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TOURISM INDUSTRY ON THE WAY OF TRENDS

very Industry possesses its own trends. Travel & Tourism Industry also maintain its special trends and it is always subject to transformations. Like the fashion Industry, a trend which has been hot for months could fade out and make comeback unexpectedly. Travel trend waves in the Industry weave new fabs along with our daily life in this digital era. Nowadays travellers have a growing desire to experience new and emerging destinations in a much more sustainable way where they look for alternatives or ‘something different’ which results in the term Voluntourism or volunteer tourism which benefits the local community. VolunTourism allows the traveler to contribute to the sustainable development of a destination and in turn get a chance to explore a new destination and culture. ‘Lone parent’ is another trend in global travel Industry. According to United Kingdom’s office national statistics, two million lone-parent families are in the UK today. One-parent families now make up 19.2% of Canadian households with children. By catching this quickly many Tour operators launched new programmes for single parents in 2018 The demand for cruise ship travel is projected to grow 4.5% from last year – and so is greener travel, according to the most recent Center for Responsible Travel report. Intrepid Travel will launch 10 small ship cruise itineraries and Peregrine Adventures will add 20 small ship tours to its existing range in 2018.

Any time in History people who are Health conscious mostly prefer their holidays to maintain their personal well being and no surprise. Many travel companies are introducing new offers in the area of wellness Tourism as a response to the growing demand of Health conscious travel. Solo Travel is another trend in recent years and over the past five years there seems to be an increase of 40% in solo passengers in group trips. Tour operators venture new off beat destinations like Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival in Borneo and India’s remote northeastern region since travelers are increasingly seeking more remote places to travel. As social media opens people’s eyes to lesser-known destinations, travelers are increasingly seeking more remote places to travel like Ethiopia, Bhutan, Paraguay and Kazakhstan, whose tourist numbers are all growing. ‘BLEISURE’ TRAVEL is another sector and it’ is increasingly becoming a market in itself, with young professionals opting to spare their business travel with the chance to further explore the destination on their own. Nowadays travelers are more interested to be occupied in activities and adventure travel. It has marked its own status in the Industry. No matter what the purpose of the travel, it has become organized and focused on the travelers needs. Rajani A Executive Editor

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CONTENTS

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Tourismindiamagazine

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ROMANTIC

ESC PADES

A JOURNEY TO THE PAST THE NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY (NMR) IS THE ONLY RACK RAILWAY IN INDIA OPERATED BY THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY

INDIA ₹100 US $4.99 UK £2.99 ISSN 2249-2461

YOGA AMBASSADORS TOUR KICK STARTS TO EXPLORE KERALA

JUNE-JULY 2018 VOL 21 NO. 2&3

MANAGING EDITOR Ravisankar K V EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rajani A CONSULTING EDITOR Biju Thomas ART EDITOR N Bhattathiri DESIGN EDITOR Gopakumar K PHOTOGRAPHER Vivek R Nair, Murukesh Iyer BUSINESS & EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES LONDON T Haridas +44 7775833754 GERMANY Thomas Kannenkeril +4915124367982 NEW DELHI D Anilkumar +91 9868123311 MUMBAI K.V. Satyanath +91 9745598126 KOLKATA Jayasree Singh +91 94330 60333 BANGALURU Damodaran K Nair +91 8310955261 COIMBATORE Biju Thomas +91 9944562027 PONDICHERRY Ramasubramanian +91 9894977161 EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD SEKT 52, TOURISM HOUSE, THAMARAKULAM LANE SASTHAMANGALAM P O, TRIVANDRUM, KERALA, INDIA 695010 TEL: +91 471 2315256 FAX: +91 471 2315197 CONTACT US editor@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9847060531 circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 99471 60531 marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 99472 60531 Internet edition www.tourismindiaonline.com No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD. All rights reserved. Copyright @2018 Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar K V on behalf of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD, SEKT 52, Tourism House, Thamarakulam Lane, Sasthamangalam P O, Trivandrum, Kerala, India 695010 Printed at Maya Offset Printers, Eroor, Ernakulam for Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Sasthamangalam PO, Trivandrum 695010 Editor: Ravisankar K V

A JOURNEY TO THE PAST

THE NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY IS THE ONLY RACK RAILWAY IN INDIA OPERATED BY THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY

CLEAN BEACHES FOR A SEA-CHANGE Pollution threatens marine life and all life on earth. Raja Gopaal Iyer, CEO, UDS Hotels, takes the historic initiative to clean the oceans beginning with the Arabian Sea.

Kerala is planning to promote the State as a dedicated yoga destination, with the support of Tour operators. MR. BALA KIRAN IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism

16 KERALA HOSTS FIRST WORLD KAYAKING CHAMPIONSHIP Event held at Thusharagiri in Kozhikode from July 18 to 22

FIRST EVER ‘INDIA TOURISM MART’ TO BE IN NEW DELHI

CINNAMON HOTELS AIMS INDIANS

INDIAN CULINARY CRAFT ON THE GLOBAL CENTERSTAGE

Trinco Blu Hotel in Sri Lanka offers a complete package of adventure-based activities.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR UDS HOTELS

YOGA AMBASSADORS TOUR KICK STARTS TO EXPLORE KERALA 60 leading specialized Yoga Tour operators from 32 countries are participating in Yoga Ambassador Tour.

TAIWAN EXPO 2018 REVEALED NEW OFFERS

AIR INDIA INCREASES NEW DELHITEL AVIV FLIGHT FREQUENCY Air India to increase New Delhi-Tel Aviv flight frequency to four times a week starting 14th July, 2018

ICONIC MOSQUES OF SHARJAHV The largest house of worship is the King Faisal Mosque

NEWS/EVENTS

FIRST EVER ‘INDIA TOURISM MART’ TO BE IN NEW DELHI GOVERNMENT’S AIM OF BRINGING THE TOURIST FOOTFALL TO DOUBLE IN NEXT THREE YEARS.

ourism Ministry in partnership with the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) and with the support of State /UT Governments will organize the ‘first ever’ India Tourism Mart (ITM) from 16th to 18th September, 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The objective of the event is to create an annual Global Tourism Mart for India in line with major international travel marts being held in countries across the world. The Mart will provide a platform for all stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries to interact and transact business opportunities. The Tourism Minister Mr. K J

Tourism India June-July 2018

Alphons said that India with its great potential in tourism and hospitality sector needs to increase the foreign tourist footfall to reap the benefits. Tourism Ministry has been conducting foreign road shows, releasing theme based promotional videos and the ITM 2018 will be a big step to showcase India’s hidden destinations to the

175-200 STALLS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE SELLERS TO ENABLE THEM TO INTERACT WITH THE BUYERS.

world, especially to emerging tourism markets like China, Latin America, and Japan. Mr. Alphons also hoped that with this event, the Government’s aim of bringing the Tourist footfall to double in next three years shall be fulfilled. The Tourism Minister, during the Consultative meeting with states held prior to the briefing, urged all the states to come up quickly with unique promotional videos etc. so that it can be showcased for better publicity. Tourism Secretary, Mrs. Rashmi Verma said that ITM will be the best platform for the States to showcase their products to international buyers, opinion makers and bloggers and attract more tourists to their respective states while only few states like Kerala, Rajasthan were conducting the Tourism Marts and only a few states have participated in International Marts. Therefore, ITM 2018 will be a great opportunity for other states who neither have their own Marts nor ever participated in any International Marts to showcase themselves in front of the International buyers. Overseas Tourism Offices will make the list of buyers which shall be verified and finalized by a Committee which has all the Tourism/Hospitality associations so that only genuine buyers take part in the Mart. The Chairman of the organizing committee and FAITH Secretary, Mr. Subhash Goyal said that it has been for the first time that the Tourism industry stakeholders are coming together for such a large scale event and with Ministry’s support and quick decision the ITM 2018 has now been realized.

NEWS/EVENTS

VISHAKHAPATNAM TO HOST 34TH IATO ANNUAL CONVENTION IATO HAS SELECTED THE THEME, “MISSION 20 MILLION TOURISTS CHALLENGES & POSSIBILITIES”

he Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the apex body of the tour operators in India has announced the venue and theme of their 34th IATO Annual Convention at Vishakhapatnam, the beautiful eastern coastal city in Andhra Pradesh from September 6 – 9, 2018. IATO has selected the theme, “Mission 20 Million Tourists Challenges & Possibilities”, which is inspired by the challenges of Indian travel and tourism industry to meet the target of 20 Million Tourists by 2020 set up by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The convention will also aim to focus on the challenges which currently Indian Tour operators faced and explore the possibilities to achieve the target. Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh will inaugurate the convention on 6th September 2018 at Novotel Hotel Vishakhapatnam, venue of the convention. The inauguration will be in the evening of the 6th September 2018 and the last session ends on 8th September 2018 followed by

closing dinner. However, for the tour operators and travel agents, there will be an exclusive half day session on 6th September 2018 in the forenoon. IATO annual convention will be about revitalising our business, our industry, ourselves to take a holistic approach on challenges and possibilities, said Mr. Pronab Sarkar, President of the association. IATO convention is the platform which gives every member, an opportunity to meet their industry colleagues, participate in the knowledge sessions, network with various trade associates and share thoughts and help contribute to the national discussion process on tourism. Mr. Rajiv Mehra, Vice President of IATO and the Chairman of Convention

said that this year’s convention will be unique in its character and engaging in its format and we are planning to have good content and interesting business sessions and will move further to a different level by adding quality speakers and more time for networking. Mr. Rajesh Mudgill, Hony. Secretary of IATO and the Co-Chairman Convention said, the IATO Excecutive Committee with the support of Andhra Pradesh Tourism is arranged series of post-convention tours for the convention delegates starting from 9th September 2018 onwards which will include a day trip; 2 trips of 1 night/2 days; and 2 trips of 2 nights/3 days, all terminating at Vishakhapatnam airport by 4 pm respectively.

