TOURISM INDIA JULY 2015

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July 2015 Vol. 16 No. 03 Price: India ` 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

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Unearth the Hidden Treasure Despite its wide-reaching socio-economic impacts, tourism still receives limited attention as a tool for development. “For developing countries tourism means jobs, poverty eradication, community development, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage. Yet, in order to maximize tourism’s contribution to the development objectives, it is critical to address the disparity between the sector´s capacity to foster development and the low priority it has been given so far in terms of financial support in the development cooperation agenda”, said Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of UNWTO. Tourism’s under representation in international financing for development flows remains a critical hurdle to overcome in order to fully deploy its development potential. Despite being a high impact economic activity, a major job generator and key export sector accounting for 6% of total world trade, tourism receives only 0.78% of the total Aid for Trade (AfT) disbursements and a mere 0.097% of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Tourism’s cross-cutting nature and multiple links to other economic sectors positions it as an effective multiplier in global development strategies as tourism often provides one of the few competitive options for developing countries to take part in the global economy. The tourism sector is crucial for Least Developed Countries ( LDC) – in 2013, the 49 LDC countries received 24 million international overnight visitors and earned US$ 18 billion from international tourism. This represented 8% of total exports of goods and services of LDCs, and 12% for the non-oil exporters among them. Tourism was in fact one of the main contributors behind the graduation of Botswana, The Maldives and Cabo Verde from their previous LDC status.

“2015 is the year for action. As we move forward to adopt a new sustainable development agenda, we have a unique opportunity to raise the level of assistance in tourism to further harness its vast potential for stimulating green growth and inclusive development worldwide, particularly for the country’s most in need”, concluded Mr. Rifai, while addressing at recently concluded Third International Conference on Financing for Development at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Even as a leading developing nation, the scenario in India is similar to the LDC’s in terms of Tourism. Many Indian states can overcome their financial stagnation through Tourism Development. Goa and Kerala now contributes more than 10% to their GDP. Even then Tourism is still considers as rich man’s affair in many states and couldn’t do much with regard to the poverty eradication. Our financial institutions are not ready to give priority for tourism and hospitality sector in terms of lower interest rate and higher support. The State Governments and industry stake holders must work out a long sighted future plans along with Indian Tourism Ministry to reach the down trodden and then make use of huge potential of Tourism.

Ravisankar K.V. Editor 11

July 2015 Vol No. 16 No 03

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

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International tourist arrivals up 4% in the first four months of 2015

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Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project wins PATA Gold Award

Corporate Advisor Krishna prasad

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

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MP to host IATO Convention 2015

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www.tourismindiaonline.com

July 2015 Vol. 16 No. 03 Price: India ` 75 US$ 4.99 GBP 2.99

Internet edition: www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital edition: www.issuu.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Tourism India Magazine All rights reserved. Copyright Š 2014 Owned, Edited, Printed and Published by K.V. Ravisankar at Amara Kerala Industries, Cochin for Arsha Offset Graphix, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 010.

Cover page

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‘Awaken your Senses’, the theme for SITE GLOBAL CONFERENCE 2015

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Sudarshan Shetty, the New Artist, Curatorof Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016

Help Airlines Do Business in India

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‘Shaolin’ meets ‘Kalaripayattu’

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SBI and Make My Trip announces strategic alliance

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Coolest little capital ‘Wellington turns 150’ 13

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nternational tourism demand continued to be robust between January and April 2015 with tourist arrivals increasing 4% worldwide according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Almost all regions enjoyed strong growth. Prospects for the May-August period remain upbeat, with close to 500 million tourists expected to travel abroad during these four months.

Destinations worldwide received some 332 million international tourists (overnight visitors) between January and April 2015, 14 million more than the same period last year, corresponding to an increase of 4%.

This result follows an increase of 4.3% in 2014 and consolidates the upwards trend of international tour14

ism in recent years (+4.5% international tourist arrivals a year on average since 2010).

By region, the Americas (+6%) led growth, followed

by Europe, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East, all recording 4% to 5% more arrivals. By sub region, Oceania and South America boasted the strongest increase (both +8%), followed by the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe (both +7%), the latter rebounding from last year’s decline. In Africa, demand weakened in 2014 after years of solid growth, affected mainly by the Ebola outbreak among other challenges. Limited data currently available for January-April 2015 points to a 6% decline, as African destinations struggle to recover from the misperceptions affecting the

continent.

“It is encouraging to see the tourism sector consolidating its excellent results despite security concerns and unrest in many parts of our world”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “This underscores that tourism is a surprisingly resilient economic sector which increasingly contributes to development in many countries around the globe. For national governments, it is a reminder that tourism can be part of the solution to foster socio-economic development and job creation”, he added.

Strong results across many destinations with a rebound in Central and Eastern Europe In the America’s (+6%) all four sub regions continued

to enjoy significant growth in January-April 2015, led

by South America (+8%) and the Caribbean (+7%). Strong outbound demand from the United States fuelled results as 20 million US tourists travelled abroad through April, 7% more than during the same period last year.

Asia and the Pacific (+4%) consolidated its growth of recent years, with Oceania (+8%) and North-East Asia (+5%) in the lead. South-East Asia (+3%) recorded moderate results this four-month period as the rebound in Thailand (+25%) was offset by declines in other destinations.

Europe, the world’s most visited region, enjoyed continued strength with international tourist arrivals growing by 5% through April. The

arrivals in Central and Eastern Europe has increased by 7%, rebounding on the poor results of 2014 following the conflict in Ukraine and the slowdown of the Russian economy. Southern Mediterranean Europe (+5%) maintained strong growth, though for many destinations these are low season months. Western Europe and Northern Europe both enjoyed a solid 4% increase in arrivals, partly due to good results in traditional winter sports destinations.

International tourist arrivals in the Middle East are estimated to be up by 4% through April, further continuing the region’s recovery which started in 2014 after three consecutive years of declines. Africa’s international tourist numbers has declined by an estimated 6% as a consequence of the decrease in arrivals to North Africa (-7%) as well as to subSaharan Africa (-5%). Figures for both Africa and the Middle East should be read with caution, as they are based on limited available data for these regions.

“The Ebola crisis in West Africa and the security concerns are serious challenges for Africa’s tourism and for the international community as a whole. We must work together in managing and overcoming these challenges and in supporting destinations for a prompt recovery.

It is important to remember that tourism is the lifeline of many communities around

the world and that we face today a global threat that affects all our societies”, said Mr. Rifai.

Optimistic prospects for the coming months Close to 500 million tourists are estimated to travel abroad between May and August 2015, the Northern Hemisphere holiday peak season, a total that accounts for some 41% of all international tourist arrivals registered in a year.

According to the latest results of the UNWTO Tourism Confidence Index, prospects for this period continue to be bullish and are the highest for this period since the pre-crisis year 2007. The sentiment is positive among all regions and areas of activity.

Business intelligence tool ‘Forward Keys’ also shows healthy growth in international air travel reservations for May-August 2015. Overall bookings are up 5% thanks to strong demand for domestic air travel (+7%) and continued growth in international travel (+4%). By region, air reservations increased most in Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and Europe, while reservations to and from Africa and the Middle East are weaker.

According to the forecast issued by UNWTO in January this year, international tourist arrivals are expected to increase by 3% to 4% for the full year 2015, in line with UNWTO’s long-term forecast of 3.8% a year for the period 2010 to 2020.

