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MEDICAL TOURISM BETS BIG FOR INDIA

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edical tourism in India has emerged as the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry. With the costs of treatments soaring in the developed countries, India has become the most prospective medical tourism market in the world and patients who are in search of cost effective options now look for treatment in South Asian countries. This development can boost the Indian Medical Tourism industry, and it will be a boon for several associated industries, including hospital industry, medical equipments industry and pharmaceutical industry, health care tourism, cosmetic surgery, and spa and alternate therapies.

Indigenous or traditional medical practitioners are providing their services across the country. However there is no one definition for medical tourism as it refers to the travel activity that involves a medical procedure or activities that promote the wellbeing of the tourist. Health tourism has a promising future in the land of Ayurveda where the first plastic surgery was performed by Sushrutha around 2,000 years ago. Since Kerala offers authentic Ayurveda treatments, as it pioneered health and medical tourism sector in India, it is a heaven for health seekers. The state has made concerted efforts to promote medical tourism in a big way.

The Indian medical tourism industry has massive potential for future development and growth. Wellness treatments help people in preventing the development of health issues, both physically and mentally. The treatments involved, such as massages, herbal wraps and exfoliating scrubs, offer the customers an experience that makes them feel good. They are also advised on how to relieve stress and other self-identified concerns.

Health tourism sector, particularly in India, has come a long way as the facilities here are of international standards which come at a much cheaper rate encouraging patients from neighbouring countries, Middle East, UK and even USA to visit the country for specialised treatments.

Since Medical tourism is being promoted on social media across various platforms and government initiatives such as launch of campaigns in the international markets under the Incredible India brand-line; Road Shows, Know India Seminars etc. for promotion of Medical & Health Tourism have increased the foot falls of medical travellers.

India has a strong base of qualified and skilled doctors who are on a par with any of the western nations.

Another major factor that has made India successful in attracting medical tourists is the bank of English speaking

doctors, guides and medical staff which makes it easier for the foreign tourists to relate well to Indian medical personnel. The country provides an opportunity to the medical tourists to visit some of the most alluring and awe-inspiring places by taking them on a medical tourist trip.

India can provide ‘patient-oriented’ business model with world class care with the help of the latest technology and standardised medical services will increase the tourist footfalls.

However a word of caution is needed in this context. The industry has to be extremely cautious while embarking on ventures in this area. It has to assure standards in medical treatment and put in places steps and measures in order to ensure that medical tourists are not taken for a ride. Incidents of hospitals cheating Indian patients have been reported time and again.

If such treatment is meted out to medical tourists the bad apples in the basket would be jeopardising a golden chance and putting the reputation of the whole industry on the line. Selfregulation and monitoring mechanism by the industry would pay huge dividends in the years ahead.

Rajani A, Executive Editor

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10 PATA ANNOUNCES GRAND AND GOLD AWARD WINNERS 2019

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VISITMALAYSIA 2020 LOGO UNVEILED

12 - UNION BUDGET 2019-2020; major boost for tourism sector 15 - Appointment 16 - Fifteen destinations under the Ramayana Circuit 17 - India tourism aims for a major boost in the sector 19 - Coastal tourism circuits development in Tamil Nadu 20 - India as top long-haul destination for UK travelers 23 - Kerala tourism Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram 2019 announced 24 - Bangalore hosts Asia SKAL Congress 2019 25 - Harikishan valmiki receives SKAL’S personality of the year award 26 - Spiceland hosts kerala tourism road show 27 - GoAir on an Expansion Spree 30 - Grand mercure mysore celebrates international yoga day with a twist

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36 - Karma group returns to thailand’s koh samui with karma apsara 44- "Medal of merit to imtiaz ali for "jab harry met sejal" 42 - The penguins are counting down to launch

TWO NEW FLIGHTS BETWEEN INDIA AND PORTUGAL

SEASONS SAROVAR PORTICO IN CITY OF LAKES, UDAIPUR

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N E W S / I N T E R NAT I O NA L AWA R D S

PATA ANNOUNCES GRAND AND GOLD AWARD WINNERS 2019 GRAND AWARD FOR SAHAPEDIA AND GOLD AWARDS TO INDIA TOURISM, KERALA TOURISM, COX& KINGS

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ahapedia India, an open online multimedia knowledge resource on the arts, cultures and histories of India has won the 2019 PATA Grand Award for Heritage and Culture Award for its ‘India Heritage Walks’ while Ministry of Government of India, Kerala Tourism department and Cox & Kings India has bagged PATA Gold awards in Marketing categories.