IATO CONVENTION IS THE PLATFORM TO MEET INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES, PARTICIPATING THE KNOWLEDGE SESSIONS AND SHARE THOUGHTS. June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/GOVERNMENTAL

INDIA AIMS TO DEVELOP BILATERAL TOURISM INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH AMBASSADORS AND DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES WAS HELD IN DELHI

s a Part of promotion of bilateral tourism between India and various countries, an interactive session with Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives was held in Delhi under the aegis of the Ambassador’s Forum under “Meet the leader” series. The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Mr. KJ Alphons, interacted with the Ambassadors/representatives of fifteen countries including Austria, Argentina, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Philippines, Brazil, Malaysia, Germany, Indonesia, Finland, Russia, New Zealand and Oman. The Tourism Minister Mr. K J Alphons said that India with its great potential in tourism and hospitality sector needs to increase the foreign tourist footfall to reap the benefits. Tourism Ministry has been conducting foreign road shows, releasing theme based promotional videos and the ITM 2018 will be a big step to showcase India’s hidden destinations to the world, especially to emerging tourism markets like China, Latin America, and Japan. During the Consultative meeting with states held prior to the briefing, the Minister urged all the states to come up quickly with unique promotional videos etc. so that it can be showcased for better publicity. The participants highlighted the importance of improving connectivity to promote tourism and a few countries requested for direct flights of Air India 12

Tourism India June-July 2018

connecting the capital cities of various countries to India. They also offered to give incentives to Bollywood producers/directors for shooting films at beautiful locations in their countries. As part of the interaction, a presentation on the tourism trends, India’s strong outbound travel potential and few promotional videos were shared with the invitees by Joint Secretary, Tourism Ministry, Mr. Suman Billa. Secretary tourism, Mrs. Rashmi Verma and senior officials of Ministry of Tourism including the Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC, participated in this interaction. The Ministry wants to promote India through the message of ‘Transformational Experience’ as highlighted in its recent promotional films like ‘Yogi of the Racetrack’ which has already had record breaking

Tourist facilities in and around Sarnath to be developed under Buddhist Circuit by the end of this year K J ALPHONS, The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Govt of India

25 million views which are being translated into 9 foreign languages, and India is looking at China as an emerging market for foreign tourist arrivals and the Tourism Ministry has already set up its office in Beijing, the Minister added. Mr Alphons further explained that the government is working to tap the potential of Buddhist tourism. Tourist facilities at Sarnath are being upgraded tremendously along with road connectivity and wayside amenities and the same are likely to be completed by year end, the Minister disclosed. The Chairman of the organizing committee and FAITH Secretary, Mr. Subhash Goyal said that it has been for the first time that the Tourism industry stakeholders are coming together for such a large scale event and with Ministry’s support and quick decision the ITM 2018 has now been realized.

NEWS/TRENDS

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS ASIA AND EUROPE LED GROWTH AT THE START OF 2018

nternational tourist arrivals grew 6% in the first four months of 2018, compared to the same period last year, not only continuing the strong 2017 trend, but exceeding UNWTO’s forecast for 2018. Growth was led by Asia and the Pacific (+8%) and Europe (+7%). Africa (+6%), the Middle East (+4%) and the Americas (+3%) also recorded sound results. Earlier this year, UNWTO’s forecast for 2018 was between 4-5%. “International tourism continues to show significant growth worldwide, and this translates into job creation in many economies. This growth reminds us of the need to increase our capacity to develop and manage tourism in a sustainable way, building smart destinations and making the most of technology and innovation”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili. From January to April 2018, international arrivals increased in all regions, led by Asia and the Pacific (+8%), with South-East Asia (+10%) and South Asia (+9%) driving results. The world’s largest tourism region, Europe also performed strongly during this four-month period (+7%), pulled ahead by the destinations of Southern and Mediterranean Europe, and Western Europe (both +8%). Growth in the Americas is estimated at 3%, with strongest results in South America (+8%). The Caribbean (-9%) is the only sub-region to experience a decrease in arrivals during this period, weighed down by some destinations still struggling with the aftermath of the hurricanes of August and

Asia and the Pacific

Europe

Africa

Middle East

Americas

+8% +7% +6% +4% +3% CONFIDENCE IN GLOBAL TOURISM REMAINS STRONG ACCORDING TO THE LATEST UNWTO PANEL OF TOURISM EXPERTS SURVEY. September 2017. The limited information coming from Africa and the Middle East points to 6% and 4% growth, respectively,

confirming the rebound of Middle East destinations and the consolidation of the growth in Africa. Confidence in global tourism remains strong according to the latest UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts survey. The Panel’s outlook for the May-August period is one the most optimistic in a decade, led by the particularly upbeat sentiment in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Experts’ evaluation of tourism performance in the first four months of 2018 was also robust, in line with the strong results recorded in many destinations around the world.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/EVENTS

INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WORLD TOURISM DAY 2018, TO BE CELEBRATED IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2018.

orld Tourism Day, celebrated every 27 September around the world, is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has officially announced the theme and venue for the World Tourism Day 2018, to be celebrated in Budapest, Hungary on September 27, 2018, which will also highlight, the importance of digital technologies in tourism, providing opportunities for innovation and preparing the sector for the future of work. This year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) will help to put the opportunities provided to tourism, by technological advances including big data, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, on the map of sustainable development. The World Tourism

Tourism India June-July 2018

Organization (UNWTO) sees digital advances and innovation as part of the solution to the challenge of marrying continued growth with a more sustainable and responsible tourism sector. “Harnessing innovation and digital advances provides tourism with opportunities to improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment and efficient resource management, amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agenda”, said Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UNWTO. According to UNWTO, the WTD official celebration will be held in Budapest, Hungary, a country enjoying steady growth of tourism backed by consistent policy support and a commitment to the digital future. Other celebrations will take place worldwide. The official celebration will also see the announcement of the semi-finalists

of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition, launched by UNWTO and Globalia to give visibility to startups with innovative ideas capable of revolutionizing the way we travel and enjoy tourism.

The World Tourism Organization is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

NEWS/AWARDS

INDIAN CULINARY CRAFT ON THE GLOBAL CENTERSTAGE INDIAN CHEFS CREATE A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD AT MOUNT EVEREST WITH #PROJECTTRIYAGYONI

r. Soundararajan P. and Mr. Sanjay Thakur, two of India’s leading Chefs, have created a Guinness World Record with #ProjectTriyagyoni. The remarkable culinary feat was achieved at Island Peak, above Mount Everest Base Camp. The two Chefs prepared an exclusive fine-dine meal inclusive of marquee traditional Indian dishes for six guests from around the world in the highest altitude pop-up restaurant. #ProjectTriyagyoni was conceptualized by Chef Soundararajan P, Corporate Executive Chef, Mahindra Holidays, and Chef Sanjay Thakur, Etihad Airways, to showcase Indian cuisine on a global platform. In an exemplary expedition, the Chefs trekked all the way to the Base Camp and collected valuable herbs and other natural ingredients that have been the hallmark of the cuisine, which has evolved over the last 8000 years. These unadulterated fresh herbs were blended organically with authentic Indian spices to curate a never-before culinary

experience. Beginning on May 24, 2018, the project concluded on June 1, 2018. On achieving the Guinness World Record, Chef Soundararajan P, Corporate Executive Chef, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited (MHRIL), stated, “#ProjectTriyagyoni was a life changing experience for each of us who took part in this extraordinary journey. It was a pleasure

to collaborate with Chef Sanjay and put our complimentary skills to the best use. The journey was a surreal experience and was one of the most cherished moments of my career so far. It is a matter of great pride and honor to be a part of the Guinness Book of World Records, which will undoubtedly put Indian culinary craft on the global centerstage.”

June-July 2018 Tourism India

FEATURE/INCREDIBLE INDIA NEWS/EVENTS

KERALA HOSTS FIRST

WORLD KAYAKING CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT HELD AT THUSHARAGIRI IN KOZHIKODE FROM JULY 18 TO 22

high-octane event World Kayaking Championship is being organized by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Kozhikode under the aegis of Tourism Department of Kerala. in connection with 6th edition of Malabar River Festival (MRF) which is to be held at Thusharagiri from July 18 to 22 in Kozhikode. 25 teams from around the world will participate in the event. Olympians, world champions and top athletes of the Indian kayaking community will display their dexterous paddling expertise to vie for top honours and handsome cash prizes. Madras Fun Tools, Bengaluru will provide technicalities of the event supported by GMI Kozhikode. Further, District Panchayat, Thiruvambady and Kodencherry and Chakkittapara Grama Panchayats are actively supporting the event. Some of the top athletes participating in the kayak world championship are Nutria Newman - French Olympic team and current world champion; the 2015 world champion Gird Sera soles (Spain); Vávrahradilek (Czech Republic) the London 2012 Olympics silver medallist; Dane Jackson - US Mens Freestyle team and Red Bull athlete; and Nick Troutman - Canada mens freestyle team. Confirmations of participation have already come from 15 of the worlds 16

Tourism India June-July 2018

THIS EVENT IS TO SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THRILLING AND ADVENTUROUS WATER SPORTS ACTIVITIES IN KERALA

best kayaking athletes from around 20 countries such as Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Scotland, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Czech Republic, Austria, the Netherlands, USA and Canada. Mr. Kadakampally Surendran Tourism Minister Govt of Kerala “This event is to showcase the beauty and the potential for thrilling and adventurous water sports activities in Kerala. The event promises to be a truly global

spectacle with new race formats and categories, and is poised to attract attention from adventure sports enthusiasts from across the globe and give them an adrenalin rush, said Our intention is to make kayaking and other water-based adventures mainstream popular sporting activities to woo the growing breed of outdoor enthusiasts and also advertise to the world the wonderful white water potential that exists in the region, he added. Ms Rani George, Secretary, Kerala Tourism said the MRF is one of the biggest adventure sporting events in India. Over the last five years it has become a truly spectacular eyeballgrabbing event for the adventure tourists in India and abroad. We need to leverage its potential for Malabar tourism and monsoon tourism in Kozhikode.” This years championship in some of the most scenic rivers of Kerala will feature events for beginners and intermediate kayakers and a special category of prizes for the best paddlers of the Indian subcontinent. To be held across different locations in Kozhikode district, it will have three International Canoe Federation (ICF)-approved competition formats: Freestyle, Slalom and Extreme Slalom while the Team Race World Championship will be the culminating event. We are confident of putting up a great show and look forward to hosting all the national and international athletes and film crews and keen to invite the locals and adventure sports enthusiasts from all over India to witness this spectacular sporting event which began five years ago, said Mr. P. BalaKiran, Director, Kerala Tourism. water-based adventure sports would spur tourism in the state by wooing the younger generation who are thrillseekers. We want to re-brand Kerala as The Land of Adventure by offering adventurous activities and water-based

the MRF is one of the biggest adventure sporting events in India. Over the last five years it has become a truly spectacular eye-catching event for the adventure tourists in India and abroad. We need to leverage its potential for Malabar tourism and monsoon tourism in Kozhikode.

tourism. In particular, we would like Kozhikode to be recognized as a major kayaking destination, he added. Film crews from Germany and France will provide live coverage of this event on social media. Olaf Obsommer, who is the organiser of the Adidas Sick line World Championships, will lead the German film crew. He will also tour some other locations in Kozhikode district to create a documentary of their travels that will be showcased on adventure sports film festivals in Europe and USA. Well known international outdoor brands Woodland and GoPro are the sponsors for the championship in which the international paddlers will be competing on some of the most challenging rapids in the country. A large number of athletes, including World Champion Sam Sutton, have recognized the potential of kayaking in this region and even termed it as the Next Kayaking Mecca.