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oreign Tourist Visits to States/UTs increase by 2.62 million in 2014 over 2013 Tamil Nadu accounts for maximum Foreign Tourist visits of 4.66 million in 2014 Market Research Division of Ministry of Tourism compiles data on domestic and foreign tourist visits to States/Union Territories (UTs) received from Departments of Tourism of various State Governments and UT Administrations. Following are the salient features of the compilation for 2014: a) Domestic Tourist Visits to States/ UTs  During 2014, the number 16

of domestic tourist visits to the States/ UTs was 1282 million as compared to 1145 million in 2013 and 1045 million in 2012.  During 2014, the number of domestic tourist visits to States/UTs registered a growth of 11.93% over 2013 as compared to growth of 9.59% in 2013 over 2012.  The top ten States in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions), during 2014, were Tamil Nadu (327.6), Uttar Pradesh (182.8), Karnataka (118.3), Maharashtra (94.1), Andhra Pradesh (93.3), Telengana (72.4), Madhya Pradesh

(63.6), West Bengal (49.0) Jharkhand (33.4) and Rajasthan (33.1).  The contribution of top 10 States was about 83.28% to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2014.  Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have maintained the first and second rank respectively in terms of DTVs in 2014, whereas Karnataka and Maharashtra have come at 3rd and 4th position, respectively due to split of the state of Andhra Pradesh (dropped down to 5th rank) and Telengana (6th rank).  Madhya Pradesh has slipped to rank 7th in

2014 from rank 6th in 2013 where as West Bengal has improved to rank 8th in 2014 from rank 9th in 2013. Jharkhand has entered into top 10 States improving its rank to 9th in 2014 from 14th in 2013. b) Foreign Tourist Visits to States/ UTs  During 2014, the number of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to the States/ UTs was 22.57 million as compared to 19.95 million in 2013 and 18.26 million in 2012.  During 2014, the number of FTVs to States/UTs registered a growth of 13.12% over 2013 as compared to a growth of 9.24% in 2013 over 2012.  The top ten States in terms of number of FTVs (in millions) during 2014 were Tamil Nadu (4.66), Maharashtra (4.39), Uttar Pradesh (2.91), Delhi (2.32), Rajasthan (1.53), West Bengal (1.38), Kerala (0.92), Bihar (0.83), Karnataka (0.56) and Haryana (0.55).  The contribution of top 10 States was about 88.8% to the total number of FTVs in the country during 2014.  The top ten States in terms of FTVs in 2014, almost remained the same as those in 2013 except Goa which was at 10th position in 2013 got replaced by Haryana.

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) will host the first World Maintenance Symposium (WMS) on 2324 September in Miami, Florida. The cost of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) was $62.1 billion in 2014 and is expected to grow to $90 billion by 2024*.

The WMS will enable aviation stakeholders to share experience and best practices on managing this critical function with maximum efficiency.

“Airlines place safety as the highest priority and work hard to maximize the operational reliability of their aircraft. To accomplish this while reducing the everincreasing cost of MRO remains a challenge. The World Maintenance Symposium presents a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to share lessons learned and cross-sector expertise that reflect global standards and best practices,” said Rob Eagles, IATA’s interim Senior Vice President, Safety and Flight Operations.

The WMS program sessions will address the com-

plexities of aircraft maintenance, covering topics such as: Opportunities of Wi-Fi versus inseat inflight entertainment (IFE) in aircraft cabins Aircraft dispatch reliability and human factors Financial and reputational impact from delays Virtual maintenance training (VMT) for MRO In conjunction with the WMS, the 11th edition of the Maintenance Cost Conference (MCC) will take place, offering parallel sessions on: 3-D printing techniques and how they are reducing costs across MRO areas Improving the turnaround time for components that need outsourcing Implementing paperless maintenance records to improve efficiencies and minimize costly human error More than 300 delegates from airlines, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), maintenance and repair organizations, solution providers, and other stakeholders across the global value chain are expected to attend the event.

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inistry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India. The following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of June 2015.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) FTAs during the Month of June 2015 were 5.13 lakh as compared to FTAs of 5.05 lakh during the month of June 2014 and 4.51 lakh in June 2013. There has been a growth of 1.8% in June 2015 over June 2014.  FTAs during the period January- June 2015 were 38.45 lakh with a growth of 3.4% over the period January- June 2014.  The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during June 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (22.21%) followed by Bangladesh 18

(17.00%), UK (7.18%), Malaysia (4.00%), Sri Lanka (3.41%), Japan (2.80%), France (2.69%), Australia (2.64%), Singapore (2.54%),Canada (2.49%), China (2.36%), Germany (2.35%),Nepal (2.10%), Pakistan (1.54%) and Afghanistan (1.50%) . These top 15 countries account for 76.81% of total FTAs during June 2015.  The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during June 2015 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (25.92%) followed by Mumbai Airport (17.58%), Chennai Airport (11.61%), Haridaspur Land check post (10.03%), Bengaluru Airport (8.00%), Hyderabad Airport (5.08%), Cochin Airport (3.77%), Kolkata Airport (3.63%), Gede Rail (1.97%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.93%), Ahmedabad Airport (1.72%), Trivandrum Airport (1.57%), Ghojadanga Land check post (1.18%), Attari Wagha (1.03%) and Hilli Land check post (0.64%). These

top 15 ports account for 95.66% of total FTAs during June 2015.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in rupee terms and in US$ terms FEEs during the month of June 2015 were `8,951 crore as compared to `8,458 crore in June, 2014 and `7,149 crore in June 2013.

The growth rate in FEEs in rupee terms during June 2015 over June 2014 was 5.8%.

FEEs from tourism in rupee terms in January- June 2015 were `60,302 crore with a growth of 6.2% over the period January-June 2014.

FEEs in US$ terms during the month of June 2015 were US$ 1.402 billion as compared to FEEs of US$ 1.440 billion during the month of June 2014 and US$ 1.227 billion in June 2013.

FEEs from tourism in US$ terms during January- June 2015 were US$ 9.609 billion with a growth of 2.9% as compared to the US$ 9.334 billion with a decline of 0.8% during January- June 2014 over January- June 2013.

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he Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the winners of the 2015 PATA Grand and Gold Awards. Supported and sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) for the last 20 years, this year’s awards recognise the achievements of 25 separate organisations and individuals.

PATA will present 29 Grand and Gold Awards to such organisations as Kerala Tourism, Accor Asia-Pacific, Cox and Kings Ltd, Hong Kong International Theme Park Ltd, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Jetwing Hotels Ltd, Korea Tourism Organization, Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Taylor’s University.

The awards luncheon and presentation takes place at the Bangalore International

Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 during the PATA Travel Mart 2015.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, said, “The list of PATA Gold Awards 2015 winners unveils once again the very best of Pacific-Asia tourism practices. The excellence and innovation revealed by the works and projects awarded are impressive and can certainly provide inspiration to raise the standards of the tourism industry stakehold-

ers in the region. Macau Government Tourist Office congratulates all winning organisations and individuals for such outstanding achievements and we are honoured to be part of this prestigious PATA initiative for the 20th consecutive year.”

Mario Hardy, PATA CEO, added, “On behalf of PATA, I extend our warmest congratulations to all 2015 Grand and Gold Award winners and I also thank all participants.

This year we received 269 entries from 83 travel and tourism organisations and individuals – the highest number since 2007. We look forward to celebrating these accomplishments at the PATA Gold Awards Luncheon and Presentation at the PATA Travel Mart in Bangalore, India.”

The PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment; and Heritage & Culture.

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erala – God’s Own Country has bagged this year’s prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Awards for its Muziris Heritage Project in the ‘Heritage & Culture’ category.

The award, sponsored by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), was bestowed on the Muziris Heritage Project for its conservational aspect, unique-

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ness and impact on local community.

“This award is recognition of the Muziris project, aimed at restoring the historical and cultural significance of the ancient town that stretches across North Paravur in Ernakulam to Kodungalloor in Thrissur,” said Tourism Minister Mr. A P Anilkumar. The flagship project of government of Kerala is one of the

“The list of PATA Gold Awards 2015 winners unveils once again the very best of Pacific-Asia tourism practices,” biggest heritage conservation projects of modern India, he added.

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

Supported and sponsored by andes. She added that the excelMGTO for the last 20 years, this lence and innovation revealed by Belgaum, Rajahmundry, year’s PATA Grand and Gold Awards the works and projects awarded Pondicherry and Madurai. recognize the achievements of 25 are impressive and can provide connecting separate organizations and indi- inspiration to raise the“Flights standards Thiruvananthapuram and viduals. of tourism industryBengaluru stakeholders will simplify the “Being a part of the Spice Route in the region. travel options for both in Project, which is supported by Noting that no -bound other tourism and out-bound UNESCO, the Muziris project al- department in the passengers,’’ country could said Shyson Thomas,award Managing Director of ready has a key status in the cultural win this much-admired Pegasus,Mr. promoted by tourism map,” said Kerala Tourism this time, TourismAir Director Decor Aviation Secretary, Mr. G Kamala Vardhana P I Sheik Pareeth said the PATA Private Ltd. ‘’The connectivity provided Rao. The award further highlights award acknowledges Kerala Tourby these routes will help many its prominence in international her- ism’s excellence in regional heritagebusinesses conexpand itage tourism, he added. servation. their reach. We aim to be the There were 269 entries from 83 PATA had honoured Keralaairline brand truly regional with moreTourconnectivity in organizations and individuals world- Tourism for the Responsible existing regions wide for this year’s award, the high- ism initiative in Kumarakom and and to connect non-connected est number since 2007. The awards Kerala tourism’s popular e-News- sectors,’’ he told a news conference. will be presented on September 8 letter in 2014.