The other three PATA Grand award winners are ASSET-H&C, IECD(Institut Européen de Coopération et de Dévelopement), ASSET-H&C, Thailand in Education and Training category and Elephant Hills- Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand in Environment category while Experience Macao Food Truck USAMacao Government Tourism Office, Macao, China in Marketing category.

Find the Incredible You by Ministry of Tourism, marketing campaign is an array of visual, online and print media creative’s to explore the heritage, spirituality and wellness holidays in various parts of India by Ministry of Tourism Government of India has won PATA Gold Award 2019 in Primary Government Destination segment in marketing category while Kerala Tourism has walk away with the PATA Gold awards in marketing category for its Ethnic Restaurant at Kumarakom, Kerala in Women Empowerment Initiative segment and Come Out and Play Campaign of 10

Tourism India July 2019

INDIA HERITAGE WALKS’

BY SAHAPEDIA, FIND THE INCREDIBLE YOU BY MINISTRY OF TOURISM, KERALA TOURISM WEBSITE, MICE CHESS BOX BY COX & KINGS LIMITED AND KUMARAKOM RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ARE THE AWARD WINNING ENTRIES FROM INDIA Kerala Tourism Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media segment while www. keralatouirsm.org adjudged as the best website in Web Site segment in marketing category. Ethnic Restaurant at Kumarakom is the brain child of

Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission to empower the potential of local women entrepreneurs in Kerala’s famous backwater destination and www.keralatourism.org website is created and maintaining by Invis Multi Media, the Information Technology partner of Kerala Tourism. Come Out and Play Campaign of Kerala Tourism was created by Stark Communication to capture the attention of off-season domestic travelers and this particular campaign was launched just before the devastating floods of Kerala in August 2018.

Mice Chess Box by Cox & Kings Limited, India has also won Consumer Travel Brochure segment In Marketing Media category. ‘India Heritage Walks’ aims to make heritage and culture tourism more holistic and

inclusive. The purpose is to generate interest amongst the travellers as well the local population to discover the city, its streets, its people and the stories of its colonies, ruins, mainstays and migrants. These efforts have also been especially directed towards those groups for whom engagement programmes in heritage tourism are commonly unavailable, such as children, persons with disabilities, and those from economically underprivileged backgrounds, for instance. Since its inception in November 2016, India Heritage Walks has spread to 60 cities across India.

These heritage walks cover varied aspects of our cultural and natural heritage. Ranging from walks exploring markets, monuments and museums, to natural landscapes and regional cuisine, India Heritage Walks are curated thematically, making it an ideal resource for travellers and heritage enthusiasts as well.

The 33 Grand and Gold Awards will be presented to such organisations as Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia; Cox & Kings Limited, India; Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand; Hotel ICON, Hong Kong SAR; IECD, ASSET-H&C, Thailand; Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR; Macao Government Tourism Office; Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China; Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Palau Visitors Authority; Sarawak Tourism, Malaysia; SriLankan Airlines

Ltd; Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei; The Travel World, Bangladesh; Tourism Authority of Thailand, and YANNA Ventures, Thailand.

“On behalf of PATA, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all the 2019 Grand and Gold Award winners, as well as all of this year’s

participants for their submissions.

I look forward to celebrating the accomplishment of this year’s winners who truly represent the values of the Association in working towards a more responsible travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region,” added PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy.

July 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / BUDGET

UNION BUDGET 2019-2020; MAJOR BOOST FOR TOURISM SECTOR 17 ICONIC TOURISM SITES BEING DEVELOPED INTO WORLD CLASS TOURIST DESTINATIONS

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he union Budget 2019-2020 presented by Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance, Government of India has given major thrust to travel, tourism and aviation industry in India with one nation travel card, regional airport hub, international level tourism infrastructure development for 17 iconic Tourism Sites across India and FDI in aviation and tourism sector.

The Finance Minister said that the Government is developing 17 iconic tourism sites into world class tourist destinations which will serve as a model for other tourism sites. These sites would enhance visitor experience which will lead to increase visits of both domestic and international tourists at these destinations.

In Transport sector, budget proposes PPP in railways, roadmap to make

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Tourism India July 2019

India a hub of maintenance, repair and overhaul and aircraft financing / leasing activities and Development of state road network.

