is needed across organisations to ensure that the protocols are successfully implemented, and our goal is to support the private sector in ensuring they are able to have the highest level of www.tourismindia.org

Sector will need to further ingrain high health & hygiene standards in its DNA through managerial engagement to create a safety culture as it has done with security. health and safety.

“2020 was a year like a no other. We saw millions of people around the world lose their livelihoods, and many more struggle financially and emotionally. However, whilst the Travel & Tourism sector suffered enormously, history has shown it to be a resilient sector and we are confident that

during the next few months we will begin to see that strong recovery take hold. We believe that these guidelines will help aid in that process and become part of organisational DNA.” Duncan Spencer, Head of Advice and Practice at IOSH, said: “The management of safety and health is crucial to businesses in Travel & Tourism and other sectors as they seek to recover from the impact of Covid-19. By successfully managing the risks, organisations can not only protect their people but demonstrate safety and health and thereby gain confidence among their consumer base in how they are operating.

From the very start of the pandemic, IOSH has been supporting our members and their employers to manage the risks they face.

We are delighted continue our collaboration with WTTC and believe this publication will have a significant impact on this sector.”

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EXPLORING SAFE TRAVEL IN THE AGE OF

VACCINES

Global Tourism Crisis Committee provides a clear and strong message that safe tourism is now possible

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he Global Tourism Crisis Committee has met for the first time in 2021. Organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the cross-sector body met in Madrid during the 113th session of the UNWTO Executive Council to advance solid plans to restart tourism. The meeting focused on the integration of vaccines into a harmonized approach to safe travel and launching a coordinated effort to boost confidence in the sector.

With countries around the world now rolling out vaccines against the COVID-19 virus, the Committee noted that this opens a critical window in the fight against the pandemic and to promote the safe resumption of international travel. Members highlighted the importance of stepping up coordination, within the framework of the International Health Regulations, of vaccination certificates to ensure the implementation of common, harmonized digital 16

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related travel principles, protocols and documents. This would be in line with the work being carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has reported at potential applications of digital technology to enable safe international travel and facilitate arrivals and departures.

Harmonized plans and protocols the priority The Committee’s own Technical Group, chaired by Greece, alongside a dedicated inter-agency group drawing on diverse parts of the United Nations system and international organizations, are working to ensure measures are implemented, including by governments, to foster their application at every level of tourism.

The Technical Group Chairman Harry Theocharis provided his latest update, showing how concrete steps have been taken to guarantee a harmonized plan of action.

UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “The rollout

of vaccines is a step in the right direction, but the restart of tourism cannot wait. Vaccines must be part of a wider, coordinated approach that includes certificates and passes for safe cross-border travel.

In the longer-term, we also need to restore confidence in tourism.

The United for Travel campaign will help us achieve this, providing a clear and strong message that safe tourism is now possible.”

Testing for safe and seamless travel Alongside the Technical Group’s work, the Committee called for support of the OECD’s own initiative aimed at developing a harmonized system of border controls. This would be developed in coordination with UNWTO as well as with WHO and, representing the civil aviation and the maritime sectors respectively, ICAO and the IMO. The Crisis Committee members also called for firm actions to Support the standardization, digitalization and interoperability

of testing protocols and certification systems. Members agreed that these should be based on commonly agreed evidence and risk-assessment indicators for origin and destination country or territory. The implementation of the CART Take-Off Guidance, developed by ICAO, was identified as an effective tool for advancing the harmonization of testing protocols and accelerating the establishment of Public Health Corridors.

Committee draws on top expertise and leadership Since the start of the crisis, UNWTO has convened the Committee to bring together governments, public and private sector leaders and international organizations to form a united and efficient response. Addressing this latest meeting were Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría, and both tourism ministers from UNWTO’s Member States and leading representatives of from the civil aviation and cruise tourism sectors. Joining them and ensuring the United Nations speaks with one voice were Fang Liu, SecretaryGeneral and Kitack Lim, SecretaryGeneral of IMO. The Global Tourism Crisis Committee met against the backdrop of the 113th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, also being held in Madrid as a hybrid event. The Council brings together more than 150 in-person participants alongside participants representing governments and destinations of every global region, to advance UNWTO’s Programme of Work and to vote for the Organization’s Secretary-General for 2022-2025.

Crisis Committee: Recommendations and Next Steps The members of the Committee recalled that the vaccination opens a critical window of opportunity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and promote the safe reassuming of international travel alongside other risk mitigation tools such COVID-19 testing. www.tourismindia.org

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General report to the WHO Executive Council on ‘Strengthening preparedness for health emergencies: implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); Interim progress report of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 Response’ the Committee “is looking into the possible applications of digital technology to enable safe international travel, including for documentation at points of entry (arriving and departing travellers), travel history, testing and contact tracing, and possibly vaccination requirements.

The urgency of accelerating the coordination of international cross-border travel principles and protocols to ensure a safe and seamless restart of tourism in view of the resurge of cases and the continued lack of common principles and mechanisms for testing protocols related to travel.

The Committee called for Stepping up the coordination, within the framework of the International Health Regulations2, of vaccination certificates to ensure a timely monitoring, definition and implementation

of common, harmonized digital related travel principles, protocols and documents.

Support the standardization, digitalization and interoperability of testing protocols and certification systems, based on commonly agreed evidence and risk-assessment indicators for origin and destination country/ territory.

Support of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s initiative for the development and coordination of a harmonised system in all countries to open borders safely in coordination with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The implementation of the ICAO CART Take-off Guidance, including the Manual on Testing and Cross-border Risk Management Measures3 and establishing Public Health Corridors (PHCs), in order to advance the harmonization of testing protocols requirements.

Countries to ensure that measures affecting international traffic are risk-based, evidencebased, coherent, proportionate and time limited.

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NEWS / INTERNATIONAL

UNWTO CRISIS COMMITTEE:

RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS The possible applications of digital technology to enable safe international travel, including for documentation at points of entry (arriving and departing travellers), travel history, testing and contact tracing, and possibly vaccination requirements

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eeting on the occasion of the 8th Global Tourism Crisis Committee, held in Madrid, on 18 January 2021 and within the context of the 113th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, the members of the Committee recalled: The members of the Committee recalled that the vaccination opens a critical window of opportunity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and promote the safe reassuming of international travel alongside other risk mitigation tools such COVID-19 testing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General report to the WHO Executive Council on ‘Strengthening preparedness for health emergencies: implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); Interim progress report of the Review Committee on the Functioning of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the COVID-19 Response’ the Committee “is looking into the possible applications of digital technology to enable safe international travel, including for documentation at points of entry 18

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(arriving and departing travellers), travel history, testing and contact tracing, and possibly vaccination requirements.

The urgency of accelerating the coordination of international cross-border travel principles and protocols to ensure a safe and seamless restart of tourism in view of the resurge of cases and the continued lack of common principles and mechanisms for testing protocols related to travel.

The Committee called for Stepping up the coordination, within the framework of the International Health Regulations2, of vaccination certificates to ensure a timely monitoring, definition and implementation of common, harmonized digital related travel principles, protocols and documents.

Support the standardization, digitalization and interoperability of testing protocols and certification systems, based on commonly agreed evidence and risk-assessment indicators for origin and destination country/ territory.

Support of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s initiative for the development and coordination of a harmonised system in all countries to open borders safely in coordination with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The implementation of the ICAO CART Take-off Guidance, including the Manual on Testing and Cross-border Risk Management Measures3 and establishing Public Health Corridors (PHCs), in order to advance the harmonization of testing protocols requirements.

Countries to ensure that measures affecting international traffic are risk-based, evidencebased, coherent, proportionate and time limited.

POLOLIKASHVILI WILL LEAD UNWTO AS SECRETARYGENERAL FOR ONE MORE TERM Meeting in Madrid, its members nominated him to continue leading the United Nations specialized agency for four more years

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he Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has expressed its continued support for SecretaryGeneral Zurab Pololikashvili.

Meeting in Madrid, its members nominated him to continue leading the United Nations specialized agency for four more years.

At the end of the 113th session of the Executive Council, held as a hybrid event in the Spanish capital, Members voted in person and in secret for their choice of leader for 2022-2025. Incumbent Pololikashvili won 76% of the votes in a process where the Kingdom of Bahrain also put forward a candidate for the position, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.

Her Excellency congratulated Mr Pololikashvili on his win and the Government of Bahrain expressed its support for UNWTO. Mr Pololikashvili had based his www.tourismindia.org

campaign for re-election both on the progressive institutional and policy reforms undertaken during his first term, and on his clear leadership of global tourism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Council’s recommendation will be carried forward to the 24th Session of the UNWTO G e n e r a l 19 Assembly, due to be held in Marrakesh, M o r o c c o , towards the end of the year.

In Madrid, both the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and His Majesty King Felipe

VI expressed their support for UNWTO and its leadership. The Secretary-General has also laid the foundations for seizing the momentum of the rollout of vaccines to ensure a harmonized approach to the return of safe and seamless international travel.