Launched under the brand ir Pegasus started its Mart at by Decor AviationFounded Private Ltd. at PATA Travel Bangalore. in 1951, theAirPacific name Pegasus, the airline operation in Kerala with a the airline will begin with two Over 800 industry executives will Asia Travel Association (PATA) is two ATRs with will begin with daily flight between ATRs with 66 seats each. One attend the award ceremony. a not-for profit association 66 seatsthat eachisin its fleet. Decor Tiruvananthapuram and more aircraft is expected to Aviation, which “The list of PATA Gold Awards internationally acclaimed for act- is part of the Bangaluru. The new comer on join the fleet later in April.

Decor Group of Companies, 2015 winners unveils once ingKempegowda as a catalyst for the responthe block Air Pegasus Basedagain out of the currently provides ground theitsvery best of tour- Airport sible development of travel and International in commenced operation in Pacific-Asia handling services to Indian and Kerala from Bangalore, Pegasus will ismThiruvanthapuram. practices,” said MGTO DirectorAir tourism to, from and within the foreign carriers across 11 scale up its services gradually Launched under the brand Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fern- Asia Pacific region. airports in India.

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name Air Pegasus, promoted

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to connect Kochi, Chennai,

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MP to host IATO Convention 2015 T

he 31st Annual Convention of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) will take place at the soon-to-be launched The Grand Bhagwati in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP), from August 20-23, 2015, with the inaugural ceremony taking place at 4pm on August 20. The venue for the convention was finalised after much debate and was chosen over Tamil Nadu and Kashmir, keeping in mind the safety and comfort of the delegates.

Subhash Goyal, President, IATO, said, “We had a difficult time deciding the venue, debating between Jammu & Kashmir, Chennai, and Madhya Pradesh. However, Indore seemed to be the right choice as we last held

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our Convention in Madhya Pradesh (Khajuraho) over 20 years ago. Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been the most active tourism department in the country. The Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Managing Director (Madhya Pradesh Tourism), Ashwani Lohani was supportive and enthusiastic about the idea of holding our Convention in the state.

Hoping to have over 1500

registrations, Goyal is optimistic about the ministerial attendees also and informed that Dr. Mahesh Sharma, minister of state for tourism and culture and civil aviation; Shivraj Singh Chouhan, CM, Madhya Pradesh Government; Surendra Patwa, tourism minister, MP Government; Ashwani Lohani, MD, MP Tourism along with with several other Rajya Sabha members will be present at the Convention. “In fact, the CM of Madhya Pradesh has assured us that he would personally invite and try to get the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to the convention,” he added.

Pronab Sarkar, Honorary Secretary, IATO, will be the Chairman of the Convention, while Ravi Gosain, Honor-

ary Joint Secretary, IATO, and Sanjeev Joshi, Executive Committee Member, IATO, will be the Co-Chairmen.

IATO would hold an Active Members Meet in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir soon In order to highlight the importance of tourism in India and its significance for the growth of economy, the 31st Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), aims to focus on job creation, leading to better economic growth, with the help of tourism in India.

According to Subhash Goyal, president, IATO, “With major tourism potential of India and IATO being one of apex organisations of the

country and since a major amount of the foreign earnings are done by our members, therefore, it is our responsibility to create more awareness and help market the Indian states and provide a platform for better interaction between the states and the tour operators.

Rajeev Kohli, Vice President, IATO, informed that the Association, along with MoT, will organise five road shows this year; one each in the UK (June 15-19), Baltic Europe (July 6-10), Far East (July 20-29), Europe (October 12-15), and USA (dates to be announced).

IATO will also conduct training programmes focusing on skills related to the

frontline and the operations trengthening ties with staff. The topics for the same Indian Ocean Rim are being finalised neighbors willand helpwill improve be announced in ten days, security and age-old cultural bonds” said Dr Mahesh Sharma Kohli informed. the central minister.

Microsoft Indiatourism recently The Minister said that the organised a workshop to edCenter would be laying more ucate IATO focusmembers on coastalabout circuit the various tourism.cost-effective India has a long 7500 Km which productscoastline (cloud ofsolutions) possesses rich easily adaptable forculture small and heritage. If this can be and medium companies, inharnessed along with beach formed Kohli.

“Over 70 and IATO tourism, culture pilgrim memberstourism, attended the same all states particularly states like Odisha will and gavecoastal positive feedback,” be benefited, Sharma said. stated Ravi Gosain, Dr HonorThe three day international ary Jointconference Secretary,isIATO. He being attended added that the Association of 20 by the representatives will sooncountries enter into a stratesituated in Indian Ocean Region. gic partnership with MicroThe Ministry of Tourism has soft.

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

Announcing this at a high level

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ITE GLOBAL CONFERENCE 2015 coming to New Delhi, a great boost to Indian Incentive Industry Chicago-headquartered Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), a global network of travel and event professionals with over 2,000 members in over 90 countries, will be holding the SITE Global Conference 2015 in New Delhi at the Taj Palace from 23-25 October 2015.

With the theme ‘Awaken your Senses’, the Conference is expected to attract 350400 fully paid delegates, of which there will be at least 250-300 foreign buyers to whom we shall showcase India as a key incentive travel

Mr. Anup Nair

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destination and a growing source market. The SITE India Chapter is also offering preevent tours of the Taj Mahal and some 14 post-event tours.

The cost of registration is USD 895 for members and USD 1,195 for non-members.

An Early Bird Offer of a $100 discount is on, till 31 July 2015. However, in order to encourage Indian participation, SITE HQ is offering Free Membership to SITE for the rest of 2015 (only a $50 joining fee applies) and a 10% discount on the Conference Registration Fee.

Mr. Rajeev Kohli

Having been associated with SITE for over 18 years, Mr. Anup Nair, Conference Chair and President, SITE India Chapter, says that the “The Ministry of Tourism along with Air India, has extended its whole-hearted support. He said that the event will serve as a knowledge forum and an excellent opportunity for the incentive travel industry in India to network with foreign stakeholders and build relationships.

The world-class educational sessions at the conference would deliberate on trends and issues related to technology, human resources, return on investment, and more, he added There will also be a session conducted by the SITE Young Leaders Program (launched in India in January 2015), which is open to industry professionals aged 35 years or less and who have less than five years of experience. Nair said, “SITE, as a professional association, aims to bring together the fresh

approach of young professionals with their millennial mindset and the experienced generation, to build business opportunities”. The Young Leaders, led by Nitin Sachdeva and Ayesha Nageshwaran, will help conduct a workshop at the Conference.

The Conference will include the prestigious SITE Crystal Awards Luncheon and the SITE Global Awards Dinner. Besides, the current Global President of SITE, Rhonda Brewer will hand over the gavel to Mr. Rajeev Kohli, who will be the 1st Asian to become the SITE President in 2016. The Republic of Panama, which is the next destination for the Global Conference 2016, will also host its announcement luncheon.

Dr Devdutt Pattanaik, a leadership consultant, mythologist, and bestselling author, will be a keynote speaker at the event. Delegates will ‘Experience India’ with Deep Dive Sessions on yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, Indian cuisine, dance, music, mythology and Indian culture.

Mr. Anup Nair said, “The SITE Global Conference 2015, in New Delhi will be a game changer. The India Chapter membership has grown exponentially to over 50 today, with both Inbound and Outbound players joining, eager to benefit from this professional event. SITE has realised that Asia just cannot be ignored, and that the continent will soon be the hub of future growth in travel.”

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NWTO calls out applications for the 12th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. Tourism initiatives from around the world are encouraged to apply before 30 October 2015.