The Union Budget 2019-20 stresses upon the need for heavy investment in infrastructure, digital economy and job creation in small and medium firms to fulfill the aspiration of making India a 5 trillion Dollar economy.

While delivering the budget speech in Parliament the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that the Indian economy has added one trillion dollar in the last five years due to the various initiatives and reforms undertaken by the Government, and is poised to grow to be a 3 trillion dollar economy in the current year.

Underlining the importance of “Make in India� for fulfilling this goal, the

Finance Minister has proposed a number of initiatives as part of a framework for kick-starting the virtuous cycle of domestic and foreign investments.

Talking about the importance of programmes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Industrial Corridors, Dedicated Freight Corridors, Bhartamala, Sagarmala, Jal Marg Vikas and UDAN for enhancing physical connectivity through various modes, the Finance Minister added that these initiatives will improve logistics, reduce the cost of transportation and increase the competitiveness of domestically produced goods.

The Government will implement the essential elements of a regulatory roadmap for making India a hub for aircraft financing and leasing activities.

This is critical to the development

of a self-reliant aviation industry, creating aspirational jobs in aviation finance, besides leveraging the business opportunities available in India’s financial Special Economic Zones (SEZs), - International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Government will adopt suitable policy interventions to create a congenial atmosphere for the development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) industry in the country. She added.

For the Railways sector, the Budget has proposed using PublicPrivate Partnership to unleash faster development and completion of tracks, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services.

The Finance Minister informed that 657 kms of Metro Rail network has become operational across the country. She also said that India’s first indigenously developed inter-operable transport card based on National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) standards,that was launched in March this year will make travel across various modes convenient for people.

Talking about phase-II FAME Scheme that encourages faster adoption of electric vehicles, the Minister said that

only advanced battery and registered e-vehicles will be incentivized under the Scheme with greater emphasis on providing affordable and environment friendly public transportation options for the common man.

For the highways sector, the Finance Minister has said that the Government will carry out a comprehensive restructuring of National Highway Programme to ensure that the National Highway Grid of desirable length and capacity is created using financeable model. After completing the Phase 1 of Bharatmala, states will be helped to develop State road networks in the second phase.

Government’s vision for using rivers for cargo transportation has a plan to increase the movement of cargo volume on Ganga by nearly four times in the next four years will make movement of freight, passenger cheaper and reduce import bill. The Jal Marg Vikas Project for enhancing the navigational capacity of Ganga, two multi-modal terminals at Sahibganj and Haldia and a navigational lock and Farrakka would be completed this year.

To take connectivity infrastructure to the next level the Government

will make available a blueprint this year based on the successful, One Nation, One Grid model that has ensured power connectivity to states at affordable rates for developing gas grids, water grids, i-ways, and regional airports.

The Finance Minister said, “To give further impetus to India’s growing influence and leadership in the international community, Government decided to open Indian Embassies and High Commissions abroad in countries where India does not have a Resident Diplomatic Mission as yet”.

In Financial Year 2019-20, Government intends to open four new Embassies.

This will not only increase the footprint of India’s overseas presence, but will also enable the Embassies to provide better and more accessible public services, especially to the local Indian community in these countries.

In March 2018, Government approved opening of 18 new Indian diplomatic Missions in Africa (in Rwanda; Djibouti; Equatorial Guinea; Guinea; Republic of Congo; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Mauritania; Cape Verde; Sierra Leone; Chad; Sao Tome and Principe; Eritrea; Somalia; Guinea July 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / BUDGET

Bissau; Swaziland; Liberia; and, Togo).

Of these, five Embassies have already been opened in Rwanda, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Guinea, and Burkina Faso in Financial Year 2018-19. The Finance Minister said that in line with its ancient wisdom, India has always pursued a policy of economic cooperation with countries through bilateral and regional coordination. Mindful of India’s position as the sixth largest economy, the Government will look at alternative development models which include private sector equity, multilateral financing, contributions from corporate and non-residents.

The Finance Minister proposed that the IDEAS scheme will be revamped during the current financial year.

Indian Development Assistance Scheme (IDEAS) provides concessional financing for projects and contributes to infrastructure development and capacity building in the recipient developing countries.

Finance Minister announced that with the objective of preserving rich tribal cultural heritage, a digital repository is being developed where documents, folk songs, photos and 14

Tourism India July 2019

videos regarding their evolution, place of origin, lifestyle, architecture, education level, traditional art, folk dances and other anthropological details of the tribes in India will be stored. The repository will be further enriched and strengthened.