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NEWS /TRAVEL TRENDS

PATA: GROWTH SCENARIOS FOR ASIA PACIFIC FRAGILE AND UNEVEN TO 2023 The results are very uneven as well, not just under each scenario but also for the major destination regions of Asia Pacific

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acific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has released Executive Summary of the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2021-2023, three growth prospects for international visitors arrivals (IVAs) into and across 39 Asia Pacific destinations are made, covering mild, medium and severe scenarios.

The report shows that even under a mild scenario, the Asia Pacific region in 2023 is likely to still have around 4% fewer arrivals compared to 2019. The medium scenario suggests that foreign visitor numbers in 2023 could be only three-quarters of the 2019 volume, while under the severe scenario, that proportion is predicted to reach less than half of the 2019 volume of international arrivals.

The results are very uneven as well, not just under each scenario but also for the major destination regions of Asia Pacific. The Americas for example, after reaching a total of 45.36 million foreign arrivals in 2020 into 20

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the four destinations covered by this region, is unlikely to see any annual increase in IVAs until 2022.

The calendar year 2021 in particular, is projected to be another difficult year for the Americas. A further annual decline in foreign arrival numbers is expected, with annual losses ranging from 3.59 million to as much as almost 23.76 million, depending upon the scenario conditions at the time.

IVAs into and across Asia on the other hand, are expected to show an increase in 2021 over the 70.64 million received in 2020, but only under the mild scenario. From 2022 onwards, however, annual increases are forecast to gradually improve in volume under each of the three scenarios.

The only differing characteristic is the volume of the annual increase in each case.

The Pacific is expected to be in www.tourismindia.org

a similar position as the Americas in 2021, with IVAs falling from the 5.85 million received in 2020 under each of the three scenarios.

While that decrease may be relatively minor under the mild scenario, it could still represent a contraction of almost five million IVAs under the severe scenario.

Calendar years 2022 and 2023 however, show some return to annual growth under each of the scenarios.

The three main visitor generating regions of21Asia, the Americas and Europe are likely to remain as such, in terms of the additional volume of IVAs delivered into and across Asia Pacific between 2020 and 2023, differing only in their respective relative strengths.

Interestingly, as each scenario becomes a little more difficult and volatile, the relative proportion of IVA growth out of Asia between 2020 and 2023 becomes slightly more significant, even as the

absolute numbers diminish somewhat.

However, these proportions differ significantly across the three main destination regions of Asia Pacific.

Intra-regional traveller flows from the Americas, for example, dominate arrivals into the Americas, rising in relative significance as the scenarios become increasingly difficult and volatile.

For the destination region of Asia, it is that region itself that generates the sheer bulk of the additional IVAs into the region between 2020 and 2023, with its relative share of additional arrivals rising from around 84% under the mild scenario to more than 87% under the severe scenario.

Additional IVAs into the Pacific are likely to be sourced largely out of Asia and the Americas, with those two source regions combined, expected to account FEBRUARY 2021 TOURISM INDIA

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NEWS /TRAVEL TRENDS for over 70% of the increase in IVAs into this region between 2020 and 2023, under each of the scenarios.

PATA CEO Dr Mario Hardy points out that “while growth in international visitor arrivals into and across the Asia Pacific remains difficult in 2021, there are promising signs for 2022 and 2023. A return to near preCOVID-19 levels of arrivals, while possible by 2023, appears now to be feasible, at least if conditions as they are now, abate quickly and permanently. Much, however, will depend on events during this present northern winter and the arrival and management of the more traditional flu season.”

He added, “Given the speed with which conditions can change, the PATA forecast

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developments, as and when they occur.”

Asia Pacific Visitor Dr Hardy concluded by Forecasts 2021-2023 reminding the travel sector that report by the PATA “domestic travel will in many shows that even cases, fill some of the void left under a mild scenario, by the loss of foreign arrivals and the Asia Pacific region that as much care and attention to those travellers need to be in 2023 is likely to still given as to those from overseas. have around 4% fewer Furthermore, for both types of arrivals compared to visitor, perhaps the future will 2019 depend more on length of stay and visitor satisfaction, than on a generic and simple headcount report this year does not have of arrivals. Metrics that track the same destination-specific such indicators will possibly detail as previously published in become a new standard for the past, but rather focuses on determining tourism potential regions and sub-regions. They and performance in what is are however more flexible as they likely to continue being a volatile will be updated twice over the world.” coming 12 months, to factor in

WTTC says governments should abandon the concept of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on ‘ high-risk travellers’

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he World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for governments to abandon the concept of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on how individual ‘high-risk travellers’ are treated at borders.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, is urging governments around the world to shift their focus from whole countries, towards individual travellers.

Instead, WTTC says governments around the world should redefine their whole approach to risk assessment, to revive international business and leisure travel.

Combined with a common international consensus on the metrics used to assess risk and a laser-like focus on a costeffective, comprehensive, and rapid departure and arrival testing scheme for all travellers, could pave the way forward for the meaningful return of travel.

It would also ensure only those affected are forced to isolate, while travellers who test negative can continue to enjoy safe travels through observing hygiene protocols and mask wearing. www.tourismindia.org

TO REVIVE REDEFINE RISK: WTTC Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO, said: “Risk based on entire countries is neither effective nor productive. Redefining risk towards individual travellers instead will be key for unlocking the door to the return of safe international travel. We need to learn from past experiences and crises such as 9-11.

“We cannot continue labelling entire countries as ‘high-risk’ which assumes everyone is infected. While the UK is currently seeing high levels of infections, clearly not all Britons are infected; the same goes for all Americans, Spaniards, or the French.

“The reality is much more complex. Not only 23 does it stigmatise an entire nation, but it also halts travel and mobility when many people who test negative on departure and arrival could safely travel without exporting the virus.

“We have to recognise this reality and redefine the risk to focus on ‘high-risk’ individuals.

We firmly believe implementing a comprehensive testing regime and the use of technology is the only practical way to restore international travel securely.

Furthermore, a comprehensive testing programme will be less expensive than the economic cost brought on by blanket quarantines and lockdowns.

“This refocus would avoid exporting the virus and enable the free movement of travellers, while still observing enhanced hygiene protocols such as mask wearing and social distancing.

“We must learn to live with the virus, as it will take time for the global population to be vaccinated. This is why WTTC has long advocated introducing a comprehensive and cost-effective test on departure and arrival for all international travellers, as a way of preventing those carrying the virus from spreading it.

“As always, there is a crucial balance to be struck between the priority on public health with the need to sustain economic activity.

As well ensuring people are safe and healthy, we also need to secure the health of the global economy and revive the 174 million Travel & Tourism jobs affected by this devastating pandemic.”

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NEWS / INTERNATIONAL

2020: WORST YEAR IN TOURISM HISTORY WITH 1BN FEWER INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS ; While much has been made in making safe international travel a possibility, we are aware that the crisis is far from over

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he unprecedented fall in demand and widespread travel restrictions due to COVID 19 worldwide destinations welcomed 1 billion fewer international arrivals in 2020 than in the previous year. This compares with the 4% decline recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis. Global tourism suffered its worst year on record in 2020, with international arrivals dropping by 74% according to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the collapse in international travel represents an estimated loss of USD 1.3 trillion in export revenues – more than 11 times the loss 24

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recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis. The crisis has put between 100 and 120 million direct tourism jobs at risk, many of them in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, many countries are now reintroducing stricter travel restrictions. These include mandatory testing, quarantines, and in some cases a complete closure of borders, all weighing on the resumption of international travel. At the same time, the gradual rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine is expected to help restore consumer confidence, contribute to easing travel restrictions and slowly normalize travel during the year ahead.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “While much has been made in making safe international travel a possibility, we are aware that the crisis is far from over. The harmonization, coordination, and digitalization of COVID-19 travel-related risk reduction measures, including testing, tracing, and vaccination certificates, are essential foundations to promote safe travel and prepare for the recovery of tourism once conditions allow.”

The latest UNWTO Panel of Experts survey shows a mixed outlook for 2021. Almost half of the respondents (45%) envisaged better prospects for 2021 compared to last year, while 25% expect similar performance, and

30% foresee a worsening of results in 2021.

The overall prospects of a rebound in 2021 seem to have worsened. 50% of respondents now expect a rebound to occur only in 2022 as compared to 21% in October 2020. The remaining half of respondents still see a potential rebound in 2021, though below the expectations shown in the October 2020 survey (79% expected recovery in 2021). As and when tourism does restart, the UNWTO Panel of Experts foresee growing demand for open-air and naturebased tourism activities, with domestic tourism and ‘slow travel’ experiences gaining increasing interest.

Most experts do not to see a

The collapse in international travel represents an estimated loss of USD 1.3 trillion in export revenues - more than 11 times the loss recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis return to pre-pandemic levels happening before 2023. In fact, 43% of respondents point to 2023, while 41% expect a return to 2019 levels will only happen in 2024 or later. UNWTO’s extended scenarios for 2021-2024 indicate that it could take two-and-a-half to four years for international tourism to return to 2019 levels.