MS RANI GEORGE Secretary, Kerala Tourism

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/EVENTS

MALABAR ESCAPES KOCHI WINS “SHOOT THE RAIN 2018” THIS POPULAR EVENT HAS BEEN A PART OF THE MONSOON TOURISM PROMOTION IN THE STATE.

t is equally delightful to watch or play football and if it is in the pouring rain It’s even more incredible. While the world cup waves are there all over the world, the Tourism Professionals of Kerala Tourism Industry met in the grounds of Maharajas college stadium with the 13th edition of Shoot the Rain – The Monsoon Football Tournament conducted by Tourism Professionals Club on 7th and 8th July 2018. In the final match Malabar Escapes Kochi won the Dominic Joseph Memorial Ever Rolling Trophy by defeating Team 18

Tourism India June-July 2018

TPC. Prof: K.V. Thomas, Member of Parliament and former Kerala Tourism minister was inaugurated the 13th edition of Fog Monsoon Shoot the Rain, in the presence of Mr. Hybe Eden MLA, Mr. Baby Mathew Somatheeram, President of Kerala Travel Mart Society & Kerala Athletic Association and and other distinguished personalities from the travel trade. Indian football sensation Mr. Baichung Bhutia and Mr. T. A. Jaffer, Coach of Kerala state Santhosh trophy football team were present on the occasion and introduced to the players.

“Shoot the Rain is an annual football tournament exclusively held for hotels and tour operators across Kerala and within in the last 12 twelve years, this popular event has been a part of the Monsoon tourism promotion in the state. The players mostly consist of staff working in various hotels under different sections, including Food and Beverages (F&B) and Kitchen,” says Mr. Vinesh Vidya, President of TPC. Mr. George Scaria, Former President of TPC and Coordinator of 2018 edition of the tournament said, ‘“This year the response has been overwhelming and the overall

arrangement including venue and team lineup is at par with any professional tournament in the state”. Mr. Thomas Varghese, General Convener, STR 2018 said, this year more than 24 teams representing major hotels, tour operators, the House Boat Owners’ Association, Thekkady Destination Promotion Council and others from across Kerala took part in the event and our main aim is to promote Kerala in off season period through various activities and entertainment. Mr. Ravi Varma, Chairman of Media committee of TPC said, “Shoot the rain has been evolved on the theme of fun, rain and soccer to entertain tourists otherwise largely confined to their rooms in the monsoon”. Organizing Committee representatives could not conceal their excitement about the grand success of the event, which according to them becomes even more appealing owing to the rains. The Executive committee of the Tourism Professionals Club under the leadership of Mr. Vineesh Vidya (President), Mr. Paul M.S (Secretary) and Mr.Thomas Vargese (General Convener) had worked hard to make this event a grand success. The organising team expressed their gratitude for the support extended by the media and industry colleagues. Mr.Thomas Varghese, General convener for STR 13 also said that the Technical guidance for the soccer festival will be provided by soccer legends Mr. Rufus D’Souza and Mr. T.A. Jaffer. Mr.Vinesh Vidya, The President of the club, said that each year we find that new teams are keen on participating, but unfortunately we are not able to register all the applicants owing to the limited time we have, for conducting the event. As part of the tournament, TPC has organized a B2B meet and provided Table spaces for various Hotels and

THE WINNER, MALABAR ESCAPES BAGGED THE DOMINIC JOSEPH MEMORIAL EVER ROLLING TROPHY.

Resorts to showcase their products and services at the venue. Many senior Industry partners and celebrities were present during the inaugural and valedictory functions. The public visitors and trade visitors had enjoyed the soccer event and aware about new hotels and resorts coming up in various part of the state. The winner bagged the “The Dominic Joseph Memorial Ever rolling Trophy”, sponsored by the CGH Earth Group, along with a cash prize of Rs 35,000 and for the runners up a Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and third prize will be Rs.15000/-. Last year’s Tournament was won by Brunton Boatyard, Fort Cochin. The participating teams include Grand Hyatt Bolgaty, Brunton Boatyard, Roses Inn Fort Kochi, Marari Beach resort, Eight Bastion, Flora Airport hotel, Coconut lagoon, Malabar escapes, Gokulam Park, Casino Hotels, Travancore Court,Xandari resorts, CAFS (Anjali hotels), Home stay Owners association, Fragrant Nature, Abad Hotels,RavizHotels, Lulu Marriott, KHOF (Kerala House Boat Owners Federation), Kumarakom Lake Resort, Crown Plaza, Le Maritime Kochi, TPC Monsoon Football team and TPC Thunder Football team.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/EVENTS

YOGA AMBASSADORS TOUR KICK STARTS TO EXPLORE KERALA 60 LEADING SPECIALIZED YOGA TOUR OPERATORS FROM 32 COUNTRIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN YOGA AMBASSADOR TOUR.

oga Ambassador Tour, a specialised familiarisation trip for established yoga practitioners from around the world to have a first-hand experience of Kerala, which is organized by the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI) in association with Kerala Tourism and Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has inaugurated by Mr. Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India by lighting the traditional lamp at Leela Raviz Kovalam. Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala presided over the function. Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary- Kerala Tourism, Mr. P. Balakiran IAS, DirectorKerala Tourism, Mr. R. Rahul IRS, MD, KTDC, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI) & Sr. Vice President, IATO, Ms. Rajashree Ajith, Director, KITTS, Mr. Baby Mathew 20

Tourism India June-July 2018

Somatheeram, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. Sajev Kurup, President, Kerala Ayurveda Promotion Society and Mr. M.R. Narayanan, Secretary General, CKTI were also present in the inaugural function. Mr. P.K. Anish Kumar, President of ATTOI welcomed the gathering and Mr. Sreekumara Menon, Secretary, ATTOI proposed vote of thanks. More than 60 leading specialized Yoga Tour operators from 32 countries were participated in this unique 10 day educational tour of Kerala as part of “Yoga Ambassador Tour”. The tour progarmme showcased the varied product ranges of Kerala along with various yoga based activities. The tour ended on 21st JUN’18 which was eventually the International Yoga Day, and the delegates had a chance to participate in mass yoga drill at Marriot Hotel Kochi. Mr. Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism said, “ Kerala have already

KERALA IS PROMOTED AND POSITIONED AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO REJUVENATE MIND, BODY AND SOUL.

develop a yoga circuit linking yoga and meditation centers, ashrams, and tourist destinations. According to Mr. P.K. Anish Kumar, President, ATTOI, “Kerala is promoted and positioned as one of the best places to rejuvenate mind, body and soul, through Ayurveda and Yoga in the recent past and ATTOI with the support of the other tourism industry stakeholders plan to combine the demand from wellness travellers for yoga, meditation, and health tourism in the future. The Yoga Ambassadors Tour will provide

The Yoga Ambassadors Tour will provide a holistic experience to these ambassadors who in turn will help project Kerala as a perfect place to practise yoga while travelling. MR. P.K. ANISH KUMAR, President, ATTOI

positioned as the ‘land of Ayurveda’ and the best place to experience authentic Ayurveda in the global wellness market and now Kerala is planning to promote the State as a dedicated yoga destination, with the support of Tour operators and Travel trade associations like ATTOI. We intend to position the State as a dedicated yoga destination and

a holistic experience to these ambassadors who in turn will help project Kerala as a perfect place to practise yoga while travelling. According to a senior official of Kerala Tourism, the government is eyeing the twin objectives of establishing a yoga circuit in the state and familiarising the international audience about the state’s potential in health and wellness tourism. Kerala Tourism has appointed Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society as the nodal agency to coordinate the event with ATTOI. Ayush Ministry has already sanctioned an outlay of Rs 72.25 Lakhs for smooth conduct of the programme. This is first time in the history of India Tourism; Ayush Ministry has sanctioned this much

of amount for a tourism promotion programme in India. ATTOI team has made all the arrangement to make the Yoga Ambassadors Tour a grand success. Tourism industry from Kerala have extended their whole hearted support to oragnise the event and many leading hoteliers in Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Munnar and Kochi has provided the rooms and breakfast on complimentary basis, while tourism industry associations have offered dinner and lunch as part of the promotional strategy of each destination. After the inaugural session, a technical session on “Philosophical Foundations of Yoga”, chaired by Prof. V. Purandara Reddy, Dean, Faculty of Darsanas, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati were conducted for the participating delegates and invitees. Dr. Krishna Sharma, Professor, Department of Yoga, Mangalore University was the co chairman of the session. Dr. B.R. Sharma, Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla presented a paper on “Yoga in ancient scriptures”, Yogi Shivan, a prominent Teacher, Healer, Yoga Exponent, INDIMASY (yoga Village) Trivandrum on Hatha Yoga Parampara and Dr. Alwar, Professor of Nyaya, Maharaja Sanskrit College, Mysore on Yoga in Darshanas were also participated in the first session. Dr. M.V. Bhole, Former Jt. Director (Research), Kaivalyadhama chaired the second technical session on “ Science Behind Yoga” and Yogi Jayadevan, Universal Yoga Consciousness, Ollur, Kerala co chaired the session. The speakers on various topics includes Dr. Naveen K.V., Director, FAITHS, Bengaluru on “Psycho-neuro-immunology and Yoga”, Dr Meena Ramanathan, Deputy Director, CYTER, SBV, Pondicherry on Yoga Therapy: Its principles & practices and Dr. Shivarama Varambally, Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru on Yoga for Mental Health- A neuro scientific perspective.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR UDS HOTELS “BEST BUSINESS MAN AWARD” TO MR.RAJASEKHARAN NAIR, MD, UDS HOTELS

DS HOTELS, KOVALAM has bagged the prestigious award for “Outstanding commitments and excellence in Service” in the field of tourism. Instituted by London based Anand TV. Mr.Rajasekharan Nair, CMD of the hotel group has been adjudged as the “Best business man in tourism sector” The awards were presented by Ian Duncan Smith, MP of British Parliament in a function held at London. In addition to the above Trivandrum based “Jayan Samskariak Veedi” has conferred the “Best Business Man Award” to Mr.Rajasekharan Nair for his outstanding contribution in the field of tourism, Hon’ble Minister Mr.K.T Jaleel gave away the award to Mr.Rajasekharan Nair at a function held at Trivandrum.

UDAY SAMUDRA

Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa located at the famed beaches of Kovalam, just 15 meters from the sea, is an exclusive 5 Star leisure beach hotel - a destination by itself. The setting, facilities, people, spa, cuisine and its whole philosophy is dedicated to your personal wellness in a luxurious environment.

Tourism India June-July 2018

NEWS/AVIATION

IATA ENHANCES COMMITMENT TO UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IATA AND ITS 290 MEMBER AIRLINES MAKE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TRAINING FUND (IATF).