GST processes further simplified; businesses with less than Rs. 5 crore annual turnover to file quarterly GST returns; threshold for goods supplier to be enhanced from Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 40 lakhs On the Customs duty, the Finance Minister said the proposals are driven with the objectives of securing the country’s borders, achieving higher domestic value addition through Make in India, reducing import dependence, protection to MSME sector, promoting clean energy, curbing non-essential imports, and correcting inversions.

Describing Defence Modernization and Upgradation as a national priority and of immediate requirement, the budget proposes exemption from the basic Customs duty on import of such defence equipment that are not being manufactured in India.

Increase of one Rupee per litre each in Excise duty & cess on Petrol &

Diesel; custom duty on Gold and other precious metals hiked from 10% to 12.5%; nominal basic excise duty on tobacco products and crude introduced The 10-point Vision for the decade includes Building Team India with Jan Bhagidari: Minimum Government Maximum Governance, Achieving green Mother Earth and Blue Skies through a pollution-free India, Making Digital India reach every sector of the economy, Launching Gaganyan, Chandrayan, other Space and Satellite programmes, Building physical and social infrastructure,Water, water management, clean rivers, Selfsufficiency and export of food-grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, Achieving a healthy society via Ayushman Bharat, well-nourished women & children, safety of citizens, Emphasis on MSMEs, Start-ups, defence manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, fabs and batteries, and medical devices under Make in India, and Blue Economy.

“People’s hearts filled with Aasha (Hope), Vishwas (Trust), Aakansha (Aspirations)”, said Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman.

NEWS / APPOINTMENTS

RUPINDER BRAR, IRS

New Addl DG (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointments of Ms Rupinder Brar, IRS as the new Additional Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India with immediate effect at Joint Secretary level for a tenure of five years or until further orders, vice Ms Meenakshi Sharma IAAS. Ms Rupinder Brar is 1990 batch Income Tax officer of Indian Revenue Service. Prior to this she was served as the Commissioner of Income Tax

and Member of the Dispute Resolution Panel, looking in to Transfer Pricing and International Tax issues at Mumbai.

The cabinet committee has also approved the appointment of Shri Angshumali Rastogi, IRSME, as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Shri Rajesh Agarwal, lAS, as Executive Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Ms. Amita Prasad Sarbhai, IRAS, as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India

PRAVEEN KUMAR

New CEO, APTA & MD, APTDC

MR. PRAVIN KUMAR IAS

Appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority (APTA) and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

He assumed office on 24th June 2019.

Prior to this he was the District Collector & District Magistrate for West Godavari District.

Mr. Pravin Kumar, a 2006 batch Indian Administrative Service officer has started his career as Assistant Collector of Warangal, followed

by Sub- Collector Penukonda,

Project Officer (PO) Indian Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Bhadrachalam, Joint Collected Visakhapatnam, Commissioner GVMC, Visakhapatnam and then promoted as the District Collector & District Magistrate of Visakhapatnam, Capital city of AP. During his tenure, Visakhapatnam was included in the list of Smart Cities of India and The Energy Efficiency LED Street Lights project was first introduced in the District.

Pravin Kumar was the part of many successful global summits such as BRICS in 2017 and Investment Summit (2017 & 2018) was held at Visakhapatnam. The optimistic ideology and active involvement of Mr. Pravin Kumar as the Chairman of District Tourism Council enhanced the performance of tourism in Visakhapatnam and developed Rushikonda Beach Front and the

Rushi Konda Beach Road popularly known as “Rushikonda Maniharam” which are the most featured and touristic attractions of Visakhapatnam initiated and accomplished by him.

In addition to this, his artistic talent (talent of singing vocal & whistle) and individual passion mesmerized the audience with his performance on the state during Visakha Utsav.

“It’s a privilege and a wonderful opportunity to experience new benchmarks for enhancing tourism in the state of Andhra Pradesh. When I was in Visakhapatnam, I have worked for the development of tourism in Visakhapatnam as it is one of the most famous tourist locations of Andhra Pradesh but now I have an opportunity to plan and develop new initiatives in all the tourist locations of Andhra Pradesh to make the state one of the preferred tourist destinations of India,” he said.