All world regions are affected but Asia and the Pacific (-84%) – the first region to suffer the impact of the pandemic and the one with the highest level of travel restrictions currently in place – recorded the largest decrease in arrivals in 2020 (300 million fewer). The Middle East and Africa both recorded a 75% decline.

Europe recorded a 70% decrease in arrivals, despite a small and short-lived revival in the summer of 2020. The region suffered the largest drop in absolute terms, with over 500 million fewer international tourists in 2020. The Americas saw a 69% decrease in international arrivals, following somewhat better results in the last quarter of the year.

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NEWS / AVIATION

2020 WORST YEAR IN HISTORY FOR AIR TRAVEL DEMAND International passenger demand in 2020 was 75.6% below 2019 levels

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2020 showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) fell by 65.9% compared to the full year of 2019, by far the sharpest traffic decline in aviation history. Furthermore, forward bookings have been falling sharply since late December.

International passenger demand in 2020 was 75.6% below 2019 levels. Capacity, (measured in available seat kilometers or ASKs) declined 68.1% and load factor fell 19.2 percentage points to 62.8%.

Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO, IATA 26

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Domestic demand in 2020 was down 48.8% compared to 2019.

Capacity contracted by 35.7% and load factor dropped 17 percentage points to 66.6%.

December 2020 total traffic was 69.7% below the same month in 2019, little improved from the 70.4% contraction in November.

Capacity was down 56.7% and load factor fell 24.6 percentage points to 57.5%.

Bookings for future travel made in January 2021 were down 70% compared to a year-ago, putting further pressure on airline cash positions and potentially impacting the timing of the expected recovery.

IATA’s baseline forecast for 2021 is for a 50.4% improvement on 2020 demand that would bring the industry to 50.6% of 2019 levels. While this view remains unchanged, there is a severe downside risk if more severe travel restrictions in response to new variants persist. Should such a scenario materialize, demand improvement could be limited to just 13% over 2020 levels, leaving the industry at 38% of 2019 levels.

“Last year was a catastrophe.

There is no other way to describe it. What recovery there was over the Northern hemisphere summer season stalled in autumn and the situation turned dramatically worse over the year-end holiday season, as more severe travel restrictions were imposed in the face of new outbreaks and new strains of COVID-19.” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. International Passenger Markets Asia-Pacific airlines’ full-year traffic plunged 80.3% in 2020 compared to 2019, which was the deepest decline for any region. It fell 94.7% in the month of December amid stricter lockdowns, little changed from a 95% decline in November. Full year capacity was www.tourismindia.org

down 74.1% compared to 2019.

Load factor fell 19.5 percentage points to 61.4%.

European carriers saw a 73.7% traffic decline in 2020 versus 2019. Capacity fell 66.3% and load factor decreased 18.8 percentage points to 66.8%. For the month of December, traffic slid 82.3% compared to December 2019, an upturn over the 87% year-to-year decline in November reflecting pre-holiday momentum that was reversed toward the end of the month.

Middle Eastern airlines’ annual passenger demand in 2020 was 72.9% below 2019. Annual capacity fell 63.9% and load factor plummeted 18.9 percentage points to 57.3%. December’s traffic was down 82.6% compared to December 2019, improved from an 86.1% drop in November.

North American airlines’ full year traffic fell 75.4% compared to 2019.

Capacity dropped 65.5%, 27 and load factor sank 23.9 percentage points to 60.1%. December demand was down 79.6% compared to the same month a year-ago, a pick-up over an 82.8% drop in November reflecting a holiday surge.

Latin American airlines had a 71.8% full year traffic decline compared to 2019, making it the best performing region after Africa.

Capacity fell 67.7% and load factor dropped 10.4 percentage points to 72.4%, by far the highest among

regions. Traffic fell 76.2% for the month of December compared to December 2019, somewhat improved from a 78.7% decline in November.

African airlines’ traffic fell 69.8% last year compared to 2019, which was the best performance among regions. Capacity dropped 61.5%, and load factor sank 15.4 percentage points to 55.9%, lowest among regions. Demand for the month of December was 68.8% below the year-ago period, well ahead of a 75.8% decline in November. Carriers in the region have benefitted from somewhat less severe international travel restrictions compared to the rest of the world.

China’s domestic passenger traffic fell 30.8% in 2020 compared to 2019. It was down 7.6% for the month of December versus December a year-ago period, which was a deterioration compared to a 6.3% decline in November amid new outbreaks and resulting restrictions.

Russia’s domestic traffic fell 23.5% for the full year, but 12% for the month of December, much improved over a 23% decline in November. Full year results were supported by booming domestic tourism over the summer and falling fares.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

KERALA SHOULD RAMP UP ITS COMMITMENT TO RT: SUMAN BILLA Policymakers, experts chart out measures to revive pandemic-hit tourism sector

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erala Looks Ahead ,an International Conference and Consultation has served as a platform for the Government of Kerala to learn from the experiences and best practices across the world in its efforts to modernise the economy and bring the benefits of high growth and inclusive development to all the people of Kerala. The on line Conference was held from feb 1 to 3,2021 and discussed the future prospects for Kerala in key areas, including agriculture, animal resources, fisheries, e-governance, higher education, industry, information technology, skill development, and tourism.

The Kerala State Planning Board

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is the main organiser of the Conference .There are two special sessions – on Local Governments and Federalism and Development Financing – that showcased Kerala’s initiatives in the respective fields. There was also a special industry session that will discuss a roadmap for the future industrial growth in Kerala.

Mr. Suman Billa, Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road, UNWTO, said Kerala should ramp up its commitment to Responsible Tourism and move towards declaring the whole state as an RT destination in the light of changing consumer preferences towards zero carbon destinations and zero food miles

besides factoring environmental costs beyond economic costs.

India has a robust domestic market, and Kerala, famous for its products like wellness, houseboats, and home stays, would emerge strongly, he said, addressing a session at the three-day “Kerala Looks Ahead” (KLA) global conference and consultation that began on Monday.

“Kerala also needs to add ‘instagrammable’ activities to attract the younger clientele,” he stressed.

Mr. Billa said UNWTO had described 2020 as the worst year ever for tourism with international tourist arrivals plummeting by

74 per cent, which translated into one billion less international tourists, 1.3 trillion dollars less in export revenues and a loss of 100-120 million direct jobs in the sector.

He, however, exuded hope that the pre-pandemic levels of international travel may be achieved in 2023-24. Mr. Billa said the Spice Route project is the ideal vehicle to take Kerala’s tourism to the next level to build a compelling story and expand the footprint in its key markets.

At the opening remarks Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Minister , Govt of Kerala , said the state has taken several steps to preserve and revive tourism so that it will remain on a firm footing to meet the demand during the post-COVID times. “For that, we must first promote domestic tourism.

Health tourism can also provide enough opportunities. We have now tailored our tourism policy to suit to the COVID times.”

While emphasizing the need to leverage the existing projects, he also listed the new areas like adventure tourism, promotion of the Malabar region in a big way, boosting the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and supporting the Muziris Heritage projects. “The adventure tourism academy in Thiruvananthapuram is in the final stages and in Malabar we are linking eight rivers of Kannur and Kasaragod to promote cruise tourism,” he informed.

In his introductory remarks, Dr Venu V, Member-Secretary, Planning Board, said the state needs to look into the changing trends in national and international tourism as the present crisis from COVID is the worst in nearly a century.

Ms Christina Beckmann, Vice www.tourismindia.org

President, Global Strategy for Adventure Travel Trade Association & Co-Founder of Tomorrow’s Air, spoke about the ‘future of active holidays, particularly destinations like Kerala’.

Drawing from research conducted in the US, she said 72 per cent of adventure travelers are looking for nature and outdoor activities while 12 per cent are interested in ecotourism and sustainable travel options.

“This bodes well for coastal destinations of Kerala and there really is an audience that is interested in specifically what your Kerala has to offer,” she added.

‘Tourism Marketing in a post-COVID Scenario’ was the topic discussed by Dr Nimit Ranjan Chowdhary, Professor, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Jamia Millia Islamia. “Tourism is not just about visiting a place; it is about creating transformation.

Tourism strategy should revolve around creating transformative experiences for tourists.

Transformation should be the key,” he stressed.

Dr Harold Goodwin, Founder Director, International Centre for Responsible Tourism, UK, spoke about the need for promoting Responsible Tourism. “Kerala is currently the world29leader in Responsible Tourism. I have no

doubt about that in terms of a destination, which has played remarkable progress. It has some of the world’s leading businesses, but it’s really at the destination that it stands out as being so different,” he said.

“In a very much changed world, I am not one of those who think that they will be returned to business as usual, I think the post-COVID world is going to be a different world. And we’re going to have to learn to live with COVID,” he added.