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that, as part of its strong support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it will introduce new pricing of most of its training courses to make them more accessible to developing nations. “Aviation is the business of freedom and a catalyst for development. A well-trained aviation workforce is essential to realizing the industry’s potential to support social and economic growth-critical enablers of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By making IATA training more accessible in developing nations we are helping airlines nurture the talent they need to support growing demands for connectivity. And we are helping individuals to enrich their career opportunities in aviation,” said Guy Brazeau, IATA’s Director of Training. From 15 July 2018 almost all of IATA’s aviation training catalogue, including more than 350 courses in 17 subject areas of the business, will be offered at a 30% discount to aviation professionals residing in one of the developing nations. Each year, IATA helps to train over 100,000 aviation professionals around the world. IATA offers more than 40 different diploma programs many in partnership with top academic institutions around the world, created to help aviation businesses operate safely, efficiently and sustainably. This decision also enhances IATA’s solid commitment to the

discount to aviation professionals for more than 350 courses

“No Country Left Behind” initiative of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Moreover, IATA and its 290 member airlines make annual contributions to the International Airline Training Fund (IATF), which sponsors learning and development opportunities for aviation organizations in areas of the world where it is most needed.

“By making our training offering more accessible in developing nations, we are helping to achieve the No Country Left Behind objective to ensure that all states have access to the significant socio-economic benefits of safe and reliable air transport. Key to that is global standards which are at the heart of IATA’s training curriculum,” said Brazeau.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

FEATURE/ENVIRONMENT

CLEAN BEACHES FOR A

SEA-CHANGE THE OCEANS AND THEIR SHORES ARE MEDIUM AND DESTINATION OF TRAVEL FOR LEISURE AND PLEASURE. POLLUTION THREATENS MARINE LIFE AND ALL LIFE ON EARTH. RAJA GOPAAL IYER, CEO, UDS HOTELS, TAKES THE HISTORIC INITIATIVE TO CLEAN THE OCEANS BEGINNING WITH THE ARABIAN SEA. by Biju Thomas & KV Vincent

“W

hat a mad idea it would be to clean these oceans!” “They are so immense and going into the distant parts would be impossible”. “They are so vast that they can never be polluted actually”. About 14 months ago, these were the thoughts of most people when they heard that some people were going to clean the oceans, protect them from waste-dumping and clean the shores. Very few could understand the need and relevance of such a campaign. However, Raja Gopaal Iyer, CEO of the UDS Group of Hotels in Kovalam,

SOME OF THE MEASURES THAT CAN BE ADOPTED TO KEEP THE BEACHES CLEAN AND INVITING ARE

who realised the need to clean up the oceans and their shores, started the Campaign Ocean Love with a firm determination. The first programme was an underwater conference of a group of CEOs, with the technical support of Bond Safari, 50 metres off the Groove Beach in Kovalam in which the CEOs took a pledge to do their best for protecting the oceans and marine life. On the 8th of June 2017, World Oceans Day, the Campaign Ocean Love started a Clean Drive of the Kerala Beaches, from Kanyakumari to Kasaragod, with the support of organisations like SKHF, ATTOI, Kerala

l Avoid using plastic bags to bring food or other things to the beach and take them back, if brought

l Take your water and other drinks in reusable plastic bottles or bottles of other material

Tourism India June-July 2018

Tourism, Heritage India Foundation, etc. ‘ World Oceans Day’, which was ‘World Ocean Day’ till 2009, when the UN decided to change the name to recognise the five distinct oceans. Clean Beaches for Quality Tourism The oceans are regulating controls of several systems that make the earth habitable for us. A good part of our food, drinking water, climate, temperature and even the oxygen we breathe are provided and regulated by the oceans that surround our habitable patches of land. The commercial activities of man took a great leap forward and upward after man began to traverse the oceans using large ships

l Bring a trash bag with you to take back your wastes or dump them in the places earmarked for dumping l Pick up some trash you notice on the beach and dump them in the waste dump

l If you are allowed to make bonfires at the beach, make sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving

l If you take pets with you, pick up their droppings and food waste, as people do not like to step on nothing but

clean sand

l Do not feed the animals and birds you see on the beach. Not only their left over, but their droppings also will spoil the beach l

and discover new lands and peoples. Even today the oceans are the most important conduits of commerce between countries. From the first part of the last century onwards, the oceans also became an important medium of travel for leisure and pleasure. Man had always been attracted to the beaches and the good health that a beach life promised, just like mountain resorts. However, it was only in the

RAJA GOPAAL IYER REALISED THE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE OCEANS AND THEIR SHORES, STARTED THE CAMPAIGN OCEAN LOVE WITH A FIRM DETERMINATION. later part of 19th century, when the sentiments of danger and strangeness of the sea shores disappeared, that beaches turned into desirable areas to spend enjoyable leisure time. Twentieth century saw the phenomenal growth of beach resorts and beachbased play areas. The beach has become synonymous with modern leisure tourism or holiday trips,

Do not smoke, as far as possible and, if you do, do not leave cigarette butts on the beach

l If you are in a group, propose a game of picking up trash and give a prize to those who pick up the most number of trash items l Make other people aware of these suggestions and encourage others to keep the beaches clean l Lobby with your political leaders and your representatives in the

local bodies, assembly and parliament to initiate and encourage beach clean-up programmes

l Change your sunscreens to organic products with safe ingredients, thus saving your skin and marine life at the same time

l Use only vessels of ecofriendly cruise lines and boats when travelling

over the ocean and avoid throwing waste out into the water

l Join organisations that are working to keep the beaches clean and join in activities and/or give donations for cleaning up the beaches l Keeping the beaches clean will bring in more quality tourists and benefit the country socially and economically, while safeguarding the environment for future generations.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/INCREDIBLE INDIA especially for families with children and young couples. Thus the role played by the seas and sea shores is vitally important for a fulfilled human life and the maintenance of these natural bounties in their pristine beauty and cleanliness are inevitable for the sustenance of human life on earth. Though temporary disruptions to the life cycles of plants and animals in the oceans and along the shores occur through natural causes like storms and tsunamis, these disruptions are short-lived. In their place, human activities are now threatening the very existence of this natural wealth, and our own existence, through serious and persistent damaging activities that destroy the very fabric of the oceans and their shores. Turning coastal wetlands into areas of urban residential and industrial development, dumping chemical and other polluting wastes into the oceans, deforestation and resultant soil erosion, dams across rivers that block the natural nutritious inflow into the oceans, modern fishing methods like bottom trawling, dynamiting and poisoning that destroy the safe habitats of marine life, spills of crude oil, careless aquatic adventures in the shallow waters, increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide causing climatic aberrations and melting of polar ice caps, etc. are the factors that systematically decimate the oceans and their shores. High levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide that turn into carbonic acid in the oceans lessen the ability of marine creatures to form shells and damage their vital food chain. According to the latest interaction analysis by Alfred Wegener Institute as updated on 23rd March, 2017, more than 1220 marine life species like sea birds and fish are dangerously affected by marine pollution, with 34% of tested animals having traces of plastic in them. The annual loss is calculated to be around Rs.900 billion. The same agency has circulated a study named 26

Tourism India June-July 2018

HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE NOW THREATENING THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THIS NATURAL WEALTH, AND OUR OWN EXISTENCE.

Science, Technology and Environment, fishes inhabiting these water bodies are facing reproductive hazards, growth retardation and abnormalities, apart from destruction of eggs and larvae. Heavy fish mortality is caused by the presence of fluorides, ammonia, acids, alkalis and radioactive materials. As the oceans are on the verge of extinction due to human activities, like overfishing, pollution, invasive species, habitat destruction, acidification and climate change, the beaches that are becoming more and more filthy and polluted are making quality tourists hesitant to frequent them. We have to make a concerted effort to intervene and save our beautiful beaches. Otherwise, they will be completely shunned by genuine lovers of these splendid beaches due to the increasing pollution of the shores and the shallow waters along the shores.

The Arabian Sea and Tourism

‘litter base’ in which the coastline of Kerala is described as one of the most polluted in the world, sighting plastic remains in fish caught at Alappuzha as evidence. . Creation of marine sanctuaries of sustained development, laws banning the dumping of wastes and chemicals into the ocean and banning of trawling during the monsoon to improve and enhance the habitat of marine fish stock and such other measures have only some limited short-term effects. According to the State of the Environment Report, Kerala, a survey carried out by the State Council for

The beaches and backwaters of Kerala are inseparably dependent upon the Arabian Sea and the marine food that is harvested from the sea and the backwaters. But, the Arabian Sea is under a serious pollution threat and if action to clean it is delayed, it may never recover again. The Arabian Sea (ancient Eritrean Sea to the Romans) is the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean and has a total area of 3,862,000 sq. km. It is one of the most polluted areas of the oceans in the world with the largest “dead zone” in the world. Dead zones are areas in ocean depths ranging from 200 to 800 metres, where influxes of chemical nutrients from human pollution spur algae growth, which sucks up oxygen. This dead zone, found in the Gulf of Oman in the 1990s , is quickly expanding and damaging the fisheries and eco-systems of the entire Arabian Sea, as a research team found out. The team leader Bastien Queste, a marine bio-geo-chemist, says ‘the ocean is suffocating’, in the findings published on April 27 in the journal

WORLD OCEANS DAY 2018 CELEBRATED AT UDS HOTELS

W ‘Geophysical Research Letters’. When the oceans get polluted not only do the beaches suffer the consequences, but the marine food resources, the main ingredient in the Kerala sea-food dishes that captivate the taste-buds of the domestic and foreign tourists to the destinations, disappear from the menu forever, making the tourists shun beaches and backwaters.