Since 2003, the UNWTO Awards recognize knowledge creation, dissemination and innovation in tourism.

The aim is to highlight the sector’s transversal effect on governance and society at large. So far, the Awards have acknowledged more than 70 scholars, visionaries and institutions, whose work has served as an inspiration for competitive and sustainable tourism development and the promotion of the values of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

The UNWTO Awards distinguish tourism initiatives for outstanding achievements in the following categories:  UNWTO Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance  UNWTO Award for Innovation in Enterprises  UNWTO Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations

 UNWTO

Award for Innovation in Research and Technology Previous winners include a project promoting domestic tourism in Peru, an initiative for travellers to immerse in the Maasai community in Tanzania, an innovative marketing project from Amsterdam and a mobile application promoting European tourism.

The 12th UNWTO Awards winners will be announced on 20 January 2016 in Madrid, Spain. For the third consecutive year, the Ceremony will be held in collaboration with the Spanish tourism fair IFEMA/FITUR. The Ceremony will be preceded by the annual UNWTO Awards Symposium which highlights the importance of innovation in tourism and is an opportunity to share the knowledge and achievements of the UNWTO Awards finalists.

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erala Tourism Woos China with Kalari-Shaolin fusion and Kathakali in Beijing Shaolin Kung Fu has found a welcome partner in ‘Kalaripayattu’, the classical martial arts form from ‘God’s Own Country’.

Six performers of ‘Kalaripayattu’ joined hands with Shaolin exponents at a rare fusion of the two traditional art forms in the Chinese capital recently. The occasion was a ‘Kerala Evening’ organised at the Indian Embassy in Beijing by Kerala Tourism, which is making its foray into China, a vast market with 107 million Chinese tourists travelling worldwide, according to figures available for 2014.

A shared cultural heritage was the theme as Shaolin exponents effortlessly mingled

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with Kalaripayattu performers in a scintillating display of martial arts. Two Kathakali artists from Kerala then went on to enthral the audience, which had the Who’s Who of Chinese travel and tourism industry.

“The breathtaking fusion of ‘Kalaripayattu’ and Shaolin showed that Kerala and China have a lot in common,” said Kerala Tourism Minister Mr. A P Anilkumar, who is leading a high-level state delegation to China.

“Like Kerala, China has a rich tradition of classical art forms such as the famous Dragon dance, making it easy for us to understand the country and its culture and also for the people of China to understand our culture,” said Mr. Anilkumar.

“Relations between the people of China and Kerala go back to centuries ago when traders from China and Kerala exchanged commodities like spices and silk,” the Minister said, adding that China and Kerala shared several cultural traditions like martial arts, ancient medicinal systems and even kitchen utensils.

“Kerala is a tiny state of India, but it is blessed with a rich geographical and cultural diversity,” said Kerala Chief Secretary Mr. Jiji Thomson IAS, who is part of the state delegation. “With an easy connectivity and ideal proximity, Kerala is a natural destination for visitors from China,” he added.

“The first thing that tourists from worldwide see on

our famous backwaters in Kerala is the Chinese fishing net along its coast. The most important thing in a kitchen in Kerala is the Chinese frying pan,” Mr. Thomson said referring to the cultural similarities between China and Kerala.

Senior Chinese journalists, corporate executives, airline industry officials and tour operators were part of a select audience at the ‘Kerala Evening’ hosted by Kerala Tourism and the Indian Embassy. Indian Ambassador to China, Mr. Ashok K Kantha, was present on the occasion along with the Kerala Chief Secretary and Kerala Tourism Secretary Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao. A highlight of the occasion was a presentation on Kerala’s destinations by Mr. Rao. Buoyed by the enthusiastic response to the martial arts fusion and Kathakali performance, Kerala Tourism organised a repeat show of the two performances for the general public at the Indian Embassy.

Kerala Tourism and its industry partners from the state also participated in a

road show in Shanghai on June 30. It was the first road show ever conducted by Kerala Tourism in China.

Known for its beautiful backwaters, pristine beaches, majestic hills and a calm countryside, Kerala took the first step towards rolling down the red carpet for the people of China, the most travelled in the world today, with the participation of the Tourism Department of Kerala in BITE 2015.

Kerala’s renowned ancient medicinal system of Ayurveda is expected to be a huge attraction for Chinese visitors along with a variety of tourism destinations and products spanning a whole spectrum of cultural and social milieu.

China and Kerala are also known for the ancient trade routes, the Spice Route, and the Silk Route, linking both with the rest of the world.

“Kerala offers everything a modern day Chinese traveller aspires for,” said Kerala Tourism Secretary Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao. “We have heritage destinations like Fort Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Bekal, back-

water locations like Kochi, Alappuzha and Kollam, hill towns like Munnar, Wagamon and Thekkady, calm beaches like Kovalam, Varkala and Poovar,” Mr. Rao added.

The Great Backwaters of Kerala is considered a oncein-a-lifetime experience like the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon.

China is a key market for Kerala Tourism as the Asian neighbour is credited with the highest number of outbound tourists in the world.

Most of the tourists from China prefer Asian holiday destinations.

There has been an increase of 33.44% of Chinese tourist inflow to Kerala in 2014 compared to the previous year.

As many as nine private trade partners of Kerala Tourism are taking part in BITE 2015.The participation of Kerala Tourism in BITE 2015, attended by travel trade executives from around the world and the road show in Shanghai are expected to bring the trade and industry in China close to their counterparts in Kerala.

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early a month after a high-powered panel of artists and prominent personalities made their unanimous decision, Mr. K C Joseph, Minister for Culture, Kerala announced one of the most innovative Indian contemporary artists, Mr. Sudarshan Shetty, as the curator of the Kochi Muziris Biennale (KMB) 2016 at a function in Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. The new curator continues the KMB tradition of be28

ing an exhibition curated by an artist.

“KMB has contributed to Kerala’s culture, tourism and hospitality industries and renewed India’s cultural position in the world.

We will extend full support to the programme in the coming years,” said the minister at an event attended by political bigwigs and artistes from the state, including biennale founders Mr. Bose Krishnamachari and Mr. Riyas Komu. “The new curator will be vital to furthering this site of art.”

Mr. Shetty, 54, takes over the mantle of KMB curator and artistic director from Mr. Jitish Kallat, both are Mumbai-based internationally renowned artists.

“Through just two biennales, the KMB has acquired the role of one of the most important exhibitions globally,” said Mr. Shetty, who was at the function with his wife and daughter. “It is a privilege to be the declared curator. This is early stages and my thoughts will undergo several changes, but I will be looking to the future while considering the past, in putting together the exhibition in 2016.”

KMB 14 was 108-day

event, spread across eight venues, featuring 52 international and 42 Indian artists, and received nearly 5 lakh visitors.

“It is good to have a curator who has worked in various mediums and so can understand in various ways how art can capture aspects of life,” said Mr.Shashi Tharoor MP. “We have overcome some of the parochial mentalities in recognising the role of KMB and people are coming from all over the country and the world to see it. So, we should strongly invest in it.”

The new curator was selected after a month-long deliberation by a panel under KBF comprising artists Amar Kanwar, Atul Dodiya, Bharti Kher, Jyoti Basu, and patrons

Kiran Nadar, Ranjit Hoskote, Shireen Gandhi, V Sunil, and also Kochi Biennale Foundation President Krishnamachari and Secretary Komu.

Other members of the panel are, Mr. M A Baby, former Cultural Minister of Kerala, Mr. Dominic Presentation MLA, Thiruvananthapuram City Mayor Mrs. Chandrika, Kochi Mayor Mr. Tony Chammani, film makers Mr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mr. Shaji N Karun and Mr. Lenin Rajendran, and Planning Board Member Mr. G Vijayaraghavan, Former DGP and KBF trustee Mr. Hormiz Tharakan, ADGP Ms. R Sreelekha IPS, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy chairman Mr. Soorya Krishnamoorthy.

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tate Bank of India, the country’s largest Bank and MakeMyTrip.com, India’s leading Online Travel Company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, identifying areas of cooperation to expand the market for online travel services in India. This strategic

association will enable both partners to capitalize on the opportunity presented by India’s burgeoning internet economy that is driven by a boost in adoption of e-commerce and m-commerce.