July 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / INDIA TOURISM

15 DESTINATIONS UNDER THE RAMAYANA CIRCUIT MINISTRY OF TOURISM, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS IDENTIFIED 15 DESTINATIONS FROM BIHAR, GUJARAT, ODISHA, TELENGANA, KARNATAKA, TAMIL NADU

T

he Ministry of Tourism has initially identified fifteen destinations for development of Ramayana Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan scheme including Sitamarhi, Bihar Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Mahendragiri (Odisha), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Hampi

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Tourism India July 2019

(Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu).

The projects for development under the Swdesh Darshan scheme are identified in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.

NEWS / INDIA TOURISM

INDIA TOURISM AIMS FOR A MAJOR BOOST IN THE SECTOR MR. PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL, NEW UNION MINISTER OF TOURISM HAS MANY PLANS IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE OF TOURISM IN INDIA

Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture & Tourism, Government of India has informed parliament that his ministry is planning for several important initiatives to promote tourism in the country The tourism sector contributed an estimated (direct + indirect) 5.06% to the Gross Domestic Product of the country during 2016-17. The estimated share (direct + indirect) of jobs due to tourism was 12.38% during 2017-18.

An estimated additional 13.92 million jobs (direct + indirect) were created due to tourism during the years from 2014-15 to 2017-18.

Mr.

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India spent Rs. 1687.06 crore and Rs. 1986.04 crore during the years 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively under its plan scheme on tourism sector. The Budget Estimate under the plan scheme for the sector during the financial year 201920 is Rs. 2075.12 crore.

Development and promotion of tourist places is primarily the responsibility of concerned State Government/ UT Administration.

However, the Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination covering its various tourism destinations and products across different States/Union Territories in the country. Ministry has taken several

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI IS COMMITTED TO TAKE INDIA TOURISM TO NEXT LEVEL BY 2022 WITH SUSTAINABLE AND FUTURISTIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS

July 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / INDIA TOURISM initiatives to boost tourism in the country with the objective of increasing tourist arrivals, which inter-alia include: Central Financial Assistance to States/UTs under the schemes of Swadesh Darshan, National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Assistance to Central Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure in the country.

Extension of e- visa facility to citizens of 167 countries.

Launch of the Incredible India 2.0 campaign with market specific promotional plans and content creation. Revamping of Incredible India website with the aim to provide more information about India as a tourist destination.

Launch of 24x7 toll free multilingual tourist helpline in 12 International languages including Hindi and English.

Organisation of annual Global Tourism Mart for India in line with major international travel marts being held in countries across the world. It provides a platform for all stakeholders

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Tourism India July 2019

in tourism and hospitality industries to interact and transact business opportunities.

Organisation of biennial International Buddhist Conclave.

Organisation of Annual International Tourism Mart for promotion of tourism in North Eastern States.

Promotional activities in tourist generating markets overseas through the India Tourism Offices abroad with active participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organising Road Shows, “Know India� seminars & workshops.

NEWS / INDIA TOURISM

COASTAL TOURISM CIRCUITS DEVELOPMENT IN TAMIL NADU COASTAL CIRCUIT THEME OF SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME OF INDIA TOURISM HAS SANCTIONED RS.99.92 CRORE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHENNAIMAMALLAPURAM – RAMESHWARAM – MANPADU – KANYAKUMARI’

Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C) of Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has informed Rajya Sabha that the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned the project ‘Development of Chennai- Mamallapuram – Rameshwaram – Manpadu – Kanyakumari’ In Tamil Nadu under Coastal Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the year 2016-17 for Rs.99.92 crore. The components sanctioned under the project include SEL show, last mile connectivity, Information signages, Illumination, sea-view seating plazas, CCTV surveillance equipment, rescue boats, walking tracks etc. among other basic tourist amenities like First aid kiosks, Drinking water kiosks, Public conveniences etc.

Mr.

July 2019 Tourism India

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N E W S / T R AV E L T R E N D S

INDIA AS TOP LONG-HAUL DESTINATION FOR UK TRAVELERS INDIA AS THE 2ND MOST POPULAR LONG-HAUL2 DESTINATION FOR UK TRAVELERS.

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Tourism India July 2019

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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Mr. Martin Herbert, Regional Managing Director - India and Sri Lanka Travelport

I

ndia has emerged as the top travel destination in Asia this summer for travelers from the United Kingdom (UK).

According to analysis conducted by Travelport, a leading travel commerce platform. Globally, the United States was the top destination while India was the 2nd most popular longhaul2 destination for UK travelers.