Mr. Dipak Deva, Managing Director, Travel Corporation India Limited, while talking on ‘Future of Tourism in Kerala’, noted that on a holiday of a lifetime, people need to come to Kerala now. “COVID has been such a life-threatening experience for people across the world that it gives a whole new meaning to the travel experience,” he said.

“Kerala is also an ideal destination for honeymoons.

There have been many people who have got married around the world but have not left their country for their honeymoon.

Kerala should capture this segment,” he noted.

Kerala has been the most important example in India of the power of public action to improve the well being of the people and to transform social, political, and cultural conditions in a State.

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NEWS / TRAVEL EVENT

ITB BERLIN NOW: TECHNOLOGY IS ACCELERATING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY’S RECOVERY The new START UP NOW format lets users at ITB Berlin NOW find out more about the progress and experience of successful startups in the international travel industry

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nternational Travel Technology exhibitors are presenting innovations at ITB Berlin NOW – Latest surveys and views on the targeted use of digital solutions in the travel industry – Startups offer tips at START UP NOW – Virtual cafés provide a forum for meeting and exchanging ideas – The programme of events is online now at itb.com/now/program During the coronavirus pandemic the use of smart technologies in the tourism industry has 30

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risen sharply. Chatbots for instance have helped to deal with the high volume of cancellations and rebookings. AI, smart interfaces and dynamic pricing have also become very important. At ITB Berlin NOW the Travel Technology segment will provide an overview of fascinating developments, useful innovations and the latest surveys. The new format START UP NOW is where the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show will let successful startups

have their say and share valuable experiences and tips. At the ITB Berlin NOW Convention, the CEOsof international business leaders will offer their views on the future of travel technology.

The themed virtual cafés, which are open all day, are where users can meet new contacts.

Digital solutions for safe travel ITB Berlin NOW Convention is examining key digitalisation topics and new trends. On Tuesday, 9th of March 2021, Lukas

C.C. Hempel, CEO and co-founder of Bookingkit, Luuc Elzinga, founder and president of Tiqets, Claudio Bellinzona of TUI Musement, Ilaria D’Uva of D’Uva and Christian Gross of HochschwarzwaldTourismus GmbH will discuss what the new normal after COVID will be like for travel sales.

On the same day Patrick Mendes, CCO of Accor, will take a look at the future of the global hospitality industry, the importance of digitalisation and other economic developments. In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, customer confidence and health safety are becoming more and more important for travellers.

Monika Wiederhold, Global Program Lead, Safe Travel Ecosystems, EVP Airlines Central and Eastern Europe of the Amadeus IT Group SA, will take a look at how the latest digital processes and solutions can contribute to safe travel.

In a keynote interview on Wednesday, 10th of March 2021, Richard Holden, vice president, Product Management at Google, will provide information on digitalisation trends in the travel industry. In their respective keynote speeches, Vinzenz Pflanz, president of Corporate Sales Sixt Se, and Florian von Klier, senior director of Global Innovations & Solutions Sixt Se, will make the case for quicker innovation and digitalisation in the mobility sector and for greater safety in business travel. David Peller, managing director of Travel and Hospitality Amazon Web Services, will highlight the potential of cloud services for the global travel industry and how they can improve the customer experience. At ITB Outlook, Sean O Neill of Skift will present the latest travel trends for 2025.

Startups share their knowledge On Thursday, 11th of March www.tourismindia.org

2021, at two eTravel DATA TALKS sponsored by SIO AG and featuring bd4Travel and WBE Travel, the focus will be on the growing importance of data in the travel industry. Kicking off the event, Phocuswright will present the latest Technology Report. Afterwards, Michael Docherty, head of Data Partnerships Skyscanner, will show how access to predictive real-time data can offer travel companies a way out of the coronavirus crisis. At the second eTravel DATA TALK, Christian Warneck, vice president, Airlines Solutions, Central & Eastern Europe at Amadeus Germany, James Adams, chief commercial officer of Sixtand Anthony Hunt, vice president, Product & Strategy of the Shiji Group, will discuss the importance of data in the context of the frictionless travel experience. This talk featuring representatives from different travel and booking segments is a first for the convention. Ben Messner, sales manager of SIO AG, will talk about the big reset that will impact the software industry in general and in particular the travel technology.

The new START UP NOW format lets users at ITB Berlin NOW find out more about the progress and experience of successful

startups in the international travel industry. International startups will talk about investors, sustainable travel and current business challenges. Among those taking part will be representatives of Citynomadi, Gopassport Australia, Greentinyhouses, MyCabin, Smartguide and Social BnB. For those who want to exchange ideas and knowledge with other users and exhibitors the place to meet is the themed virtual cafés at ITB Berlin NOW. The Travel Tech & Startup Café sponsored by Visit Greece is where users can talk about their visions for the future and meet like-minded visitors. Every day at 5 p.m., Verband Internet Reisevertrieb e.V. (VIR) is organising a happy hour where everyone can meet.

More than 100 tech companies have already registered for this entirely virtual edition. Among those represented on their own Brand Card this year are Amadeus, bd4travel, Cendyn and Sabre. Companies offering tech solutions for the hotel industry include Apaleo, Cloudbeds, Duetto, HQplus, hotelbird, Infor, Oracle and Suitepad. Among those taking part for the first time are Travelledger, Kaptio, MeTripping and Unififi.

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NEWS/ TRAVEL EVENT

A STREAM COMES TRUE! BERLIN TRAVEL FESTIVAL RETURNS AS A VIRTUAL EVENT IN MARCH 2021 From 9 to 12 March 2021, the Berlin Travel Festival // Digital (BTF // Digital) will be providing an alternative to the travelogues on streaming services and television.

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ew show format: online video magazine in four episodes – Topic headings: Safe Trips & Safe Places, Tiny Living & Slow Travel, Freedom & Adventure, Culture Trips – Expert discussions, panels, video documentaries and more – The target audience is B2C visitors – Promotion of brand products: an opportunity for companies to maximise their exposure Take a trip! But how? In these times of Zoom fatigue, people have a longing once again to relax on the sofa and enjoy a good evening of information and entertainment. From 9 to 12 March 2021 from around 7 to 9.30 p.m., the Berlin Travel Festival // Digital (BTF // Digital) will be providing an alternative to the travelogues 32

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on streaming services and television. An online video magazine is due to be launched that will offer travellers fresh inspiration for their upcoming vacations.

The programme series slogan is “A stream comes true!”. Access to the BTF // Digital service and streaming programme is via the website of the Berlin Travel Festival only. The Berlin Travel Festival is a partner event of ITB Berlin. The new virtual platforms ITB Berlin NOW and BTF // Digital complement each other perfectly by separately targeting B2B and B2C audiences. While those taking part in BTF // Digital can either enjoy a travelogue premiere every night, or make their own selections in the mediatheque at a later date, the leading business event ITB Berlin NOW will once again be bringing the global travel industry together – at a live virtual event and on demand.

“People’s lust for travel is growing month by month, along with their frustration. Where can one travel to? Where is it safe?

How can one get there and back?

People should be able to travel – without a guilty conscience. Our

regular, streamed evening travel series will be more than just another show inviting viewers to “dream now - travel later.” It will offer immediately usable ideas and bookable services”, said Bernd Neff, founder and managing director of the Berlin Travel Festival.

The four episodes will each be devoted to an aspect of travel of interest to the public: Safe Trips + Safe Places, Tiny Living + Slow Travel, Freedom + Adventure and Culture Trips.Each evening’s entertainment will feature a wide range of formats, including essays, interviews, live contributions, video documentaries, travelogues, panels and expert discussion on travel topics.

Four episodes – four key industry topics Part one of the Berlin Travel Festival // Digital series is entitled ’Safe Trips - Safe Places’. It will present a variety of road trips, train journeys in Europe, unusual sea passages and sustainable travel to faraway countries.

Part two will focus on tiny houses, how to unwind, staying local and small changes of scenery –

so-called micro-adventures. The title is ’Tiny Living & Slow Travel’.

Part three will be devoted mainly to ’Freedom & Adventure’, with a focus on mountain hiking tours, jungle expeditions, desert crossings and people’s fascination with water.

On Friday evening the topic will be ‘Culture Travel’, the world’s best places for tasty food, destinations featuring breathtaking art and design, subcultures and unexplored places off the beaten track.

Participation options for companies In addition to fascinating travel lectures and panels for consumers, there will also be extensive advertising in order to present a selection of travel destinations, tour operators, accommodation and tourism brand products.

Custom packages are available to partners of the main event, episodes and categories. Companies can also book a Virtual Brand Profile and individual marketing services. A list of options can be found here. Any company interested can register now for the Berlin Travel Festival // Digital here.

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NEWS / AVIATION

EMIRATES & ETIHAD THE FIRST AIRLINES GLOBALLY TO LAUNCH IATA TRAVEL PASS COVID-19 TESTS AND VACCINATIONS WILL BE KEY TO GET THE WORLD FLYING AGAIN

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he International Air Transport Association has entered partnership with Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines to become the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

IATA Travel Pass will initially be offered to Etihad Airways guests on selected flights from Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2021.