The two partners seek to unlock the array of business opportunities available in this segment across various spheres, by becoming integral to all the segments 30

of the consumers’ lifecycle.

SBI is aiming towards driving synergies between banking and various other aspects of a customer’s lifecycle, including the travel segment and positioning SBI as the “goto” bank for all of customers’ needs. Make My Trip is focused on expanding the travel market opportunity by driving the offlineto-online adoption in the Hotels & Packages business, and meeting the travel aspirations of Indian customers.

Speaking on the association, Smt. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, SBI highlighted, “Travel forms an integral part of a customer’s lifecycle and comprises almost 65% of the total e-Commerce market today. Our alliance with Make My Trip will work towards providing value to each of the stakeholder along the entire value chain of travel and tourism business, starting from hotels, travel agents, tour operators be-

sides the end consumers and our customer-base. SBI aims at becoming a “One Stop” solution provider for the entire range of financial needs of e-Commerce players as well as our customers in the market. In the digital era, it is very important that we stay ahead of the curve and such strategic alliances are steps towards the right direction.”

Mr. Deep Kalra, Chairman & Group CEO – MakeMyTrip, elaborated, “The overall macro sentiments are positive and we believe this is the right time to identify and execute opportunities to unlock the market potential.

We already command nearly 50% of the online travel market-share in India. The key lever of future growth will be offline-to online, or rather, offline-to-mobile shift. We believe our association with SBI, the trusted banker for millions of Indians, will help to catalyze this shift and bring us closer to our target set of consumers. Our network of over 24,000 hotels, expanded service and product portfolio of Rail & Bus bookings and technology innovations of mobile bookings in local languages will further aid our adoption in Tier 2 markets.”

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nion Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, formally launched the GAGAN system (GPS AIDED GEO AUGMENTED NAVIGATION). Speaking on the occasion, the Minister congratulated the entire team on development of the GAGAN project.

GAGAN is the first SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System) in the world certified for Approach with Vertical Guidance operating in the Equatorial Ionosphere region and the third SBAS to have achieved this feat, after WAAS of USA and EGNOS of

Europe. GAGAN was already certified for en route operation since 30th December 2013.

GAGAN is a joint effort of Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

In the aviation field, GAGAN will support more direct air routes, reduce fuel consumption and improve safety. In addition, GAGAN provides benefits to agriculture, all modes of transportation and public services such as defence services, security agencies and disaster recovery management by aiding in

search and rescue to locate the disaster zone accurately.

Since 14th February 2014, GAGAN has been continuously providing navigation signals from GSAT-8 and GSAT-10 satellites launched

by ISRO, augmenting the performance of GPS signals received over Indian Airspace.

Mr. R.N.Choubey, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Smt M.Sathiyavathy, Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr. R.K.Srivastava, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, Dr. Y.V.N.Krishnamurthy, Scientific Secretary,ISRO were also present on the occasion.

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he Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma has said that tourism has the potential to become the backbone of the economy of the country since it is a means to earn foreign exchange, generate employment and create women empowerment.

Speaking at the interactive session and the press conference of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) in New Delhi recently, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that the world has become a global village and tourism is a powerful tool to connect our country to the rest of the world.

Appreciating the role played by private stakeholders like IATO in promoting tourism in the country, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that the participation of the private sector should be explored to

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the maximum possible extent to promote tourism and to meet tourism related targets.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi has been playing the role of Brand Ambassador and promoting India before the world. The Foreign Tourist Arrivals(FTAs) from these countries visited by the Prime Minister have shown a substantial increase , Dr Mahesh Sharma disclosed.

Highlighting the value of Indian Handicrafts as part of the Indian culture , the Minister said that promotion of handicrafts must be made an essential part of tourism promotion.

Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Dr. Lalit Panwar said that the measures like e-tourist visa taken up by the

government recently have shown tremendous results.

He requested IATO members to give it wide publicity and encourage tourists to make use of this facility.

The President of IATO, Subhash Goyal disclosed the 31st annual convention of IATO will be held in Indore from 20th to 23rd August, 2015, which will also help to give fillip to tourism in the state.

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he Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma held a meeting with the Minister of Women & Child Development of Madhya Pradesh, Smt. Maya Singh in New Delhi recently. Highlighting the potential of tourism in the historical city of Gwalior,

Smt. Maya Singh said that the state government wishes to develop tourism in Gwalior by setting up a historical Museum of Rani Laxmibai along with the Statue of the great freedom fighter which will become a tourist attraction.

Smt. Maya Singh demanded that Centre should help the state to promote tourism prospects with the help

of historical heritage associated with the statue of the great freedom fighter. She also requested the Centre to develop a convention centre in the name of Rani Laxmibai.

Dr. Mahesh Sharma assured Smt. Maya Singh that the Centre will explore all possibilities to meet the demands of the state.

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Airports Authority of India (AAI) in New Delhi today.

The AAI declared a dividend of Rs 288 crore for the year 2013-14. An interim dividend cheque amounting to Rs 145 crore was already presented

to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on August 4, 2014.

Mr. R. N. Choubey, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

he Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju received a cheque amounting to Rs. 143 crores as final dividend for the year 2013-14 from Mr. R.K. Srivastava, Chairman,

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for the development of a comprehensive policy for aviation aligned with the Indian Government’s stated intention to make it easier to do business in India. The objective is to allow India to derive maximum social and economic benefits as its aviation market grows to become the third largest in the world. That is expected to happen in 2029 when the number of travelers to, from and within India will near 280 million annually.

“Already aviation and aviation-related tourism support 7 million Indian jobs and $23 billion of India’s GDP. The healthy growth of the sector has the potential to expand these benefits tremendously. But there are immense challenges which must be overcome—as seen in the sector’s financial performance. While demand growth is robust and some airlines are generating profit, sector-wide losses for India are still expected to exceed $1 billion this year. Onerous regulation and processes, debilitating taxes and expensive infrastructure are holding back the industry’s ability to deliver greater economic benefits to India,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

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Tyler was delivering a keynote address at the Aviation Day India organized by IATA together with India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Confederation of Indian Industry. In his address Tyler highlighted three priority areas where work is needed to reduce costs in India.

Reducing the Tax The application of Service Tax should be aligned with a principle that it does not apply to services rendered outside of India including those for over flight charges, global distribution systems, extra baggage fees and international tickets.

He also highlighted that the incoming GST regime should also zero-rate international air transport services in line with OECD guidelines, the need to follow international treaties that protect airlines from double-taxation on income and the need to avoid double-taxation within India in situations where airlines are effectively taxed on taxes collected.

Competitive Fuel Pricing State taxes on jet fuel can be as high as 30%. Tyler urged the government to grant “declared goods” status for jet fuel which would limit taxation. “The decision to introduce competition in jet fuel supply at key airports needs to be followed up with open access to the pipelines that get fuel to the airport in order for efficiencies of a liberalized market to be realized,” said Tyler.

Allowing AERA to do its

work Tyler highlighted the importance of allowing the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to do its work independently. He called for action in three areas: • Overcome legal challenges which prevent AERA’s recommendation for a 78% reduction in Delhi’s airport charges from being implemented.

• Protect the independence of AERA and the principle of a “single till” for airport charges in light of stock exchange filings which show that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had instructed AERA to use a hybrid till for its “independent” determination of airport charges at Hyderabad.

• Carefully assess the proposed privatizations of Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Chennai to ensure that the “single till” principle is maintained and that the privatization terms are appropriate to the level of development at the airports. Significant public investment in these airports should be considered in a cost/benefit analysis aimed at determining if the public interest would be best-served by a concession contract or a management contract.

Smarter Regulation “Regulation is also holding back the development of the sector. Well-intentioned regulations, but which are inconsistent with global stand-

ards, make doing business in India very difficult for the airlines. India imposes rules and requirements that are not seen anywhere else,” said Tyler.

Tyler highlighted several examples where Indian regulation is out-of-step with global standards and best practices.

“India needs smarter regulation. This essentially means taking a businesslike approach to regulation using common-sense and proven principles. These include targeting regulation to address real issues, using global standards where they exist, satisfying a rigorous cost benefit analysis and consultation with industry.