As of 14 June 2019, just fewer than 87,000 advanced bookings had been made3 in the UK through all global distribution systems (GDS) for return flights to India scheduled between Friday 28 June 2019 and Sunday 8 September 2019. Flight bookings in other Asian countries like Thailand and China stood at 49,137 and 29,870 respectively.

With flight bookings up by 3,402 (13%) year-on-year, China was the fastest growing top ten long-haul destination for UK travelers compared to the same period the previous year.

Martin Herbert, Regional Managing Director - India and Sri Lankaat Travelport, said: “It’s exciting news for Indian tourism to see the country attracting more bookings than both China and Thailand combined. This trend is fuelling increased booking volume and we expect to see it continue in the years to come.”

Sandeep Dwivedi, COO at InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ), commented: “India has been one of the topmost choices of international travellers owing to its rich cultural

“IT’S EXCITING NEWS FOR INDIAN TOURISM TO SEE THE COUNTRY ATTRACTING MORE BOOKINGS THAN BOTH CHINA AND THAILAND COMBINED”

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heritage, varied cultures, art & crafts and spiritual tourism. We are happy to see India as the second most booked summer destination for UK travellers. With so much to see and offer, I am sure that this number will certainly rise in the coming years.”

Global distribution systems (GDS) are vast hi-tech reservation networks that allow travel agents, travel management companies and large corporations, among others, to search and book airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel related items.

July 2019 Tourism India

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N E W S / S TAT E T O U R I S M

KERALA PLANS IPL-MODEL CHAMPIONS’ BOAT LEAGUE IPL-MODEL CHAMPIONS’ BOAT LEAGUE (CBL) WILL BE AN ANNUAL EVENT IN AUGUST-NOVEMBER EVERY YEAR

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o showcase Kerala’s famed snake-boat race as a world class experience Government of Kerala has decided to form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to conduct IPL-model Champions’ Boat League (CBL) as an annual event in AugustNovember.

Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Minister has disclosed the decision at a meeting of stakeholders, jointly held with Finance Minister Dr T M Thomas Isaac. The company, primarily intended to generate revenue through telecast rights, advertisements and sponsorships for conducting the premier event, will also decide on the revenue sharing among the stakeholders.The inaugural edition of the Champions’ Boat League (CBL) will get under way with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race on August 10 2019 at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha.

The competitions in the CBL will start a week later at Pulinkunnu(Aug 17). In subsequent Saturdays, races will be conducted at Thazhathangadi(August 24), Piravam(Aug 31), Marine Drive(Sep 7), Kottappuram(Sep 14), Ponnani(Sep

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Tourism India July 2019

21), Kainakari(Sep 28), Karuvatta(Oct 05), Kayamkulam(Oct 12) and Kallada(Oct 19), before concluding in a grand finale at the President’s Trophy Boat Race at Kollam on November 1, the Kerala state–formation day. All races will be held in the afternoon.

The CBL winner will get a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, while those finishing second and third can claim Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.

“This event is going to open a glorious chapter in the long history of boat races in Kerala as it will not only showcase this unique tradition to the whole world but also bring benefit to the entire spectrum of stakeholders,” Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, said at the meeting attended by representatives of boat owners, boat clubs and rowers’ associations.

The Minister also said the CBL has been conceived and planned as a world class tourism product which will firm up Kerala on the international map, luring visitors during the monsoon season. Dr Thomas Isaac said the event has been structured in a commercial-friendly manner so as to bring advantage to the stakeholders who have kept up the tradition over a long period. “I am sure that in coming years, CBL will grab a prime spot in international sporting calendar and TV channels will vie for telecasting it live”, Dr Isaac said.

State Tourism Director Mr P Bala Kiran said negotiations have already begun with TV channels on the telecast rights of the event.

The Champions’ Boat League (CBL) has been planned in the IPL format with the intention of making the celebratory races a unique experience for tourists and creating an international sporting atmosphere for the participant clubs and their oarsmen.

The Tourism Department has signed an MOU with a two-member consortium led by Delhi-based E Factor Entertainment Pvt Ltd for branding, promoting and marketing of the CBL. The other member of the consortium is AMP Communications Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.

N E W S / S TAT E T O U R I S M

KERALA TOURISM NISHAGANDHI SANGEETHA PURASKARAM 2019 ANNOUNCED PADMA SHRI PARASSALA B PONNAMMAL AND PADMA BHUSHAN DR. T V. GOPALAKRISHNAN WILL BE HONOURED.