Clean Ocean Initiatives

The Campaign Ocean Love to make Kerala Beaches clean, ‘Save Our Oceans Clean Drive from Kanyamumari to Kasaragod’, was started on the 8th of June 2018, World Oceans Day. As it progresses with the support of all associates, authorities and the common people, the beaches of Kerala will become the most visitor-friendly and the most-frequented beaches in India for domestic and international tourists, making the coastal areas of Kerala socio-economically far better than they are now. Let us hope that all of mankind will rise up in unison to protect our oceans and shores for a brighter future of this and the coming generations.

orld Oceans Day is celebrated on 8th of June every year all over the world. Uday Samudra of UDS Hotels hosted a seminar on the day as part of the campaign against ocean pollution and pollutants. The programme was organised under the banner of ‘Ocean Love’ by Beach & Marine Environment Council, Bond Safari and Green UDS as part of the Campaign ‘Ocean Love’. Other sea-shore hotels, anti-pollution organisations and the local community joined in the celebrations. The event, which took place at Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel was inaugurated by K.R. Jyothilal, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Fisheries and Ports, Kerala Government. Prestigious personalities, namely, L.P. Chither (Clean Mission Director), S. Rajasekharan Nair (Chairman, UDS Hotels), Siju Kumar (Dean, Kerala University), Shibu K.Nair (Director of

Thanal), V.K. Varghese (Indian Coast Guard) and Dr. Clement Lopez (Centre for Development) participated in the event and spoke on various topics connected with the cleaning of the oceans. The conference was attended by eminent persons from the travel and tourism sector, like-minded entrepreneurs, Government Organisations, NGOs, College & School Students, Members of the Defence Force and Media persons. The speakers expressed their views on the global marine pollution and the threat that has been faced by all marine lifeforms, reminding all that already 2270 marine species are endangered or threatened with extinction. The event concluded with a resolution to continue the campaign to clean the beaches from Kanyakumari to Kasaragod within a timeframe.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/AVIATION

AIR INDIA INCREASES NEW DELHI-TEL AVIV FLIGHT FREQUENCY AIR INDIA TO INCREASE NEW DELHI-TEL AVIV FLIGHT FREQUENCY TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK STARTING 14TH JULY, 2018

ollowing an overwhelming response on Air India’s newly launched New Delhi-Tel Aviv flight services, the national carrier has announced an increase in frequency on this sector, adding a fourth flight a week starting 14th July. The airline will now fly on Saturday in addition to Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday every week on the 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Speaking about the new development, Mr. Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism - India & Philippines said, “We are pleased with Air India’s move to increase weekly flight frequency in light of the significant rise in tourist arrivals from India. The outbound numbers to Israel have grown exponentially in the last few years and this introduction will help meet the growing demand from India. India

Tourism India June-July 2018

is an important market for us and I am delighted to say that it has been one of the best performing markets in Asia with a 31% growth last year over 2016 and 31% between January and May 2018 over 2017. The Ministry of Tourism has consistently worked towards increasing flights and seat capacity into Israel and we are happy

AIR INDIA IS CURRENTLY THE FASTEST NONSTOP FLIGHT BETWEEN INDIA AND ISRAEL TAKING A STRAIGHT ROUTE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

to see our efforts yielding positive results”. Air India began its historic direct flight operations from New Delhi to Tel Aviv on 22nd March, 2018. The maiden flight was welcomed by Israeli Tourism Minister, Yariv Levin at Ben Gurion Airport while Air India Chairman Pradeep Singh Kharola and the Director of Israel Ministry of Tourism, Hassan Madah began this new chapter by cutting a cake at the inauguration ceremony. The aircraft departs from New Delhi at 16.50 pm and arrives in Tel Aviv at 21.45 pm (local time). On its return leg, the flight departs from Tel Aviv at 23.15 pm and lands in New Delhi the next day at 8.20 am. With one way duration of 7 hours and 10 minutes, Air India is currently the fastest nonstop flight between India and Israel taking a straight route

Mr. Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism - India & Philippines

between the two countries. In addition to Air India, Arkia has also expressed interest to begin operations soon and introduce direct flights between Israel and India. Furthermore, the country has reduced its visa fee as well to INR 1,100 from its previous INR 1,700 charge for Indian citizens to encourage Indian travelers to visit Israel.

June- July 2018 Tourism India

FEATURE/DESTINATION

A JOURNEY PAST to the

THE NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY (NMR) IS THE ONLY RACK RAILWAY IN INDIA OPERATED BY THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY

by Rahana Habeeb “It is better to travel well than to arrive.” – Buddha

eedless to say, almost every traveler in India dreams of going to Ooty. Why should we limit it only to Indians? it’s practically a dream journey for even people from abroad. But reaching Ooty without boarding the toy train from Mettupalayam is indeed an injustice to the traveler in you. A heritage symbol from the golden era of the British Raj but more than that, it’s aunique and pleasurable memory to cherish forever. It’s practically impossible to disembark from the Nilgiri Mountain Railway without at least a few memories you’ll remember

Tourism India June-July 2018

and cherish for a very long time. The locomotives, at least sixty years old provide a cost-effective nostalgiadipped toy train travel from the hustles and bustle of city life to the pristine tranquility of the Nilgiri hills, where Ooty and surrounding tourism attractions are making the sojourn more attractive. If this is yourfirst-time hearing about it, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was (and still is) the first and only one of its kind in the country that came up with the rack and pinion system. The rack and pinion system are used to cover the steep gradients using cog wheels or pinions. These steam-powered ‘X’ Class engines built by the Swiss

NMR IS 1,000 MM (3 FT 3 3⁄8 IN) METRE GAUGE RAILWAY IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA, BUILT BY THE BRITISH IN 1908 Locomotive and Machine Workschugs through its journey from base town Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district to Udhagamandalam, pronounced better as Ooty in English, on the steepest track in Asia. The Nilgiri mountain train gives the initial whistle of the day from the small starting station in Mettupalayam at sharp 07:00AM in the morning. By the time you reach the final destination at Udhagamandalam station around 12 noon you will have covered all the

June-July 2018 Tourism India

FEATURE/DESTINATION

intricate curves, tunnels, cascades, and nooks and corners of enchanting Nilgiris through this rollercoaster of a trainjourney. But getting a ticket for this dream journey is not as simple as it seems. You should make reservations for your tickets online either one or two months before the journey. Some people try their luck as the station still issues vintage Edmondson style manual tickets on the spot from ticket examiner depending on the availability of vacant seats. An opportunity that depends purely on luck, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly recommended to book your tickets early on. As the train chugs upthe narrow track across the Nilgiris, the steam engine needs plenty of water and waterlines are connected to the tracks and trains stops at particular places to fill water and during that time, passengers can also fulfill their appetite from the small snack bars in these 32

Tourism India June-July 2018

IN JULY 2005, UNESCO ADDED THE NILGIRI MOUNTAIN RAILWAY AS AN EXTENSION TO THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY. stops. This vintage style experience from a golden bygone era has been granted the UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Something that has given the old legacy of this railways more pride and more energy to carry on to the future. This mountain railway used to be an uneconomical hazard for the Railway Board, and the new status breathed new air into the Nilgiri Mountain Railways and many attempts were brought up to maintain and

and Runnymede station. Coonoor is the main intermediate station and here the train changes from steam to diesel locomotive.The final stop Udhagamandalam station, a prominent filming location as well, with the still ambience of the British raj maintained just as well as it was in its heyday. It’s always recommended to book your tickets online much prior to your date of journey and this ensures that your travel Is tension free. Both first class and second-class tickets are

NMR RELIES ON ITS FLEET OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND SWITCHED TO DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES ON THE SECTION BETWEEN COONOOR AND UDHAGAMANDALAM. preserve these historical marvels of engineering. As the train entered the valley of flowers, the big canvas that is Ooty lay in front of me, exactly like a painting done in Prussian blue and emerald green with small yellow flowers budding all over the valley and when the curtains of mist roll down the blue hilltops, everything vanishes for a while and then again, a green blue carpet with yellow dots all over appears in view, with lilac and pink flowers on the sides. A majestic sight, like a painting where the creator must have taken careful thought and with every stroke, expressing his experience and feelings, giving a surreal experience. They say that there is beauty in everything in nature, and you should have the eyes to notice them, and notice them I did. Though popularly called as a ‘toy train’, the train is far from a simple toy, with sophisticated engineering

technology going into every side and corner of the locomotive. The tracks which are 1,000mm (3ft 33⁄8 inch) meter gauge, unlike the rest of the Indian railways, which use 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge. It is a rack railway where the racks and pinion are used to climb up steep grades, the Nilgiri Mountain railways is not only the only rack railway in all of India but also has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33%. The trains contain one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with the rack rail which allows the train to climb up steep grades without much friction. The Nilgiri mountain train covers a distance of 26km, travels through 208 curves,16 tunnels, and across 250 bridges. When the uphill journey takes 290 minutes that is 4.75 hours, the downhill journey takes only 215 minutes of about 3. 65hrs. Out of 12 stations, the train has water stops at Adderley, Hillgrove

available. Unreserved Edmondson style tickets are available at the counter at the station and you may get them if you arrive early enough at the spot. But that again depends on how early you arrive at Mettupalayam station with the morning train starting departure from Mettupalayalam at 7 am and the afternoon train leaving Ooty at 2PM with an additional train running during the peak summer tourists’ season from April to June. While most tourists go to the Botanical garden and Lake thinking that these are only places people can visit in Ooty but there is in fact is much more than that. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway isn’t your average railway journey experience, it’s definitely one worth checking out, and a memory that could last a lifetime, so what are you waiting for? Go on and experience and the Nilgiri Mountain train, go book a seat or maybe more and beat that heat!

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/TRENDS

GLOBAL HALAL TOURISM SECTOR DRIVEN BY MILLENNIALS US & EU TAKE 53% OF INBOUND MUSLIM MARKET SHARE WORTH $64.8 BILLION

rabian Travel Market’s Global Halal Tourism Summit 2018, which took place at the Dubai World Trade were released the figures pointed that Muslim travellers will spend $157 billion by 2020, driven by millennial travellers and the top outbound market remains Saudi Arabian, which will grow 17% over the next three years alone, to reach $27.9 billion. In the seminar, entitled ‘Halal Tourism – How far have we come?’ Faeez Fadhlillah, Founder & CEO of Salam Standard and Tripfez, highlighted the growing importance of Muslim millennial travellers illustrated by the changing global socio-economic trends and underscored the potential pent up demand. “The biggest countries and some of the fastest growing economies in the world are found in Asia and the Middle East. These regions typically have large Muslim populations which are young with prosperous middle classes. “In addition, second and third generation Muslim communities in developed economies such as Europe and North America now have far more purchasing power and overall, their combined growth generates increased demand for faith-based travel and tourism,” he said. During the second seminar, ‘Halal travel becomes mainstream’ Omar Ahmed, founder and CEO of Sociable Earth, revealed some of the key results from a recent survey, in which 35,000 Muslim travellers participated. “Certainly, the halal travel market has graduated from its niche status to become an industry-shaping force, in its own right. It has become mainstream,” said Ahmed. 34

Tourism India June-July 2018

“It is also clear that mainstream travel and tourism organisations will now have to become far more pro-active, if they want to attract increasing numbers of Halal travelers and tap into the potential of this massive market. even destinations in western countries can do more. “The campaign that we managed for

Geneva Tourism can now be used as a benchmark. Together we gained an additional 70,000 unique visitors to their website,” added Ahmed. Another topic of discussion was about the interpretation of Halal tourism, which the panel agreed had so many different facets and the fact it meant different things to different people,

depending on their own Islamic values whether conservative or more liberal. “We also have to keep educating travellers (and destinations) about the term ‘Halal Travel’ as many are still unaware of what it actually means. This awareness campaign will always be on