If we can work together to build regulations that meet the public interest, are consistent with global standards and which can be implemented efficiently then we are all winners. And we will avoid the angst involved in unwinding mistakes,” said Tyler.

“There is a great opportunity for the government’s ease of business agenda in aviation. Aviation is already a largely standardized industry with many global references to guide us. And by working with MoCA based on airline input, we could develop and deliver an effective action plan for aviation in India. I would like to be ambitious about what we can achieve.

Aviation should be the model sector demonstrating India’s efforts to make it easier to do business here,” said Tyler.

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erala Tourism Woos China with Kalari-Shaolin fusion and Kathakali in Beijing Shaolin Kung Fu has found a welcome partner in ‘Kalaripayattu’, the classical martial arts form from ‘God’s Own Country’.

Six performers of ‘Kalaripayattu’ joined hands with Shaolin exponents at a rare fusion of the two traditional art forms in the Chinese capital recently. The occasion was a ‘Kerala Evening’ organised at the Indian Embassy in Beijing by Kerala Tourism, which is making its foray into China, a vast market with 107 million Chinese tourists travelling worldwide, according to figures available for 2014.

A shared cultural heritage was the theme as Shaolin exponents effortlessly mingled with Kalaripayattu performers in a scintillating display of martial arts. Two Kathakali artists from Kerala then went on to enthral the audience, which had the Who’s Who of Chinese travel and tourism industry.

“The breathtaking fusion of ‘Kalaripayattu’ and Shaolin showed that Kerala and China have a lot in common,” said Kerala Tourism Minister

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Mr. A P Anilkumar, who is leading a high-level state delegation to China.

“Like Kerala, China has a rich tradition of classical art forms such as the famous Dragon dance, making it easy for us to understand the country and its culture and also for the people of China to understand our culture,” said Mr. Anilkumar.

“Relations between the people of China and Kerala go back to centuries ago when traders from China and Kerala exchanged commodities like spices and silk,” the Minister said, adding that China and Kerala shared several cultural traditions like martial arts, ancient medicinal systems and even kitchen utensils.

“Kerala is a tiny state of India, but it is blessed with a rich geographical and cultural diversity,” said Kerala Chief Secretary Mr. Jiji Thomson IAS, who is part of the state delegation. “With an easy connectivity and ideal proximity, Kerala is a natural destination for visitors from China,” he added.

“The first thing that tourists from worldwide see on our famous backwaters in

Kerala is the Chinese fishing net along its coast. The most important thing in a kitchen in Kerala is the Chinese frying pan,” Mr. Thomson said referring to the cultural similarities between China and Kerala.

Senior Chinese journalists, corporate executives, airline industry officials and tour operators were part of a select audience at the ‘Kerala Evening’ hosted by Kerala Tourism and the Indian Embassy. Indian Ambassador to China, Mr. Ashok K Kantha, was present on the occasion along with the Kerala Chief Secretary and Kerala Tourism Secretary Mr. G Kamala Vardhana Rao. A highlight of the occasion was a presentation on Kerala’s destinations by Mr. Rao. Buoyed by the enthusiastic response to the martial arts fusion and Kathakali performance, Kerala Tourism organised a repeat show of the two performances for the general public at the Indian Embassy.

Kerala Tourism and its industry partners from the state also participated in a road show in Shanghai on June 30. It was the first road show ever conducted by Ker-

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for May showing strong demand growth compared to May 2014 for both domestic and international traffic. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 6.9%, which was an

improvement on the April year-over-year increase of 5.7%. May capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.5%, and load factor rose 0.3 percentage points to 79.3%.

“May results confirm that demand for connectivity remains robust, but there are

possible storm clouds forming on the horizon. The financial crisis in Greece and recent weakness in regional trade activity in Asia-Pacific have the potential to dampen performance in these markets in the coming months” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

May 2015 vs. May 2014 International Domestic Total Market

RPK Growth 7.1% 6.6% 6.9%

ASK Growth 6.7% 6.2% 6.5%

PLF 78.4 81.0 79.3

YTD 2015 vs. YTD 2014 International Domestic Total Market

RPK Growth A 6.5% 6.1% 6.3%

SK Growth 6.2% 5.4% 5.9%

PLF 78.2 80.4 9.0

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International Passenger Markets May international passenger demand rose 7.1% compared to May 2014, with airlines in all regions except Africa recording growth. Total capacity climbed 6.7%, pushing load factor up 0.3 percentage points to 78.4%.

Asia-Pacific airlines’ May traffic jumped 9.4% compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 6.8% and load factor climbed 1.8 percentage points to 76.0%.

The strong performance occurred despite weakness in regional trade activity during recent months.

European carriers saw demand increase by 5.9%.

Growth has been robust despite Europe’s economic woes; however a further worsening of the Greek financial crisis could bring this positive trend under significant pressure. Capacity climbed 4.1% and load factor rose 1.4 percentage points to 81.6%, highest among the regions.

North American airlines’ May 2015 vs. May 2014 Australia Brazil China P.R India Japan Russian Federation US Domestic India’s domestic demand accelerated 18.2% in May compared to May 2014 likely owing to market stimulation 38

traffic rose 2.0% compared to May a year ago, which was an improvement on the April rise of 0.7%. Capacity climbed 4.2% and load factor fell 1.7 percentage points to 81.1%. Expectations for better economic performance in Q2 should support demand for air travel, but the strengthening dollar likely will continue to place downward pressure on international leisure travel to the US. Middle East carriers’ May demand soared 14.0% over the same month in 2014.

Markit’s measures of business activity in non-oil sectors continue to show improvement and point to strong growth. The result also could reflect some additional travel prior to the arrival of the month-long Ramadan period that began in June. Capacity rose 19.7% and load factor fell 3.7 percentage points to 74.6%.

Latin American airlines experienced a 7.4% rise in traffic compared to May 2014.

Capacity climbed 6.8% and RPK Growth -1.3% 0.8% 12.7% 18.2% 4.8% 4.4% 4.3% 6.6% by local carriers as well as notable improvements in economic growth.

China domestic traffic

load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 80.2%. Regional trade volumes have continued to improve, which has provided a boost to business related international travel despite weakness in Argentina and Brazil.

African airlines’ traffic fell 3.9% in May year-to-year, most likely owing to adverse economic developments in parts of the continent, including Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, which relies heavily on oil revenues. Capacity dropped faster than demand, slipping 4.9%, with the result that load factor improved 0.7 percentage points to 64.6%.

Domestic Passenger Markets Domestic travel demand rose 6.6% in May compared to May 2014, with the strongest growth occurring in India and China. Domestic capacity was up 6.2%, and load factor improved 0.3 percentage points to 81.0%.

ASK Growth -1.7% 0.9% 11.6% 7.7% 0.9% 14.0% 4.9% 6.2%

PLF 72.2 78.6 80.1 87.4 66.0 68.2 86.0 81.0

climbed 12.7% year-overyear. Although GDP growth slowed slightly in the first quarter compared to the

fourth quarter of 2014, this does not appear to have caused a weakening in air travel demand.

The Bottom Line: “As we enter the busy summer travel season in the northern hemisphere, many millions of people will rely on aviation to explore the world or re-connect with friends and family. The mobility that is taken for granted by

these travelers is the result of the efforts of 2.5 million air transport professionals working in careful cooperation to ensure safe journeys.

It will also be clear that in many cases the infrastructure is insufficient to meet demand. Delays and crowded airports should send strong signals to government leaders to address critical choke points, implement risk-based

security and advance much needed air traffic management modernization in many parts of the world. NextGen in the US and the Single European Sky are the best known programs which need political will to move forward. And in China, despite best efforts to minimize delays there is still much more work to be done,� said Tyler.

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teve McCurry has captured a series of photographs for IHG® Rewards Club to celebrate the launch of its new top membership level Spire Elite, introduced to recognise and reward its most loyal members IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced the name of IHG Rewards Club’s new top membership level, Spire Elite, introduced to recognise and reward its most loyal members. To celebrate the launch, world renowned travel photographer Steve McCurry - who is best known for his 1984 photographic portrait ‘Afghan Girl’ - has joined forces with the world’s biggest hotel loyalty programme to capture how a moment of recognition is brought to life through three poignant photographs. Each photograph depicts that unique and treasured moment at which one person recognises another.