THE FIVE-DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BRING A RARE TREAT OF CLASSICAL AND ETHNIC MUSICAL TRADITIONS OF THE SUBCONTINENT, FEATURING BOTH VOCALISTS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS OF VARIOUS STREAMS. Padma Bhushan T V Gopalakrishnan

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minent classical musicians Padma Shri Parassala B Ponnammal and Padma Bhushan Dr. T V. Gopalakrishnan have been selected for the inaugural Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram, instituted by Kerala Tourism to honour artists who have made outstanding contributions to music.

Recipient of Padma Shri Parassala B. Ponnammal ,95, has an eventful musical career, starting as a budding singer with All India Radio in 1940.

She also has the distinction of being the first female student of Swathi Thirunal Music Academy here. She also stood out as the first woman singer performed during the Navarathri Music Festival at Navarathri mandapam near

Padma Shri Parassala Ponnamal

Sree Padamanabhaswamy Temple.

Besides being a leading Carnatic vocalist, Ponnammal has also left a deep impression as a music scholar and teacher associated with leading institutions. An ardent classicist, the honours received by Ponnammal include Guruvayurappan Chembai Puraskaram, Sangeetha Nataka Akademy award and Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram.

Padma Bhushan Dr T V Gopalakrishnan 87, known as TVG has an illustrious musical career spanning over several decades. A versatile artist, he excelled both as a vocalist, mrudangam player and violinist, and accompanied leading singers at a young age. He is equally proficient

in the Hindustani tradition and is a revered authority on various musical streams. He has conducted hundreds of concerts in the country and abroad since 1949, and boasts of large fan following and disciples, cutting across boundaries.

The honour to the top-notch classical musicians will be presented

by Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala at the valedictory ceremony of Nishagandhi Mansoon Ragas Music Festival on July 24 2019 The five-day music festival will bring a rare treat of classical and ethnic musical traditions of the subcontinent, featuring both vocalists and instrumentalists of various streams.

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NEWS / INDUSTRY EVENTS

BANGALORE HOSTS ASIA SKAL CONGRESS 2019 SKALINDIA CHAPTER HEADED BY MS. RANJINI NAMBIAR HAS HOSTED SKAL ASIA CONGRESS FROM THE 27 - 30 JUNE 2019 AT THE TAJ MG ROAD, BENGALURU.

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angalore, the Garden city of India has hosted SKAL ASIA Congress from the 27 - 30 June 2019 at the Taj MG Road, Bengaluru. Mr. Sa Ra Mahesh, Minister for Sericulture and Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka has inaugurated the three-day event in the presence of Ms. Lavonne Wittmann, President, SKAL International, Mr. T.K. Anil Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Karnataka Tourism, Ms. Ranjini Nambiar, President, SKAL INDIA chapter and Mr. Manoj Mathew, President, SKAL Bengaluru was brought leading luminaries of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry.

Skål International, founded in 1932 in Paris is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting Global Tourism and Friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional and International levels to Do Business Amongst Friends. Skål International today has approximately 17,000 members in 400 Clubs throughout over 90 countries. Most activities occur at local level, moving up through National Committees, under the umbrella of Skål International, headquartered at the General Secretariat in Torremolinos, Spain.

SKÅL in ASIA and India: With over 2,560 members in 44 Clubs, 29 grouped in five national committees 24

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and 15 affiliated, the Skål Asian Area is the most diverse Area in the world.

The Indian Chapter is the largest in terms of Membership & Number of Clubs in the Asian Region with

14 Clubs and a membership base of 1183 Members. The SKAL Asia Congress brought tremendous value to Karnataka, with key industry leaders from the hospitality, travel and tourism

industry from all parts of Asia visiting Bengaluru and Karnataka and getting a first-hand experience on the state.

The event has witnessed an array of speakers and domain experts on digital travel, marketing of destinations, motivation speakers such as Mr. Pawan Agarwal, International Motivation Speaker, Author and Educationist on the “Supply Chain Management of Mumbai Dabbawala”, Nivedha R.M, CEO & Founder at Trashcon Labs Private Limited, who has revolutionised the disposal of Trash through patented innovation technology, that has made her a celebrity in her own right.

Speaking on occasion of the inauguration, Mr. Manoj Mathew, President, SKAL Bangalore said “Bengaluru among other eloquent sobriquets is one of fastest growing cities in the world, with footprints getting stronger each day with the emergence of high - end technology and a global hub for the start-up bandwagon.