If successful, the pass will be extended to other destinations on the Etihad network, while IATA Travel Pass enables Emirates passengers to create a ‘digital 34

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passport’ to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination.

They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel. The new app will also enable travellers to manage all travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.

“COVID-19 tests and vaccinations will be key to get the world flying again. Since 1 August 2020, Etihad is the only airline requiring a pre-departure negative PCR test result for all passengers worldwide, and again on arrival in Abu Dhabi, giving our guests the added assurance of safety when

they travel with us. A high priority for Etihad is for our guests to have an easy, secure and efficient way to identify and verify their information. Being one of the first airlines globally working with IATA as a pioneer partner on the IATA Travel Pass is a big step forward for Etihad’s guests and for the industry,” said Mr. Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group.

Mr. Adel Al Redha Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer of Emirates said: “While international travel remains as safe as ever, there are new protocols and travel requirements with the current global pandemic. We have worked with IATA on this inno-

vative solution to simplify and digitally transmit the information that is required by countries and governments into our airline systems, in a secure and efficient manner. We are proud to be one of the first airlines in the world to pilot this initiative, which will provide an enhanced customer experience and conveniently facilitate our customers’ travel needs.”

“The partnership with Etihad Airways and Emirates to launch the IATA Travel Pass is an important milestone on the road to meaningfully restarting international travel. Our aim is to give all governments the confidence to re-open borders to travellers based on verified vaccine and testing data. The initial stage of the Etihad launch will focus on all four elements of the IATA Travel Pass modules, one of the first airlines in the world to do so,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.

Etihad has been actively exploring the roll out of digital health

certification for its guests, and this latest partnership with IATA, alongside similar programmes the airline has in development, shows the technology is advancing quickly to make it a reality.

To standardise the way in which passenger wellness can be assured during the COVID-19 pandemic, at an industry level, Etihad is actively campaigning for collaboration and a united regulatory response to restore confidence in flying.

“The Etihad Airways partnership to launch the IATA Travel Pass is an important milestone on the road to meaningfully restarting international travel. Our aim is to give all governments the confidence to re-open borders to travellers based on verified vaccine and testing data. The initial stage of the Etihad launch will focus on all four elements of the IATA Travel Pass modules, one of the first airlines in the world to do so,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.

IATA Travel Pass has been developed as four independent modules that can interact with each other. These modules cover registries for regulatory entry requirements and labs/test centers, verified certificate issuance, digital identity and the possibility for passengers to share their tests results along their journey via their mobile device. These modules can work together as one complete end-to-end solution. Or they can be used separately to complement systems that others are building. IATA has developed these modules to ensure they are interoperable with other industry solutions.

The platform will also enable authorized labs and test centres to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers. The global registry, managed by IATA, will manage and allow the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders and to provide a seamless passenger experience.

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

VALENTINE’S DAY WITH COURTYARD

BY MARRIOTT BENGALURU HEBBAL The Lovely Specials for ever loving couples

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haring a meal and some quality time with your beau is one of the best ways to celebrate this special Valentine’s Day. With love in the air, dive into the magic of the lovely specials at the city’s premium luxurious hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal. As the day of love is fast approaching us, the hotel has planned a perfect romantic ambiance with live music and tantalizing delicacies for you at The Hebbal Café and Nazaara.

The Hebbal Cafe: Pamper your taste buds with some extravagant dishes like Chicken Dum Biryani, live BBQ and pasta stations, deli-

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cious desserts like red velvet cakes and much more.

A perfect mix of chic decor, great ambiance and food under the stars and by the pool, Nazaara is the finest open air rooftop restaurant at Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal is an ideal spot with stellar views of Nagavara lake while you savor in rich Indian specialty cuisine, paired with a wide array of wines, spirits, cocktails & craft beer. Plan a romantic dinner date with your sweetheart indulging in dishes like Gosht Nihari, Kalmi K e bab, Tilashmi Aloo ki Nazakat and the lovable d e s serts l i k e Mo l t e n Chocolate Cake.

Sweet nothings this Valentine’s month

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BERRY’D TREASURE AT GLAZED

f all the good things in the world, there’s only one that can make you swoon, lift your spirits and make you go tizzy are Desserts. Bringing some berry-licious summer desserts to town, at Glazed Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal has

curated Berry’d Treasure from 8th to 28th February. Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the berry goodness in this fest. This month of love, celebrate with your special one and add some sweetness to the day with the luscious berry delectables curated by specialty chefs. Enjoy your sweet nothings with some specially curated desserts like Blueberry Cheese Pastry, Strawberry Gateau and much more.

Experience 5-star service and amenities to match at Courtyard

by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal.

Surrounded by lush greenery and overlooking Nagavara Lake in Hebbal, Bangalore, The hotel offers luxurious rooms, many with lovely views of Hebbal. residence suite with scenic lake views or an executive-level room for access to the exclusive lounge. Exercise the power of choice at the hotel restaurants and pub, featuring Indian fare at the open air rooftop restaurant and bar Nazaara, global cuisine and a daily buffets at The Hebbal Café Discover over 8,500 square feet of stylish event space, perfect for meetings, weddings and more.

Venture out to explore Bangalore’s many nearby shopping, dining and attractions, or walk to Manyata Tech Park, Nagavara Lake or the Lumbini Gardens.

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NEWS / DESTINATIONS

MALDIVES THE TOP DESTINATION FOR INDIANS IN 2020 I

ndia has always been a key market for Maldives. Since the reopening of the borders, the arrival statistics has shown gradual and constant growth. As per the statistics of Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Maldives, by the end of 2020 India became the number one source market with 62,905 Indian tourists holidaying in the island country, thus accounting for 11.3 per cent of the total market share.

In 2019, India was at second place, following China. This growth accelerated due to various travel restrictions amid COVID-19 and air travel bubble that was initiated between India and Maldives. This created a positive pathway for additional flights from India giving much required opportunities for travellers to visit Maldives. After India, Russia secured the second place 38

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Five Indian cities have flights to Male with five airlines operating there under the air bubble formed between the two Countries

with 61,388 tourists, followed by the UK with 52,716 tourists account...accounting 11.1 per cent and 9.5 per cent of the total market share respectively.

Maldives opened its borders on July 15, 2020 with strict safety safety measures for the travellers. Resorts, liveaboards and guesthouses have opened their

doors for tourists in line with HPA guidelines.......

Maldives has become an ideal location for travelling, as it is geographically blessed by its isolated nature, making it one of the safest destinations to travel to

COVID 19 pandemic has shut down the travel industry globally throughout 2020, but there is no shortage of tourists in Maldives from around the world, while India bagged the top source market tag in these uncertain times to Island nation

right now. Incoming travellers from India to the Maldives were largely influenced by Bollywood celebrities opting for stays at high-end resorts and organically promoting the destination. According to Thoyyib Mohamed, MD, MMPRC, “Despite the pandemic, Maldives tourism has www.tourismindia.org

done well. We expected a good last quarter for tourism, 39 but the results were beyond expectations in December. India has always been our focus market.

Over the last few years, Maldives has very rapidly ascended the list of the most preferred holiday destination for Indians. Duringthis unprecedented time, we had to re-strategize our marketing activities in order to accommodate the current trends and in

order to gain the maximum out of our market efforts. We have constantly attempted to study the consumers’ behaviour accordingly and plan for our efforts for 2021.”

Maldives recorded 555,399 arrivals in 2020 and achieved their target of 500,000 arrivals for the year. For 2021, the authorities are targeting 1.5 million arrivals.......

Vacation-deprived wealthy Indians flocked the shores of Maldives — one of the few countries open to international tourists during the Covid pandemic more than any other nationalities last year. The Indian high in Maldives Monday tweeted that India was the “top source market for Maldives tourism in 2020 (with) 62,905 tourist arrivals (accounting for) 11.3% of (total) market share.”

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MALDIVES RECORDS 100,000 + TOURIST ARRIVALS M

aldives completed 2019 with a record-breaking amount of 1.7 million tourists for the first time and

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the year 2020 started with high hopes of reaching 2 million tourist arrivals, The month of January was triumphant as Maldives re-

Currently, there are over 140 resorts and over 330 guesthouses in operation, along with over 135 liveaboards and 11 hotels. There are 27 airlines connecting Maldives to the rest of the world.

corded a 14% increase in tourist arrivals as opposed to the previous year. With this laying the foundation for another victori-

ous year, the country was anticipating a successful year ahead.

However, it was disrupted by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in border closure and ceasing of flight operations.

The lockdown began and Maldives immediately began adapting to the new situation, and the government and tourism industry got together to brainstorm and project the course of the pandemic. The operational efforts were adjusted to evolving situations and the process of preparing for the reopening of borders initiated in phases. , Maldives reopened its borders to tourists On 15th July 2020 with the reopening of several resorts and liveaboards. Guesthouses also resumed operations on 15th October 2020. Currently, there is no mandatory quarantine for arrival but all tourists are required to fill an online health declaration form within 24 hours prior to departure and submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, conwww.tourismindia.org

ducted maximum 96 hours prior to departure to Maldives.