SO MANY DIFFERENT FACETS AND THE FACT IT MEANT DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON THEIR OWN ISLAMIC VALUES WHETHER CONSERVATIVE OR MORE LIBERAL. going, constant and forever changing,” said Ahmed. The panel agreed that often destinations were in fact Halal friendly without actually realising it. According to Tamara Tawil, Market Manager, Geneva Tourism, this is where many European destinations go wrong, they just need to communicate more

effectively she said. “An image driven campaign is key,” added Tawil. “Muslim travelers want new experiences, so destinations should illustrate that. They certainly don’t want to see stereotypical images that remind them of home. It’s a fine line,” she said. According to the Sociable Earth survey, one of the key findings was that respondents said non-Muslim countries should increase their variety of halal food in the hotel (61.3%), list nearby mosques (61.1%) and halal restaurants (55.2%) and offer private pool villas (14%) to attract more Muslim guests. Ahmed suggested that stakeholders across the tourism and hospitality spectrum now need to capitalise on these findings and must understand the trends that define the sector and adapt accordingly, such as - flexible room configurations, appropriate leisure activities and dining options. “And although niche we’re also focusing our efforts on Muslim solo travel and also hijab free holidays. Our data shows huge potential for women travelling together in groups to enjoy hijab free holidays and experiences, a trend that we feel will become increasingly popular,” added Ahmed.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/OUTBOUND

CINNAMON HOTELS AIMS INDIANS TO SRI LANKA TRINCO BLU HOTEL OFFERS A COMPLETE PACKAGE OF ADVENTURE-BASED ACTIVITIES.

he perfect locations of Cinnamon’s resort properties in Sri Lanka will cater to any traveller’s desire; whether you want to breathe in the cooling breeze of the hill country, soak up some sun while relaxing near a scenic beach or reconnect with nature and wildlife. So, scan that calendar for those upcoming long weekends, book your holiday, relax and unwind or embark on unforgettable adventures, while basking in Cinnamon’s unmatched hospitality and service. Trinco Blu by Cinnamon is the perfect getaway for guests seeking to soak up some sun and sea at one of the most beautiful beaches of the east coast. If you are seeking some seaside adventure, booking your holiday at Trinco Blu will not disappoint, as this magnificent hotel offers you a complete package of adventurebased activities including catch and release fishing, whale and dolphin watching (marine mammal safari), snorkelling among colourful shoals of fish and turtles at Pigeon Island, while it also offers you an opportunity to discover Trincomalee by visiting some iconic places in the city such as the natural hot springs, the

Tourism India June-July 2018

Cinnamon Launched in

City Properties in Colombo

2005 3 Commonwealth War Cemetery, the Harbour Mouth, a fish market, Fort Frederick, the Koneswaram Temple, Lovers Leap and Swami Rock, by land or by taking a boat ride. Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, a scenic resort nestled among the misty mountains of the hill country is the perfect place to relax with its enchanting backdrop and majestic architecture, infusing the heritage of the ancient Kandyan Kingdom. Nestled by the serpentine flow of the Mahaveli river, Cinnamon Citadel Kandy is central to many popular sites such as Adam’s

Resorts around Sri Lanka

Island Resorts in the Maldives

Peak where you could experience the most beautiful sunrise in Sri Lanka, or conquer the Knuckles mountain range and get transfixed by its aweinspiring surroundings. You can also take a boat ride down the Mahaweli River and observe the fauna and flora around this magnificent eco-system and trek the Udawatta Kele Santuary

CINNAMON'R RESORTS ARE HAVENS FOR NATURE LOVERS WITH UNMATCHED TRANQUILLITY AND SURROUNDINGS.

HABARANA VILLAGE

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a luscious forest reserve with high canopies and biodiversity that tells you a story of our Kandyan ancestors. Cinnamon Lodge Habarana and Habarana Village by Cinnamon are havens for nature lovers and awakens the most tired soul with unmatched tranquillity and surroundings. With luxurious private cottages and suites with modern amenities, these resorts will not disappoint when it comes to hospitality. Spend just about ninety minutes of bliss spotting and watching

www.spiceland.travel

beautiful birds and butterflies with experienced naturalists, stroll through the hotel premises to watch primates in action in their habitat or set out on a jeep safari to spot herds of majestic elephants at the Minneriya

Habarana Village by Cinnamon is located 176km from Colombo, Sri Lanka with an atmosphere of times gone by where living was done at a simpler pace and smiles were aplenty. Homely, friendly and constantly reviewed on Trip Advisor, we also aim to work with staff from the neighbouring villages in a sustainable manner that benefits everyone from guests to the environment we sit in. The quiet ambiance of our village resort is only punctuated by the occasional chattering of a monkey or an early morning bird call.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/EVENT National Park or Kaudulla, where wild elephants appear every evening during the season. Cinnamon Wild Yala is another perfect getaway for those who wish to become one with nature. Bordering the Yala National Park, which is home to the most coveted cat, the leopard, Yala is home to many wild elephants, sloth bear, crocodiles and various species of wildlife, making naturelovers feel right at home. While at Cinnamon Wild Yala you can explore the lakes such as Yoda Wewa, Tissa Wewa and Debara Wewa which are havens for a variety of birds, reptiles and butterflies. One can go bird watching at the Bundala National Park which hosts a number of resident and migratory birds. You can also visit the ancient Sithulpawwa Rock Temple, an archaeological spectacle that boasts a history of over 2,200 years. One can go on a guided trek around the hotel premises to observe a variety of mammals, reptiles and birds or embark on an exciting night time drive to the Yala National Park, while using night-vision goggles to spot leopards and other nocturvnal animals. A safari by jeep to the Yala National Park is not to be missed, where you can spot a wide variety of fauna and flora, unique to the dryzone habitat of the island. All the excursions enjoyed at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts are powered by Nature Trails; the awardwinning wildlife adventure tourism division of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts which also serves as one of Sri Lankaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading eco-excursion providers. The Nature Trails team at each resort offers an in-house naturalist, experienced tour guide and wild life photographers to provide excellent guidance and commentary during your adventures, making these experiences whole and meaningful. So, take advantage of those upcoming long weekends and take a well-deserved break at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts for an inspiring

Tourism India June-July 2018

GLOBAL MUSIC

SRI

THE BIGGEST MUSIC CELEBRATION AT THE COLOMBO MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018

innamon Life unveils Colombo Music Festival 2018, the biggest one-day musical celebration ever to hit the island country will take place on 18th August at the Havelock Sports Club Grounds in Sri Lanka. Witness the most spectacular night of entertainment in a Caribbean Night theme set up featuring the legends of reggae-fusion and dancehall artists that include the likes of Diana King, Shaggy, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain. The world famous stars headlining at the festival are undoubtedly some of the best and most respected musicians in this genre. They will deliver powerpacked performances blending old favourites and fresh new sounds. Dancers, choreographers, local musicians, an array of pop-up events and unique experiences will add vibrancy so audiences get to experience another dimension to the festival. The actionpacked evening offers an international ambiance with paint

FESTIVAL DETAILS

DATE

18TH August 2018 TIME

1501hrs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2359hrs VENUE

Havelock Sports Club Grounds 10, Park Lane, Colombo, 5 Sri Lanka

RI LANKA balling, zorb balls and soap football. Ample food stations will ensure that all festival-goers will have access to food, snacks and drinks throughout the night. A Detox Lounge will also be set up with relaxing entertainment throughout the night, so festival-goers can unwind after the show. This one-day mega annual festival, novel to Sri Lanka, will be the first of

DANCERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, LOCAL MUSICIANS, AN ARRAY OF POP-UP EVENTS AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES WILL ADD VIBRANCY

www.spiceland.travel

its kind with its state-of-the-art set up, unforgettable line-up and innovative engagements will give a contemporary festival experience with a truly global feel. Not only will the festival redefine the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concept of entertainment, it will also give a taste of what is to expect in the years to come. It is a glimpse of what Cinnamon Life represents best â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the very epitome of vibrancy, exclusivity and inspired living in modern South Asia. Join us at Cinnamon Colombo Music Festival 2018 for an epic night of nonstop dancehall and reggae entertainment!

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/OUTBOUND

TAIWAN EXPO 2018 REVEALED NEW OFFERS TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU CONDUCTED A WORKSHOP AND B2B SESSION RECENTLY IN BENGALURU.

o promote Taiwan as an ideal destination for travel, Taiwan Tourism Bureau participated in the Taiwan Expo 2018 in New Delhi, India and took the country’s business community by storm. The exhibition had 8 themed pavilions - Meet Taiwan, Taiwan EV Alliance, Taiwan Food Processing Machinery, Taiwan Green Products, Taiwan Healthcare, Taiwan Tourism, Taiwan Excellence and Taiwan Smart City, which was beneficial for Indian industry as well as consumers.

Tourism India June-July 2018

Targetted at B2B and the direct consumers, it was a learning experience for India for the potential that Taiwan offers. Followed by participation at the Taiwan Expo, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau conducted a workshop and B2B session recently in Bengaluru at The Ritz- Carlton hotel with an objective of the workshop was to educate the travel agents about Taiwan and the products it has to offer for both the Leisure and MICE segment, and update their knowledge about Taiwan, the USP’s of

130 EXHIBITORS SHOWCASED THEIR PRODUCTS SPREAD OVER 230 BOOTHS FOR THE THREE-DAY EXPO AT PRAGATI MAIDAN, NEW DELHI. the destination, exchange rate, visas and the how it caters to different segments of the Indian travellers. The invited agents got an opportunity to meet and discuss the Taiwan products directly with the suppliers who were present at the event -- Hyatt Hotels, Thai Airline and Cruise Professionals.

TTB Director, Singapore office – Dr. Trust Lin addressing the gathering and sharing a general presentation on Taiwan. He spoke about the various aspects of the destination including outdoor activities, environment of Taiwan, sea side and the bay area, festivals, shopping and night life of Taiwan. The highlight of the event was to make the agents aware of the fact that Taiwan offers ‘Easy visa on arrival for Indians’. The applicant must possess a valid or expired (for 10 years or less) Visa issued by the countries of Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, any of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, or the United States.With liberalized visa policies, Taiwan will become a must-visit destination from India.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/OUTBOUND

TEN YEARS OF

VISA WELLINGTON

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS VISA WELLINGTON ON A PLATE IS NOW ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS ON NEW ZEALAND’S FOODIE CALENDAR

Tourism India June-July 2018

rom small beginnings in 2009, Visa Wellington On a Plate is now one of the most eagerly anticipated events on New Zealand’s foodie calendar. This year marks the event’s 10 year anniversary and the party starts on August 10 when New Zealand’s capital dishes up hundreds of burgers, cocktails, festival

TOP

dishes and a huge array of events over 17 days to celebrate a decade of this annual food festival. Festival favourites Burger Wellington and Cocktail Wellington return where diners vote on their favourite burger and drink at participating restaurants. This year sees 180 burgers and 63 cocktails entered from across the region all battling for the ultimate bragging rights. Arguably the most popular event Beervana will take place on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 August. Westpac Stadium is turned into a beerlovers paradise with special one-off beer creations from Wellington, New Zealand, and international brewers all served with amazing food to match. International guests are always are draw card and 2018 is no different. The Chef Collaboration Series will play host to international chef’s including Hayden McMillan of Melbourne’s Etta, LA’s Gangsta Gardener Ron Finley, Sydney’s Dan Hong of Mr Wong and Ms G’s and London’s celebrated chef, Anna Hansen of The Modern Pantry. In the last 10 years Wellington On a Plate has continued to grow from 30 events and 43 dine menus in 2009 to 148 events and 100 dine menus in 2018. During the 2017 festival 112,000 burgers were consumed as part of the event Burger Wellington and they were served with 67,000 matching Garage Project beers a 36% increase on the 2016 event. During the month of August international visitors, particularly Australian visitors to Wellington increases year on year. Visa WOAP merchants averaged an increase of 41% in sales during the event when compared to the pre-event period. In 2018 there is a total of 148 events, 180 burgers, 63 cocktails, 100 dine menus, and 267 hospitality businesses taking part.

MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY WITH A TWIST

Dive through the rabbit hole and be transported to a magical otherworldly space. Let your taste buds be tickled by tremendously absurd high tea-style delights, including a teapot cocktail on arrival, not-your-usual club sandwiches, and champagne jellies.

WELCOME TO VALHALLA

Eat to excess and enjoy an evening of whole beasts in viking-style frivolity. Imagine tables dripping with plentiful rustic dishes, whole fish, goblets of wine, and tankards of beer and mead.

HIAKAI HĀNGI

A traditional hāngi but not as you know it. Five top Kiwi and international chefs and foodies will gather around the hāngi pit in a celebration of Polynesian culture. Featuring Michael Meredith, Ron Finley, Morgan McGlone, James Knappett, led by Wellington’s own Monique Fiso.

THE PROGRESSIVE HERBIVORE

Olive chefs present a four-course exploration of vegan and plant-based ingredients. They will showcase dishes and drink matches made from vibrant seasonal produce manipulated in creative ways, including dehydration and fermentation.

RIMUTAKA PRISON GATE TO PLATE

An opportunity to enjoy a truly exceptional culinary experience behind bars, with all food prepared and served by prisoners at Rimutaka Prison. Renowned chef Martin Bosley returns to mentor the prisoners, along with chefs, Monique Fiso and Shepherd Elliott, who will bring their unique style to the canapés and three-course menu.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/OUTBOUND

MATATO HOSTS MALDIVIAN NIGHT IN MUMBAI INDIA IS AN EMERGING MARKET FOR MALDIVIAN TOURISM PROSPECTS

destination showcase for Maldives is hosted in Mumbai, India, on Friday, 11th May 2018, branded as Maldivian Night, organized by Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators MATATO. More than 200 travel professionals from the two countries attended this exclusive event, hosted at the Four Seasons, Mumbai. Maldivian Night was presented in part as a business networking event, where Maldivian hoteliers and Travel agents had the opportunity to meet with more than 150 prominent travel agents and tour operators from India. 08 Maldivian companies took part in the business networking event was concluded with an entertainment evening, to promote and feature Maldives Travel Awards. is eventwas

MATATO IS TODAY CONSIDERED THE LEADING NGO IN THE MALDIVES WITH THE ASSOCIATION ENGAGED IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

ABDULLA GHIYAS NAMED 2018 PATA FACE OF THE FUTURE

bdulla Ghiyas, President of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) – one of the most active NGOs in the Maldives dedicated to fostering and promoting the sub industry of local travel agents, is today named as the 2018 PATA Face of the Future. This is the most prestigious honour open to young tourism professionals in the Asia Pacific region. Dr Mario Hardy, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), said, “I would like to congratulate Abdulla on winning the 2018 PATA Face of the Future award. His clear commitment

Tourism India June-July 2018

to the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region is highlighted by his more than 10 years of service with MATATO and his many other activities and partnerships in the industry. In addition, his unique experience and insights will be a welcome addition to the Executive Board.” As the 2018 PATA Face of the Future, Abdulla will have extensive exposure at the PATA Annual Summit 2018 from May 17-20 in Gangneung, Korea (ROK). He will be one of the speakers at the PATA Youth Symposium, be interviewed by BBC World News Presenter & Producer Sharanjit Leyl at the one-day conference and be one of

joined Indian media by representatives from International travel brands based in Mumbai. Organized as part of destination marketing eorts by MATATO, this event marks the 03rd Travel Trade event lead by MATATO in India in 2018 alone. “We are really excited about having stepped up Destination Marketing eorts this year. And we look forward to continuing on this branding of events at major travel markets for Maldives. is year so far we have been very loud in our marketing activities in Asia Pacific region especially in India” Said Abdulla Ghiyaz Riyaz, President of MATATO. This was the first ‘Maldivian Night’ organized by MATATO in India, a similar event is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka before the Maldives Awards Gala.

the debaters at the UNWTO/PATA Leaders Debate. Abdulla will also be invited to join the 2018/2019 PATA Executive Board as a non-voting member and observer. “I am truly overwhelmed and humbled to have been recognised with the prestigious PATA Face of the Future award. This award is for the hard-working team at MATATO and Inner Maldives Holidays, and every dreamer out there for believing that there is always room for thinking bigger, pushing limits and imagining the impossible,” said Abdulla. “Today we are living in an era of ever evolving challenges and changes. The role of youth and students across the globe is being redefined and I believe younger generations can play a vital role in travel and tourism. I look forward to working together with PATA and other travel industry stakeholders to further the role

of youth and inspire them in joining this movement.” Abdulla is a young energetic disrupter in the Maldivian tourism industry, who has changed the tourism landscape in the last few years by giving a voice to all Small Medium Enterprises in the industry. MATATO is today considered the leading NGO in the Maldives with the association engaged in various activities such as advocacy and lobbying, training and workshops, fam trips, loan schemes via different financial institutions, recognition programs such as Awards, travel conferences and forums, publications and much more. The association last year organised destination stands and road shows, exhibiting brand Maldives in 14 countries around the world. Abdulla is also a serial entrepreneur engaged in leading travel businesses and

startups. He is the Deputy Managing Director of Inner Maldives Holidays, one of the largest inbound and outbound travel agency in Maldives. He is also a Director for Ace Travels Maldives and Spence Maldives, which are joint ventures with Sri Lankan blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC. Having 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, Abdulla was the youngest Board Director of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) from 2014 to 2017. He was also named by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Maldives as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Maldives in 2010 for his role in business turnaround in Inner Maldives Holiday. Abdulla also contributes to the Consulate of the Republic of Seychelles to the Maldives as the Deputy.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/OUTBOUND

THE SUMMER SO “HAPPINESS FRONTLINE” THAT CALLS TOGETHER ALL THE PEOPLE TO COME AND JOIN HANDS TO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY THE “CHAMPION SUMMER SOLSTICE FOOD”.

he Taiwan Tourism Bureau, through the concept of brand management, is committed to the planning and marketing all kinds of festivals in Taiwan. This year, among the myriad of international activities and events in the tourism calendar, known as “Time for Celebration - Taiwan Tourism Events”, and the launch of the “Summer Solstice 235” for the first time. The “Summer Solstice 235 (Fall in Love with me)“ refers to a series of activities that are a part of Taiwan’s summer festival campaign. Amongst these activities is “Chapter 2 of Taste Buds Travel the Tropic of Cancer - a Gourmet Voting Campaign”, which will be officially broadcasted on the “Taiwan Fun on the Tropic of Cancer” website http://www.taiwan235n.tw/ ). The significance of “235” in the campaign name can be traced back to the fact that the Mandarin pronunciation of the numeric code “235” sounds like “fall in love with me”,

Tourism India June-July 2018

OLSTICE 235 which can then be interpreted to mean “fall in love with Taiwan.” The online voting project consists of lists bearing the names of recommended delicacies belonging to areas that lie on the Tropic of Cancer, such as the East Coast, East RIft Valley, Ali Shan, Siraya, Southwest Cost, Penghu National Scenic Area and, Chiayi City and County. The recommended local cuisines include Aiyu, Xiancao, Cactus Ice, Mango Ice, Watermelon, Ginger Tomato, Alishan Coffee, Alishan Tea, Ruisui Fresh Milk and Smoked Food, all of which are very well-suited for the summer months. People are invited to participate in the online voting project by selecting which of these they feel best represents the “Summer Solstice Food” of Taiwan. Every voter is an active participant, and also has the chance to win beautiful prizes. As a follow-up to the voting event, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau will organise an event called “Happiness Frontline” that calls together all the people to come and join hands to celebrate and enjoy the “Champion Summer Solstice Food”. “The Chapter 2 of Taste Buds Travel the Tropic of Cancer - Gourmet Voting Campaign “ began from 1st May was the second event in the Summer Solstice campaign. The series of activities,with the first event called “Famous Masters Share their Experiences“, invited the public for online vote, to share their thoughts to pick out the best local food at 23.5 degrees north latitude, and to highlight the unique geographical features of the Tropics and the Subtropics, that are divided by the Tropic of Cancer to find out the must-eat gourmet cuisines of Summer

THE TAIWAN TOURISM IS THE PLANNING AND MARKETING ALL KINDS OF FESTIVALS IN TAIWAN. Solstice in Taiwan. The highlight of the series of activities organised by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau was held at the Dongshi Fisherman’s Wharf in Chiayi where thousands of people joined in building together the “Happiness Frontline” by holding hands to make a human chain marking the Tropic of Cancer of Taiwan. In addition to these, the food which wins the championship of Summer Solstice were also provided to the public. The festivities do not end here and there is yet more in store for the enjoyment and good health of the people.

TAIWAN

Taiwan, 180km east of China, is known for modern cities, traditional Chinese temples, hot springs resorts and dramatic mountainous terrain. Taipei, in the north, has a number of busy night markets, as well as Chinese Imperial art at the National Palace Museum. Taipei 101, a 509m-tall, bamboo-shaped skyscraper with an observation deck, rises above the city.

June- July 2018 Tourism India

FEATURE/TRENDS

ROMANTIC

ESC PADES S

pending some quality time with your best half while exploring the world’s amazing romantic destinations is there in your plan? Whether you opt for beautiful beaches or panoramic views of sunset, an adventure camp or a luxurious vacation here are some exotic destinations awaiting you and your loved one for a perfect romantic holiday.