Starting this week, IHG Re-

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wards Club will better reward its most loyal members, with the most relevant benefits, through the launch of Spire Elite. This comes following extensive research into what IHG Rewards Club members want from their loyalty programme, which identified the importance of recognition to members who want to feel rewarded for their loyalty. The introduction of Spire Elite now establishes recognition at the heart of the relationship IHG Rewards Club has with its members.

Commenting on the photographs he created for IHG Rewards Club, Mr. Steve McCurry said: “Photography is about searching for little moments that happen in the blink of an eye but can last a lifetime. Each one of these photographs captures how a moment of recognition can do just this. Like a photograph, recognition does not need translation or adaptation; its prominence is un-

derstood by everyone, everywhere”.

Ms. Susanna Freer Epstein, SVP Customer Loyalty, IHG, added: “The feeling that you’re recognised for being special is what IHG Rewards Club aims to deliver to with the launch of Spire Elite. It’s our way of saying thank you to our most loyal members, who from today will benefit from ability to earn 100% extra bonus points on all qualifying stays across the IHG hotel portfolio - an industry first. This is just the start of a series of exciting enhancements we will be introducing to continue recognising and building rewarding relationships with our members.”

The global research revealed that the key ways in which IHG Rewards Club members expect hospitality brands to show them recognition, are: Providing the chance to feel part of a special “club” Identifying a guest as

someone unique, who is “not just a number” Remembering something about the individual; their likes, dislikes and preferences Providing a reward, a “thank you” for achieving something From today, Spire Elite membership can be reached by earning 75,000 qualifying reward points or staying at an IHG hotel for 75 qualifying nights, over the course of a calendar year. Including the ability to earn 100% extra bonus points on qualifying stays, Spire Elite members will also be able to choose between receiving 25,000 points, or upgrading a friend or family member to Platinum.

The qualification requirements for all IHG Rewards Club membership levels have also been restructured to make it easier for members to

be rewarded for their loyalty.

From July, Club members will need to earn just 10,000 qualifying points or stay for 10 qualifying nights to be eligible for Gold membership. Gold members will need to earn 40,000 qualifying points or stay for 40 qualifying nights to reach Platinum membership.

As part of the launch of Spire Elite, IHG Rewards

Club has relaunched its Rewarding Experiences Digital Hub (ihgrewardsclub.com/ rewarding experiences) to showcase the experiences available to IHG Rewards Club members all over the world and across all four IHG Rewards Club membership tiers.

Visit the Rewarding Experiences Digital Hub to find out more about Steve McCurry’s exclusive photographs for IHG Rewards Club, more information about Spire Elite, and using IHG Rewards Club points to obtain rewards.

Visit www.ihg.com for more information on the latest enhancements to the programme and to join the IHG Rewards Club.

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ellington - New Zealand’s ‘coolest little capital in the world’ - celebrates its 150th anniversary as being the nation’s capital this month, and there’s no better time to visit.

Pay homage to the birthplace of the flat white, discover the city’s thriving craft beer scene or explore the area on two wheels. With supposedly more bars and cafés per capita than New York, and a packed festival calendar for 2015 / 2016 there is plenty to keep visitors entertained in this awesome city.

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Wellington will mark her 150th birthday on July 26 with a two-day long party kicking off with performances from Kiwi musician Dave Dobbyn and the Orpheus Choir of Wellington, and a 3D sound and light show.

Visitors can also enjoy a free hop-on hop-off bus tour and gain a rare glimpse of New Zealand’s national treasures, including the Supreme Court, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Mount Cook Police Barracks and the Katherine Mansfield House and Garden.

To celebrate the milestone anniversary, Tourism New Zealand has rounded up its top tips and little known facts on the world’s southernmost capital, together with some reasons why 2015 and 2016 are the years to visit.

Then…  Auckland was the original choice of capital for the first European settlers, but by 1865, just 25 years after their arrival, Parliament was moved and Wellington officially took the crown.

 It is, however, Kupe - a legendary Polynesian explorer – who is credited with discovering Wellington Harbour back in the 10th Century, with different iwi (tribes) settling the area over the next 1000 years.  The city’s earliest name is TeUpoko o teIka a Maui or ‘the head of Maui’s fish’.

According to Māori legend, the Polynesian navigator Maui hooked a giant fish that, when pulled to the surface, turned into the landform now known as the North Island.

Now…  Coffee lovers rejoice Wellington is credited as being the birthplace of the ‘flat white’ making it a mecca for those in search of a caffeine fix.

Learn the art of ‘cupping’ at award-winning coffee

house Mojo with insights into everything from green beans, to roasting and blending – by the end you’ll taste coffee like the pros.  Prefer something a little stronger? Wellingtonians are equally fond of their craft beer, with a growing scene of young internationally acclaimed brewers. Check out the Craft Beer Capital Garage Project, housed in a converted petrol station, whose Cockswain’s Courage won silver at the prestigious Beer World Cup this year. The hipster owners produce delights as varied as the Umami Monster (brewed with seaweed, fish extract and sea water) and the less challenging Sauvin Nouveau (pilsener brewed with Sauvignon Blanc).

Their cellar door is now

open for tours, tastings and sales. Or head on a boutique beer tasting tour around the best watering holes with Wild about Wellington  Māori taste sensations at Te Papa – Also celebrating is Te Papa Museum, New Zealand’s national museum. The museum has recently added taonga Māori (cultural treasures) tours including the chance to visit Bush City, a living, growing exhibition that brings New Zealand’s great outdoors in to the city. Learn how early Māori gathered food, medicines, and materials for clothing from the forest and taste traditionally inspired food including kawakawa (a bush herb) tea served with manuka (ti-tree) honey; rawena bread (Māori potato bread) served with

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pikopiko (fern frond) pesto; katai (mussel) and karengo (edible seaweed) salad and kumara (sweet potato) chips with horopito (native bush pepper) mayonnaise. Te Papa has also recently launched Twilight Tours, showing the museum’s highlights after 5pm in just 45-minutes.  They love two wheels – Cycle mania has hit the city with a huge array of urban and off-road cycling opportunities. Built by local riders, Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park is just 30 minutes ride from the city centre with more than 60km of track and 360-degree views stretching as far as the South Island. For a scenic ride, the 115km two/ three day Rimutaka Cycle Trail is part of the new New Zealand Cycle Trail, which takes in spectacular coastline and bush, as well as Wellington Harbour itself. A shorter two to three hour ‘Around the Bays’ ride is perfect for a sightseeing tour of Wellington’s vibrant refurbished waterfront areas with numerous opportunities for cake and coffee stops en route.  And Hobbits… Thanks to local boy Sir Peter Jackson, Wellington is the centre of New Zealand’s film industry and his worldrenowned production facilities on Miramar Peninsula. Glimpse behind 44

the scenes and visit the sites where filming began for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy including the summit of Mount Victoria, which provides 360-degree views of Wellington city and its environs – on a good day you’ll see as far as the South Island. Don’t miss a visit to Weta Cave - shop front of the world famous Oscar-winning Weta Workshop where they put the final touches to The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.  And kiwis… You don’t have to go far to enjoy a wilderness experience in New Zealand and the eco-sanctuary of Zealandia, just 10 minutes from downtown, is a must visit to spot the elusive kiwi bird and other native species with new night tours now available.

Coming Up…  More festival fever – A packed 2015 calendar will include food festival Visa Wellington on a Plate in August, celebrating all things gourmet (the city is said to have more bars and cafés per capita than New York) and the World of Wearable Arts spectacular in September.  Glamping, nature & kiwis – Kapiti Island Nature has partnered with Canopy Camping to provide a unique overnight experience on Kapiti Island, just a short ferry ride from Paraparaumu Beach. The night tour is a great com-

bination of island nature and Māori culture with private, secluded accommodation. Kapiti Island is one of the best places in New Zealand to spot a kiwi in the wild with over 1,200 little spotted kiwis living on the island.  The hotel scene – new on the hotel scene is Sofitel Wellington opening late 2015 and located in the heart of Wellington in Bolton Street. The hotel will include 130 rooms and 15 suites. InterContinental Wellington recently received a huge refurbishment, looking better than ever and Museum Art Hotel is currently being refurbished to be completed by the end of the year.  Wild for wildlife – Zealandia, a unique reserve home to some of New Zealand’s most rare and extraordinary wildlife is now offering day and night tours. Explore the bush land on a guided tour and be lucky enough to see kiwi foraging on the forest floor, tuatara hunting for food, glowworms shining, tiny Maud Island frogs in their enclosure, pāteke (brown teal ducks) feeding at night, or kākā (parrots) coming in to roost. *Lonely Planet named Wellington in New Zealand the ‘coolest little capital in the world’ in 2010.