The reopening of borders brought about a lot of challenges but President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the solid decision to do so after careful consideration, and the implementation of several stringent health and safety measures in the country. All tour-

ist establishments are required to follow the guideline given by the Ministry of Tourism and the local Health Protection Agency, HPA. Maldives was one of the first countries to reopen its borders and even during such unprecedented times, the tourism industry remained vigilant and worked

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NEWS / DESTINATIONS towards increasing tourist arrival numbers. In this regard, 2020 ended with the celebration of over 500,000 tourist arrivals for the year, and over 100,000 tourist arrivals since the reopening of borders.

On 10th February 2021, a total of 121,694 tourist arrivals were recorded, and according to the Ministry of Tourism, out of this, 29,591 arrivals were from 1st to 10th February. Presently, the top source market for tourist arrivals is Russia, followed by India and United Kingdom. Other top markets include Ukraine, Germany, United States, France, Kazakhstan, Romania and United Arab Emirates.

Currently, there are over 140 resorts and over 330 guesthouses in operation, along with over 135 liveaboards and 11 hotels.

There are 27 airlines connecting Maldives to the rest of the world.

On 1st February 2021, Maldives commenced the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Presi-

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dent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed were two of the first to receive their first doses of vaccine, along with other government officials, and frontline workers. The vaccine was administered at a special ceremony held at the Male’ Social Center to launch the COVID-19 vaccinations in Maldives. Vaccines are to be initially administered in Male’ City, Addu City and in Kulhudhuffushi.

President Ibrahim Solih stated that the government aims to provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens and residents of Maldives, in the coming months, and also emphasized on the importance of individual responsibility and caution even during this time of renewed hope.

With the commencement of vaccination, up until 10th February 2021, 20,161 people have been vaccinated and the process is still ongoing vigilantly. The Ministry of Tourism also launched an initiative to vaccinate people

in the tourism sector to create an even safer scenario for the industry. This was initiated at Male’ Social Center. Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism, Maldives , stated that vaccination arrangements will be made in resorts for the convenience of resort employees and added that vaccination teams would travel to bigger resorts in the future.

The initiation of the vaccination drive is bound to bring hope to the local population, as well as ensure the safety of tourists.

This gives the message that Maldives is a low-risk destination for travelers, and will hopefully bring about a surge in tourist arrivals.

Further to this, with vaccinations commencing worldwide, numbers are expected to increase, say experts. It is equally important to highlight that the current health and safety measures are still in place, and will be followed strictly in compliance with the Ministry of Tourism and HPA.

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istara Airlines has announced the launch of special, non-stop flights between Male’, Maldives and Mumbai, India which will commence on 3rd March 2021.

The airline will deploy Airbus A320neo aircraft with threeclass cabin configuration on the routes. Vistara airline will become the only airline to offer travelers the choice of Premium Economy in addition to Business and Economy cabins on flights between India and the Maldives.

Travellers are able to make bookings through various channels, such as Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Commenting on the newly launched service, Chief Executive Officer Leslie Thng stated, “Our new service to the Maldives will give travelers greater access to one of India’s most-preferred holiday destinations. We are delighted at the opportunity of taking India’s Best Airline to more places and offering the very best of air travel to people flying between India and the Maldives while maintaining the highest standards of safety and hygiene.”

Maldives and India established the first Air Bubble in South Asia in August 2020. Tourists are able to travel straight to their respective resort in absence of quarantine restrictions as a result of the safe corridor provided by the local authorities.

In addition, India was the top source market for tourism in the Maldives last year. Statistics published by the Tourism Ministry revealed that Indian tourists made up 11.3% of total tourist arrivals to the Maldives in 2020. www.tourismindia.org

VISTARA TO LAUNCH DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN MUMBAIMALDIVES Vistara recently announced the launch of special, non-stop flights between Male’, Maldives and Mumbai, India which will commence early March

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DESTINATION EXPERIENCE

THE BEST OF MOVIES & TV MEETS THE BEST OF HOSPITALITY

NEELAM & SAMIR’S FAMILY VACAY AT LILY BEACH

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Renowned Indian actors Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni, with their daughter Ahana, are currently holidaying at the best all-inclusive resort in the Maldives – Lily Beach Resort & Spa

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enowned Indian actors Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni, with their daughter Ahana, are currently holidaying at the best all-inclusive resort in the Maldives – Lily Beach Resort & Spa. Neelam is an actress and Indian jewellery designer who has worked with high-profile movie stars in many popular Bollywood movies. Samir Soni is an Indian movie and television actor, director, writer, and former fashion model who is also well known in the industry. These two make a power couple where both are considered great actors who have created some phenomenal content in the Indian movie and TV industry. For artists of such calibre, they deserve vacation time as a family to unwind at top-notch destinations. Rightly so, Mrs. Neelam and Mr. Samir decided to have their holiday at the best all-inclusive resort in the Maldives, which is one of the few local owner-operated resorts in the country. The best of movies and TV meets the best of hospitality during this stay – check out www.tourismindia.org

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DESTINATION EXPERIENCE

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their social media to see what life is like at the ultimate tropical family vacay experience in the Maldives.

Just recently, Neelam shared an exquisite photo on social media that has got everyone talking. In the image, she is posing near her in-villa pool at the highly desired Beach Residence giving away many hues of blue. Neelam encapsulates the Maldives’ experience as she writes, “When you wake up to this view... it’s like heaven on earth”.

Fans quickly took to social media to encourage the star to have an amazing vacation and to also get back to creating some great content. Many are surely referring to the popular Netflix reality TV show “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives”, where Neelam stars as herself along with three other women who all give rare insight and glimpses into their starfilled lives. One important plot in that series regarding her life is that she is considering making her return to acting, which many of her fans are eagerly anticipating.

Neelam and Samir are vacationing at Lily Beach Resort & Spa, an award-winning, 5-star resort in the Maldives that was named “The Best, All-Inclusive Resort in Asia” by TripAdvisor in 2020 and the best resort in that category in the Maldives by World Travel Awards in 2020. Lily Beach Resort & Spa is considered the country’s pioneer in all-inclusive tourism.

With its world-famous Platinum Plan, covering everything www.tourismindia.org

from food and drink, snorkelling equipment, fitness classes, multiple excursions, and more, Lily Beach offers the most value-for-money among the country’s resort offerings. It has four gastronomic experiences which include Tamarind, a scrumptious Indian/Thai restaurant with dishes that are unrivalled in the country.

Time and time again for the last

27 years, Lily Beach Resort & Spa has proven itself the best all-inclusive resort in the country and one of the best family resorts. Its perfect location, crystal clear sea, soft sandy beaches, and sunny weather create a year-round dreamy destination. The finishing touches come from the quality of food/drinks and the expert service provided by staff: the pillars of the Lily Beach experience.

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FEATURE / TOUR OPERATOR

DIVE INTO THE TROPICAL NATION WITH CAPITAL TRAVEL Mr. Yoosuf Riffath, Founder and Executive Chairman of Capital Travel & Tours Private Limited, Maldives, one of the most reputed travel company in the island nation, is a visionary leader and dynamic entrepreneur with more than 3 decades of experience

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ooking for that perfect vacation in Maldives- a romantic getaway or a fun filled family holiday by the beach but not knowing which hotel to book?

Capital Travel is the answer that you are searching. Capital Travel & Tours Private Limited is a premiere inbound tour operator in the Maldives established in 1990 having a wide range of special offers and last minute deals for top resorts and hotels. The company specializes in inbound and outbound travel management having a global network of prominent tour operators and clients due to its 30 years of experience in the field.

Mr. Yoosuf Riffath is a dynamic entrepreneur and well-known tourism professional, who has successfully launched and managed new business concepts with global outlook in the Maldives. He is a leading figure and a pioneer in the tourism and hospitality industry of the Island nation. His strength lies in his pioneering spirit coupled with his organizational capacity, his capacity to network and engage with others, to bring in their participation, for the develop-

ment of the industry.

Mr. Riffath is a visionary, a pioneer and a business leader who is willing to face the challenges of a changing global business environment. Capital Travel & Tours is one example which demonstrates his ability to evolve with changing times and changing global demand. He has the innate capacity to see the opportunities in the market and develop business models that fits perfectly into existing gaps.

During his illustrious career in the industry, he has served to develop the industry and worked for the development of others in the industry.

In 1981 Mr. Riffath was a young aspiring youth, working in the civil service, on the lookout for opportunities, the most appealing of which at the time was the budding tourism industry. His opportunity came when he saw a vacancy ad in the papers for a post in one of the largest resort operators in the country, Universal Enterprises. It was here he learnt the ropes of the industry working in various departments of the Company. After nine

years in Universal and equipped with the experience gained, Riffath started his own company, Capital Travel & Tours in 1990.