PARIS, FRANCE

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

While destinations like Paris and Barcelona are usually at the top of the list when talking of romance, Cape Town isn’t very far down the list either. Tagged as the ‘most beautiful place in the world’, here you can drift over the breathtaking Cape Winelands on a hot-air balloon, take off on an impromptu picnic at the Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens, take a cable car ride up the majestic Table Mountain, feast on delicious sea food, and if you’re the adventurous type, then go shark-cage diving in any of the numerous oceans.

africa

Sout h

Tourism India June-July 2018

Paris

Paris, the world capital of romance, is better than any other place to start your romantic escapade. With couple activities like sensuous boudoir photography sessions, specially customized according to your preferences, and exciting macaron-making classes or sunset cruises along the Seine, a trip is all you need to rediscover your love. For a more adventurous couple, the five-mile Love Run, in which couples are tied together at the wrist and have to take on challenges along the way, is a perfect option. You can also enjoy Parisian dining at its finest, indulge in mouthwatering pastries or explore the beautiful historic gardens, from the Tuileries Garden to the gardens of the Palais Royal.

maldives

MALDIVES

Maldives is considerd as a perfect place for those looking for relax yet supremely romantic vacation. Maldives a perfect place for a romantic adventure also.Starting off with a snorkelling expedition in the pristine blue waters, followed by sandbank dining (yes, there’s such a thing), moving on to an indulgent evening spent at one of the amazing spas and ending with a sunset sailing expedition, Maldives is an unforgettable experience straight out of your dreams!

Melburne

MELBURNE

With innumerable ways of celebrating romantic vaccations in Melbourne, you will definitely be spoilt for choice. For instance, you can take off on a romantic picnic in one of the many intimate nooks at Rippon Lea Estate, explore the delightful Melbourne Laneways or go for a midnight movie in the Royal Botanic Gardens. You can also choose to surprise your loved one by renting a hand-built skiff and rowing down the Yarra River or taking a hot-air balloon ride over the beautiful city. Whatever you opt for, this amazing city will never fail to delight you and leave you wanting a lot more.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

After Paris, Barcelona has to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe. While it boasts of lovely beaches, a rich culture and deep-rooted history; it’s mainly famous for experiences that you’ll never find elsewhere. From a fun excursion to a Catalan winery to exploring the romantic medieval quarters of El Born and Barrio Gótico, where you’ll get a chance to enjoy a delicious Spanish dinner, with the choicest of wines to hiking up the famous Mt. Tibidabo (yes, the one from FRIENDS), everything you do here will be that much more special, unique and memorable.

Barcelona June-July 2018 Tourism India

FEATURE/DESTINATION

ICONIC MOSQUES of SHARJAH THE LARGEST HOUSE OF WORSHIP IS THE KING FAISAL MOSQUE

Tourism India June-July 2018

he mosques of Sharjah are distinctive for their eyecatching aesthetic architecture. Tourists and believers alike visit Sharjah for the tranquil and hospitable nature of the cultural hub of the UAE. The cultural ethos of Sharjah has made it the emirate for visitors looking for an experiential journey. It is an emirate routed in tradition, while opening its doors to the contemporary world, thereby offering the best of all worlds. Those seeking greater knowledge of and connection to Islam will certainly find it in this emirate graced with over 600 mosques. The largest house of worship is the King Faisal Mosque. The complex geometric design and the likeness of the massive structure to a multi-pointed star make it the most recognizable landmark of Sharjah. The charm of this mosque is that it is very well-suited for worship with admirable acoustics, a very useful audio guide and the captivating voice of the Imam in the vast but quiet space, it all comes together to create a very special atmosphere. Situated on the banks of the Khalid Lagoon, the Al Noor Mosque has a dream setting. Construction of the structure was completed in the year 2005. Visitors can take inspiration from architectural trademarks such as the minarets, domes and arches, which are reminiscent of traditional Ottoman architecture. This is because the mosque is modelled after the ‘Blue Mosque’ or the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Turkey. Private tour bookings are possible, or one may opt for the regular free tours that are held every Monday at 10:00am. In order to promote a cross-cultural understanding, an excellent briefing program covering basic principles of Islam is provided for visitors, along with an opportunity to try on the ‘abaya’ and scarves that the local women of Sharjah generally wear. The Al Noor Mosque is known for its guided tours and hospitable treatment to guests, however, it is

THE AL NOOR MOSQUE IS ALSO ONE OF THE TEN LOCATIONS IN SHARJAH FROM WHERE THE IFTAR CANNONS ARE FIRED. also of great religious significance to the locals and outsiders who follow the faith. On Ramadan evenings, the mosque becomes unusually busy due to the large number of worshippers. The interlaced decorative interiors

and architecture, in addition to the cooling effect of the use of gypsum (traditional building material made of coral) in building the mosque, creates a relaxing Islamic cultural ambience where peace and contentment permeate The Al Noor Mosque is also one of the ten locations in Sharjah from where the Iftar (the breaking of the Ramadan fast) cannons are fired. On the Ramadan days building up to the much-awaited Eid al-Fitr, throngs of visitors arrive to witness the firing of cannons announcing Iftar time. This old custom of announcing the breaking of the fast is a charming cultural tradition that keeps Islamic heritage alive in the emirate. Sharjah offers a true glimpse into modern life combining heritage and Islamic traditions with a cultural and educational identity that goes back many centuries and an enduring, gracious welcome.

June-July 2018 Tourism India

NEWS/APPOINTMENTS

NEW ADG – KERALA TOURISM - MRUNMAI JOSHI IAS M s. Mrunmai Joshi, IAS has joined as the new Additional Director (General) of Kerala Tourism department. She succeeds Mr. Jafar Malik IAS, who was recently appointed as the Director of Social Welfare Department, Kerala. Ms. Mrunmai, a 2013 batch of Indian Administrative Service is a Law graduate and hails from Maharashtra. For last two years, she was serving as the Secretary of Kozhikode

Corporation. She started her civil service career as Assistant collector, Ernakulum in 2014 and later joined as the Assistant secretary at Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India in 2015. She was also served as Sub collector at Kasaragod during 2015-2016 periods. She is a voracious reader and an ardent traveler, who also associated with Times of India as a freelance writer during her college days.

KISHORE REJOINS WITH AVENUE RESORTS AS MARKETING HEAD

r. Kishore AM has rejoined as the Marketing Head of Avenue Hotels and Resorts. He will take care of the overall business and operational matters of Avenue center Hotel Ernakulam and Rainforest Resort Athirapally in Trichur district of Kerala. In earlier stint he was served more than a decade with Avenue Hotels as Sales Manager. He started his hospitality Sales carrier with Quality Inn Presidency Cochin as Asst Manager Marketing and later moved to Quality Airport Hotel as Marketing Manager. Kishore joined with Avenue Hotels & Resorts in 2005 and took a short break from 2015 to 2018 to fulfill his passion in acting and done Malayalam movies includes She Taxi, Mumbai Police, Veeram and a lead role in Chakkara Mavin Kombathu. As a well known professional advertisement model in South India he was completed 100th

Tourism India June-July 2018

modeling assignment recently for Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for Incredible India campaign. Kishore was modeled for many famous national and regional clients includes Bajaj Bikes, HDFC Bank, Nokia, LG, Haier, Chennai Silks, Ramraj, Madhura Coats, Election Commission of India, Kerala Tourism’s Grand Kerala Shopping festival, Kerala Police (Subhayatra) etc.

SHUL AMBWANIDIRECTOR – OPERATIONS, HYATT REGENCY CHANDIGARH

r. Shul Ambwani has been appointe as the Director of Operations for Hyatt Regency Chandigarh. In his new role, Shul will be responsible for the Rooms Division (including Front Office, Housekeeping, Laundry, Spa) and Food & Beverage operations. Shul has previously been with Park Hyatt Goa and Hyatt Pune. He brings over a decade of expertise also working with brands like Taj Hotels, and AccorHotels. On his appointment Shul says “I am excited at this new opportunity and looking ahead to taking on additional responsibilities and challenges. I am looking forward to working together with the team, support my colleagues in their respective areas and enhance the guest experience at Hyatt Regency Chandigarh.”

SANJAY KAUSHIK NEW COO OF RAVIZ HOTELS & RESORTS

HARI KC JOINS EASTBOUND GROUP AS BUSINESS HEAD – SOUTH INDIA

astbound Group, a leading luxury travel management company has appointed Mr. Hari K. C as their Regional Business Head to look after South Indian market. He was with Le Passage to India for more than 14 years as Asst. Vice President. With a robust experience in inbound tourism of over 18 years his presence will strengthen the brands operations across South India and will be based out of Cochin. Mr. Hari is well known and energetic face of the Kerala Tourism Industry, is also very active in many trade related platforms, regarded as an efficient organizer, who enjoys great PR and good will across the trade. He is also the current Joint Secretary of Kerala Travel Mart ( KTM) Society and the Executive Committee Member of Association of Tourism Trade Organisations of India ( ATTOI). Fondly regarded by peers as a multi-faceted personality, he also adorns the cap of a chef, movie critic, foodie and cricket player.

he Raviz Hotels & Resorts has appointed Mr.Sanjay Kaushik as their Chief Operating Officer based at Kovalam, Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala- God’s Own country. Raviz Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing hotel chain, owned by RP Group. Mr. Sanjay Kaushik moved to Raviz from Inter Continetal Hotel Group where he was the Area General Manager, West India of Crowne Plaza Ahamedabad. Sanjay Kaushik brings in 22 years of experience in hotel industry. He holds proven track record in business turn arounds. Sanjay Kaushik started his carrier as a professional Judo Player (Black Belt) with Central Industrial Security Forces during 1990-95 and in 1996, he switched over to hospitality industry with ITC Maurya New Delhi, certified in Six Sigma - Green Belt. Sanjay moved to InterContinental Eros, New Delhi as Duty Manager in 2005, later taken over as Quality manager and then promoted as Front Office Manager. In 2008 he joined with

pre-opening core Management Team at Country Inn & Suites by Calrson,Sahibabad and continued there till official launch in May 2009. Kaushik moved to Crowne Plaza Delhi as Rooms Division Manager in July 2009 and promoted as Resident Manager in January 2010. He joined as the General Manager of Radisson Blu Rudrapur, Uttakhand in December 2011 and in April 2013 moved to God’s Own country as the General Manager of Crowne Plaza Kochi, where he bagged the coveted Kerala State Tourism Award for the Best Hotel General Manager. Sanjay Kaushik has also won many other national and international awards and accolades for his outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry and his proven track record as hard core hotel professional. He moved to Ahmadabad as Area General Manager, West India in August 2016, while he was serving as Cluster Head of IHG Properties in Kerala during 2014 to 2016 period.

Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar K V on behalf of Tourism India Publications Pvt .Ltd. SEKT 52, Tourism House, Thamarakulam Lane, Sasthamangalam P O, Trivandrum, Kerala, India 695010 Printed at Maya Offset Printers, Eroor, Ernakulam for Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695010 India Editor: Ravisankar K V

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