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

MUMBAI 28, 29, 30 August 2015

PUNE 27, 28, 29 Nov 2015

KOCHI 14, 15, 16 Jan 2016

CHENNAI 17, 18, 19 July 2015

GURGAON 03, 04, 05 Sept 2015

HYDERABAD 04, 05, 06 Dec 2015

KOLKATA 04, 05, 06 March 2016

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O

ff the coast of New Zealand’s South Island there are many secluded islands waiting to be explored.

Mumbai, July 20, 2015:New Zealand’s coastline, the ninth longest in the world, is home to many secluded offshore islands.

These are some of New Zealand’s most beautiful wilderness locations, a variety of unique environments that will help inspire real-life Robinson Crusoe adventures.

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Each island comes with its own charm, some with basic setups, others boasting luxury accommodation. An island getaway in New Zealand is the perfect way to see some of the country’s rarest wildlife, taste the best wine and escape the hustle and bustle of the mainland.

Arapawa Homestead The Marlborough Sounds, on the north east tip of the South Island, is famous for its sauvignon blanc and lovely

scenery. Marlborough is holiday heaven where a temperate climate and vast, unspoilt wilderness lay grounds for indulgence and adventure.

One of Marlborough’sbest kept secrets is the secluded Arapawa Island which sits at the entrance of Cook Strait, the body of water separating the North and South Islands.

Arapawa has plenty to offer visitors. The white sand of Whekenui Bay is the perfect spot to relax and swim and

chances are you will be able to spot dolphins from the shoreline. Long hikes around the island will delight the more adventurous walkers as well as mountain bikers who will be rewarded with incredible views.

The island was used a base for whaling from the early 1800s and remnants of the old whaling station still remain.

Accommodation is available at the Arapawa Homestead in three options. The large homestead is the original house built in 1945 and sleeps up to 14 people.

The building has been refurbished in keeping with its 1940s character. The Teacher’s Hut, which is really the old woolshed, sleeps three and comes with beautiful views of Whekenui Bay. The School Cottage, a remodelled version of the school house that the whalers sent their children to, sleeps six and is only a short walk to the beach.

The Arapawa lifestyle offers an unforgettable glimpse of an old world New Zealand.

Travel Tips Getting to Arapawa Island is easy with water taxis available from Picton or take a short helicopter ride from Wellington.

D’Urville Island Located on the northern tip of the South Island, D’Urville Island is a remote paradise in the Marlborough Sounds.

Like Arapawa, D’Urville is

a haven for hikers and mountain bikers. The many tracks on the island lead visitors to sweeping views across the surrounding ocean and Marlborough Sounds. Native birds thrive on the island making it the perfect spot to see tui, bellbirds, native robins, weka and kaka.

Fishing and diving is popular with visitors and the surrounding waters are the place to find the famed South Island blue cod. Dolphins and seals are frequent guests to the island so be sure to jump in a kayak for a closer look.

The island is named after the French explorer, Admiral Jules Cesar Dumont D’Urville. He came close to losing his ship, the Astrolabe, as he navigated the treacherous currents that sweep through French Pass between the island and the mainland.

D’Urville Island Wilderness Resort offers beachfront units, great access to the island’s walking tracks and sits in lovely Catherine Cove. The dawn chorus of D’Urville Island’s resident birds is an exceptional highlight.

For an incredible day trip Reid Helicopters depart Nelson following Tasman Bay’s eastern coastline before arriving on D’Urville Island for a spot of helicopter reef fishing. Once the fish are hauled in guests hop across to a sheltered bay to cook their freshly caught fish.

With a cold beer or glass of wine in hand, you can re-

lax and enjoy the beautiful beaches and native bush, you can even take a swim.

Travel Tips Access to D’Urville Island is by water taxi or chartered boat. D’Urville Island Wilderness Resort collects and returns guests to French Pass at any time on request.

French Pass is a two and a half hour drive from Nelson and Picton. Reid Helicopters is a 25 minute drive south of Nelson.

Stewart Island Stewart Island, the third largest of the islands in New Zealand’s main chain, is a tranquil isolated spot that is often left unexplored by travellers.

Lying just 30km south of the South Island across the Foveaux Strait, the island has a permanent population of just over 350 people. The land’s unique flora and fauna was formally recognised in 2002, with the establishment of Rakiura National Park, which spans most of the island’s 157,000 hectares. The locals, many of whom are descendants from the first Maori and European settlers, live around the island’s only settlement Oban. The people have a strong connection to the land and consider themselves not only residents but guardians of the island.

With numerous walks maintained by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC), the island is a hiker’s dream destination. There are more than 300km of walking tracks on the island. Tracks 47

vary from short easy day walks to the three-day 37km Rakiura Track - one of New Zealand’s nine ‘Great Walks’ - through Rakiura National Park. There are also eight to ten-day walking tracks for the most serious hikers.

For bird-watchers a trip to Ulva Island for a guided walk is a must-do. One of a few pest-free open bird sanctuaries in New Zealand, Ulva Island’s temperate rainforest is a living example of what New Zealand was like in days before human activity and the arrival of introduced predators. It offers close encounters with rare birds and plants that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Ulva is a short water taxi from Golden Bay on Stewart Island. On a clear sunny day, recreational boaters and kayakers can also make the jour-

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ney across Paterson Inlet to Ulva Island to enjoy this glorious setting.

After a day out, have a drink with the locals at the South Sea Hotel, the island’s only pub. There are a number of accommodations options on the island from lodges to backpackers. Prince Harry enjoyed staying at the Stewart Island Lodge, New Zealand’s southernmost lodge and situated just a five minutes’ walk from the village at Halfmoon Bay. Travel Tips Transport options to Stewart Island are either by ferry or flight. Ferry and helicopter services depart from Bluff and fixed-wing aircraft depart from Invercargill Airport. The ferry crossing takes approximately one hour; flights take 15 - 20 minutes.

Photo caption : Island escapes off New Zealand’s South Island Pristine Stewart Island is home to New Zealand’s southernmost community.

There are only 400 Stewart Islanders resident on the island but prolific wildlife including 16,000 kiwi birds also make their home on the prote Stewart Island is home to a large population of brown kiwi - a rare bird. Rakiura National Park, which spans most of the island’s 157,000 hectares is protected by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.

Reid Helicopters take guests over to D’Urville Island where they catch and cook their own fish.

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madeus, a leading provider of technology solutions for the tourism sector, and UNWTO are joining forces to advance the use of innovative technology in tourism in areas such as education and multi-modality.

UNWTO and Amadeus, a UNWTO Affiliate Member since 2007, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to consolidate their partnership in several areas.

This includes the development of a UNWTO Prototype on multi-modality – the doorto-door planning and ticketing of trips involving all possible transport options – to further integrate different means of transport between destinations around the world.

“Innovative technological solutions are fundamental for the tourism sector’s competitiveness and ability to create jobs and inclusive development worldwide.

UNWTO is looking forward to working even closer with Amadeus, a highly valued Affiliate Member and key player in this field, to strengthen the ties between tourism and

technology”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. ”It gives me great satisfaction to strengthen our relationship and build upon our respective areas of expertise: technology and tourism. Amadeus is committed to strengthening the sustainability of the travel and tourism sector and already has many initiatives in two of the key agreed priorities, tourism education and innovation in technology. We look forward to amplifying these through the network of UNWTO affiliates and its

events to shape the future of travel”, commented Tomás López Fernebrand, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Amadeus IT Group.

UNWTO and Amadeus will also collaborate on issues of sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility and education through the participation of Amadeus in the UNWTO Talent Development in Tourism pilot project and in various UNWTO capacity building initiatives.

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