From its humble beginnings, the Company has become one of the most prominent travel agents and tour operators in the country. At a time when resorts were heavily leaning on the business of foreign tour operators, it was an uphill battle for small local firms. A num-

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FEATURE / TOUR OPERATOR ber of travel agents were formed during that time, but it was only a few that succeeded. It was Riffath’s determination and his vision to succeed that enabled him to rise above the rest and gain the confidence of the resort operators in order to create one of the most successful local travel agencies during this period.

The company has extended its services into flight bookings, room reservations and local transportation catering to the needs and luxury of the client to personal satisfaction with utmost efficiency and reliability. Capital Travel has over 500 partners around the world and is classed as one of the largest and most reliable tour operators in Maldives having allotment contracts with all the leading resorts and hotels in the Maldives. Since its formation the company has served more than thousands of customers from countries across the world.

In 2002, the Capital Group ventured into Hotels Supply business with the formation of ASTRABON Hotel and Resort Supply Private Limited forming into one of the leading companies in the business with the largest collection of

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kitchen utensils and equipment.

The group carefully diversifies its business operation by engaging in trading for last 15 years. Some of it includes Resort and Hotel Supplies, Office stationery and equipment, importing Motor cycles, Cars and other vehicles as well as the establishment of a Vehicle Service Center.

Capital Travel envisions businesses with great care and confidence; constant improvement in services and provision of best deals. The company’s mission is to bring in right balance of human resources and technology to become a modern and efficient organization.

Riffath’s vision is on the tourism industry, be it matters related to its operation or youth participation and employment in the industry. In 2002 he formed Astrabon Pvt. Ltd., yet another pioneering venture, dedicated to providing resorts with operational supplies of a quality befitting the upmarket tourism industry of the country. The Company is a tremendous success with a portfolio that includes the most respective brands of kitchenware and related products from around the world.

Getting people to take part in the tourism industry, connecting them with business partners, providing those with opportunities on which they can stand on, these are things that Riffath is passionate about. In his quest to get youth participation in the economy and to create a platform for young people to prepare for employment, in 2006, he formed the Employment bureau (Maldives) Pvt. Ltd. The broad objective was to complement the national effort to strengthen the human resource base of the country, offering a variety of training opportunities. Riffath serves as the president of Employment Bureau Pvt. Ltd. Riffath sees the development of small-scale local tourism as the next big frontier. He is already planning and implementing ways and means to provide a platform that can be used by local tourism agencies and guesthouses in the operation and marketing of their businesses. His vision is to implement ways to support the segment by offering comprehensive solutions that will assist in the development of the sector.

Mr. Riffath is the founding member and former president of Maldives Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents (MATATO) and Maldives Travel Association (MTA).

He is currently serving as the chapter president for the Maldives at the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and board director at the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). He is also a founding member of the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM). He has been recognized by the Government of Maldives as a prominent contributor to the advancement of Maldives economy in Tourism Sector.

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FEATURE/ RESORTS

EQUATOR VILLAGE MALDIVES: AN EXOTIC ADVENTURE

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KANDIHERA ERA REGION HAS FOUR DIFFERENT DIVE POINTS AND IS HOME TO AN EXTRAORDINARY ABUNDANCE OF MARINE LIFE INCLUDING MANTAS, NURSE SHARKS, TURTLES, AND RAYS

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lthough there are no exact records of when the first settlers arrived in Addu Atolls, several historians have tentatively concluded that people had been living in the islands of Addu for a period of more than 2,000 years.

One of the most significant influences on Addu’s modern history has been the British bases, first established on Gan during World War II as part of the Indian Ocean defence.

In 1956, they developed a Royal Air Force base on Addu as a strategic

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Cold War outpost and built a series of causeways connecting Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. This base is at present the Gan International Airport.

Equator Village Maldives is built on what used to be the Royal Air Force’s Sergeants Mess. The ancient colonial buildings still stand and have been tastefully converted and renovated with a modern look, giving Equator Village that colonial charm mixed with the unique beauty of Southern Maldives, and a splash of culture and mystery.

Set amidst a tropical garden, it is the ideal home away from home for those wishing to experience a different side of the Maldives. It is one of the few resorts in Maldives that is connected to local islands.

Just five minutes away from the airport, the resort has 78 spacious bungalows opening onto pretty courtyard gardens. Each room is spacious and chic, designed with classic elegance, and has its own veranda overlooking tropical flowers and plants, including native tree species like coconut, bilimbi and frangipani. The resort also has rooms with a beautiful ocean-view for guests who would much rather prefer it.

The resort has recently undergone a tasteful refurbishment to elevate its heritage and lush gardens, with a refurbished reception area, restaurant, bar, pool, gym, and beachfront.

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FEATURE/ RESORTS In water, on land or indoors there are plenty of activities to engage yourself in, including mountain bicycles to explore the islands.

The resort’s Dive Centre is managed by Diverland, one of the most experienced scuba diving companies in the Maldives. This team of passionate instructors and guides offer a variety of courses from introductory dives to more advanced courses certified by PADI and SSI. They provide tailor made dive experiences for guests.

One of the most exciting dives in the atoll is the British Loyalty wreck, an oil tanker in Addu City. The British Loyalty wreck, which is the most momentous shipwreck in Maldives, lies 33 meters underwater between the islands Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. Over the years, it has garnered a lot of attention and popularity as a diving destination among both locals and tourists and has come to be one of the best dive sites in the Maldives.

Additionally, no diver should miss the manta point near Maa Kanda.

This drift dive starts outside of Maa Kanda channel and ends inside the

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Atoll. On the eastern side, there is a vast plateau about 22 meters with an extremely nice table coral. Huge manta rays (manta alfredi) up to four meters are common around the plateau and they can be seen all year around. At times even oceanic mantas (manta birostris) can be seen. At the entrance of the channel, you can typically see numerous kinds of reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleons, and fusiliers.

Other highlights include the Shark Point where you can see grey reef sharks in what has become known as the Shark Hotel, and the Turtle Point where Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles are seen regularly. The Kandihera era Region has four different dive points and is home to an extraordinary abundance of marine life including mantas, nurse sharks, turtles, and rays. Gan Inside is perfect for beginners where it is shal-

lower yet offers a variety of marine life round the year.

Besides these thrilling experiences, Equator Village offers guests the chance to unwind after a long day. Serena Spa at the resort holds skills and natural secrets passed down from countless generations of healers, to gently ease any lingering tensions, aches or worries. After an hour of being pampered from head to toe, you will float out lighter, happier, and more in tune with your natural environment.

Equator Village is one of the most significant resorts in the Maldives, undoubtedly owing to its established history and the fact that it is in the southernmost point of Maldives in Addu. In 2020, Equator Village won awards at South Asian Travel Awards, the region’s most prestigious travel and hospitality awards ceremony. Equator Village won silver in two categories: Leading Heritage Hotel and Resort, and Leading Airport Hotel.

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FEATURE/ RESORTS

THE RITZCARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS Soon-to-open world-class Ritz-Carlton resort beckons travelers with immersive experiences focused on island life

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oon-to-open world-class Ritz-Carlton resort beckons travelers with immersive experiences focused on island

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life Set to open June 1, 2021, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands invites guests to embrace

island life from the moment they arrive on its white-sand shores.

Guests will be able to absorb a plethora of Maldivian culture and

INSPIRES TRAVEL TO ITS UNIQUE ISLAND ARCHIPELAGO WITH KEY CONNECTIONS TO MALDIVIAN CULTURE traditions, whether they are relaxing in their luxury overwater villa, watching the sunset from the sandy shore or sipping a cocktail on resort.

The cyclical nature of island life allows guests to embrace the notion of totality and the true spirit of the Maldives. The resort’s beru

(the Maldivian name for drums and round shape) is centralized through the holistic philosophy of wholeness that the Maldivian culture and environment supports.

greeted by a Maldivian gentleman who will blow the traditional sangu horn, also more commonly known as Triton’s Trumpet. This shell signifies an important piece of the ancient Maldivian culture, A Maldivian Embrace ceremoniously blown to anUpon arrival at The Ritz-Carlton nounce a special arrival or news Maldives, Fari Islands, guests are in the island communities. Em-

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FEATURE/ RESORTS bracing this tradition, the sangu is blown to extend a warm welcome to each new guest.

The resort illustrates the cyclical nature of island life through distinct choices in architecture, as well as many circular shapes and structures around the property. Each villa includes an artfully crafted Beru, or drum, which coincides with the evening Bodu Beru, an indigenous form of dance and music with drums made locally from coconut wood on the island - and one of the oldest surviving traditions dating back to the 11th century. This sunset ritual at the resort’s Eau Bar is unique to the property and allows guests to reflect on a day

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full of discoveries, while transi- is caught sustainably, the culitioning into an evening of relax- nary team will work with local ation, indulgence and reflection. fisherman to provide the freshUnparalleled Guest Ser- est seafood and well-known lovice cal lobsters. Guests will also enGuests of The Ritz-Carlton Mal- joy fresh vegetables and herbs dives, Fari Islands will each have cultivated in the resort’s organic an Aris Meeha, or island butler, garden, and have the option of a concept inspired by the royal learning to cook Maldivian dishes courts of the ancient Maldives. In such as mashuni, a breakfast staDhivehi, the local language, Aris ple made with tuna and fresh coMeeha refers to a person who is conut, as well as sample the local assigned to a royal member, one bites, hedhika, for afternoon tea. of the most important positions The resort’s signature cocktail among the many titles and rank- selection is inspired by the mariings in a Maldivian Royal house- time spice routes that shaped the hold. Similar to a modern-day Maldivian story and includes five 59 butler, Aris Meeha fulfills every spices: cinnamon, cloves, cardadetail of the life of a royal and is mom, cumin and turmeric. considered to be the closest conIn addition to the culinary offerfidant much like a Gentleman’s ings on property, there are a vagentleman or Lady in waiting or riety of locally immersive expeGentlemen or Lady of the Cham- riences available for all guests to ber. enjoy, including salutations under Cultural Exploration a majestic 30-foot native Banyan The immersion in local cultures tree at the Spiral Garden, as well also extends through the resort’s as fireside folk tales told by the dining concepts. Ensuring all fish resort’s Moodhu Edhuru, or sea www.tourismindia.org

expert. Each experience available to guests offers a holistic embrace of distinct culture and history of the Maldives.

Maldivian Life Awaits

As guests of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands continue to explore the resort and its surrounding areas, they may find themselves at The Marina at Fari Islands, which is built around the vibrant Fari Beach Club, high-end boutiques, a selection of upscale restaurants, an art studio, and Fari Lagoon Coral Adoption & Marine Biology Center. With convenient boat transfers courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, guests are welcomed with an array of meaningful experiences during their stay.

This archipelago redefines the Maldivian experience, allowing guests of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands to experience a balance of cosmopolitan and private island life never before seen in the region.

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AMILLA MALDIVES RESORT TRANSFORMS INTO NEVERLAND FOR EASTER Island ‘where dreams are born, and time is never planned’ conjures up Peter Pan-themed festivities

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fter a challenging year for all, Amilla’s ‘Islanders’ recognised travellers are hungry for fun and escapism in 2021.

So they have dreamed up Peter Pan-themed Easter celebrations brimming with surprises, excitement - and a sprinkling of fairy dust too.

This Easter, sun-seekers are being invited to ‘think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings’ all the way to Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences. The playful five-star resort is transforming into Neverland from March 29th to April 5th for youngsters - and the young at heart. With hectares of jungle, treehouses, a glittering lagoon and a mysterious ‘Blue Hole’, there couldn’t be a more appropriate Neverland location than this timeless island paradise.

Since the innovative resort team likes to think outside the box, they’ve come up with a unique twist on J M Barrie’s classic tale. www.tourismindia.org

It cleverly weaves in the timely themes of regeneration, rebirth, hope, sustainability and ‘coming together’, which will be showcased through a variety of performances, activities and special events for all ages.

‘Peter Pan – Regeneration’ will be a ‘festival of hope’, according to the Islanders. Highlights will include shows and storytelling

by Peter and Wendy (aka Des and Zoie; the in-house ‘Area 51 Performers’) involving staff and guests. A treasure hunt, Easter 61 egg hunt and crafting workshops presided over by a (reformed) Captain Hook will help keep the little ones entertained.

On Easter Saturday, kids can get involved in creating a sustainability-themed fashion show. It will focus on ‘fashion for a brighter future’, showcasing the benefits (and cool factor) of using recycled and sustainable materials. Inspired by the four elements, the kids will also fly kites made from

recycled paper and plastic down the runway. Magic shows, pirate circus skills, stilt-walking and acrobatics will add even more excitement during the interludes.

Easter Sunday will be celebrated with cocktails and a gala dinner by the main pool while aerial silk performers weave shapes through the coconut trees.

Then on Easter Monday, the entire afternoon will be dedicated to water-based races, games and poolside dancing with prizes at ‘Captain Hook’s Grand Splashional’. ‘Kids’ of all ages can compete in an underwater treasure hunt.

It will be followed by a Flamingo Parade of (waterproof) Easter bonnets made by the kids. The under-fives will be transported around the pool on inflatable unicorns and seahorses. There will also be circus skills workshops and an island-wide Easter egg hunt, led by Peter Pan. FEBRUARY 2021 TOURISM INDIA

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DESTINATIONS / INTERNATIONAL

REDISCOVER THE USA a new three-part webinar series in India that will assist travel agents in updating their knowledge of U.S. destinations and experiences, showcasing family holiday ideas

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eed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), has announced that the theme of the show will be ‘A new dawn for travel and tourism’ and the spotlight will be thrown onto the current state of the industry and more importantly, what the

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future holds. It will also look at the emerging trends and how innovation can drive the industry forward.

Major destinations such as Dubai and Cairo are leading the way with estimated full year 2021 occupancy levels of 68% and 65% respectively and closely followed by Abu

Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Muscat and Amman, with average occupancies of 58%, 56%, 51%, 48%, and 45% respectively. Overall, average yearon-year growth of the 20 destinations researched was 47%.

Prior to the pandemic, the direct contribution of travel and tour-

ism to the Middle East’s GDP was predicted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), to reach US $133.6 billion by 2028. So, given subdued oil prices and a general economic slowdown due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is clear that the regional economy will be relying on travel and tourism to recover quickly, once a vaccine has been fully developed and rolled out.

ATM 2021 will also play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week and for the first time, a new hybrid format will mean a virtual ATM running a week later to complement and reach a wider audience than ever before. ATM Virtual, which made its debut earlier this year after ATM 2020 was postponed, proved to be a resounding success attracting 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries.

“It is imperative that we include a virtual element to Arabian Travel Week because many industry professionals from around the world, cannot attend the live event in person every year. It would also be naïve of us to imagine that governments throughout the world will relax their travel restrictions, to

Ms. Jackie Ennis, Vice President, Global Markets for Brand USA

the same degree, at the same time and of course reopening airports and flight routes will also vary by country,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

AVANI PALM VIEW DUBAI HOTEL & SUITES With Style, Comfort and Spectacular Views

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vani Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites offers an enviable blend of stylish beach city living and contemporary comfort in one of Dubai’s most sought-after areas.

The soaring, 48-storey property boasts an unbeatable location overlooking the iconic Palm Jumeirah.

Positioned between the vibrant communities of Dubai Media City, The Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina, the city’s world-famous shopping malls, dining, entertainment and beach destinations surround Avani Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites, offers every kind of activity

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imaginable for both residents and visitors to enjoy whilst stay in the Middle East’s most effervescent, directional and cosmopolitan city.

With distinct interior design and contemporary comfort, Avani Palm View embodies 21st-century stylish living. The 264-room property boasts exceptional dwelling spaces, with floor-to-ceiling windows, fully-equipped kitchens, interactive living spaces and private terraces featuring sweeping views of The Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and the dazzling Dubai skyline.

Ranging from 41 sqm studios, up

to 165 sqm three bedroom units, with eleven different room types to choose from and a host of amenities, Avani Palm View pairs beautifully-designed accommodation with excellent in-house services, including complimentary WiFi and free valet parking, culminating in a destination offering an enviable, effortless existence, with everything the modern city-dweller could wish for.

Designed as a total travel solution for both short and long-stay guests to enjoy a long weekend at somewhere to call home, the property boasts an array of facilities for

venues and other family attractions abound in every direction.

Avani Palm View Dubai Hotel & Suites is the latest addition to the upscale International hospitality brand’s growing portfolio of properties in the UAE, joining Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel and Avani Deira Dubai Hotel. Avani Hotels is designed for the millennial-minded traveller whose priorities are style, value and comfort. those who seek relaxed, contemporary comforts in one of the city’s most impressive locations. Three restaurants and bar offer a variety of dining options: the bright, all-day dining Seven Seeds; on-the-go café The Pantry by Avani; Aqua pool bar will inspire to create multiple Instagrammable moments , as well as InRoom Dining for cosy, culinary enjoyment, with Avani’s healthy, honest food concept running throughout the property.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle continues with the AvaniFit gym, with top-of-the-range fitness equipment to both tone the body and develop the mind, while the stunning dual-level outdoor pool boasts spectacular views of the city skyline and beyond, making a magnificent place to soak up the sun and enjoy an invigorating swim at either the beginning or the end of the day.

Excellent transport links are key to the property, which perches conveniently just off the city’s multi-laned main artery of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Dubai tram and monorail stations are right at the entrance. Dubai International Airport is just a 25-minute drive away, with the city’s second airport, Al Maktoum International, and the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020 site easily accessible within half an hour by car. Only a few minutes drive from the leisure and lifestyle hotspot of Dubai Marina, or a leisurely walk on the weekend, world-class shopping and dining options are on the doorstep, while waterparks, glorious beaches, action-packed sports www.tourismindia.org

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