The three-day action-packed event shall see over 250 delegates from across ten countries all aligned to promote friendship and fellowship through the world of tourism. ‘Doing Business among friends’ will help you evolve and nurture relationships to facilitate business among our members. The Congress shall have several opportunities for discerning members to explore opportunities among ourselves.”

He further added “The event will add tremendous value to Karnataka and India Tourism’s marketing effort, where in industry leaders from all over Asia will get rich exposure to the India’s diverse culture and heritage”.

The key supporters of the event include India Tourism, Karnataka Tourism, Gujarat Tourism, Taj Hotels, Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and Cox & Kings.

Harikishan VALMIKI receives SKAL’s Personality of the year award Mr. Harikishan Valmiki from Hyderabad has honoured SKAL’s Personality of the year award in Asian range at 48th Skål Asia Congress hosted by Skål International Bengaluru Hari Kishan Valmiki, Founder & MD of Hyderabad based Valmiki Travel & Tourism Solutions is a well known travel professional has twenty years of experience in Tourism industry in India for his contribution in creating a positive impact on the tourism industry through various initiatives. He was part of bidding committee and also instrumental in bringing 78 SKAL World Congress to Hyderabad in the year 2017 under the leadership of then President.

Immediately after the state bifurcation he collaborated with FTAPCCI as a Chairman for Tourism & MICE Committee to organise 1st Telangana Tourism Conclave with the primary aim to promote interaction between the tourism industry and stakeholders. This initiative of his earned him an appreciation from Union Tourism Ministry. The then Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons lauded his efforts. He submitted white draft to help Government of Telangana Tourism Policy.

Tourism contributes for the economic development as well as allied industries. It generates more employment, revenues and play a significant role in development, Hari Kishan Valmiki added while responding to the honour bestowed on him.

He says these awards will increase the responsibility as in individual to really do more and better towards the development of Tourism Sector and also be a responsible citizen to do something back to society

July 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / INDUSTRY EVENTS

SPICELAND HOSTS KERALA TOURISM ROAD SHOW ‘DESTINATION TRAINING EVENT’ ORGANIZED AT SURAT, AHMEDABAD, RAJKOT AND BARODA FROM JUNE 11- 18, 2019 .

SIMILAR ROAD SHOWS WOULD BE HELD IN MUMBAI, DELHI, KOLKATA AND JAIPUR

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piceland Holidays, South India’s leading destination management company has partnered with leading hotel brands in Kerala host the ‘Destination Training Event’ from June 11th to18th in all major cities of Gujarat like Surat, Ahmedabad, and Rajkot Baroda.

Thousands of travel agencies and tour operators in Gujarat participated in the eight-day roadshow. Forty Hotels including Raviz / Leela Group, Grand Hyatt, Fragrant Nature, Sterling Group, UDS, Xandari, Oxygen Group, Poppys Group, Somatheeram, Devonshire, Blue jelly Houseboats, Le Meridian, Chandy’s, Lalit, were set their stalls on the roadshow.

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to the reduced number of domestic tourists in Kerala’s tourism sector.

“While the Roadshows are usually held only under the aegis of the Department of Tourism, the event made by private hotels and a leading DMC like Spiceland has given us a great deal of fresh news,” said Mr. Mohan Patel, the Secretary of SATA, a travel agent forum of South Gujarat.

Kerala Tourism, Spiceland and hoteliers in Kerala have organized a roadshow, “DestinationPromotion by Spiceland - DPS” in Cheruthuruthi (Thrissur) in January for the postflood tourism recovery in which more than 100 foreign travel companies participated.“Apart from traditional tourism seasons, Tour packages like monsoon tourism, responsible tourism and Destination packages such as

Cheruthuruthy, Kollam, Bekal, and Vagamon are unprecedentedly crowded and continue to inspire them to continue with such socially committed activities” said Mr. Riyaz UC, Spiceland Managing Director and Vice President of Kerala Travel Mart Society.

Similar roadshows would be held in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Jaipur to attract maximum domestic tourists to Kerala in anticipation of the upcoming Diwali and Durga Puja in North India. added Riyaz The Tourism Seminars was lead by Mr. Madhu K. G., Executive Director, Spiceland Holidays. Spiceland’s Social Responsibility Budget includes a variety of programs, such as training for tourist drivers, homestay entrepreneurs, and travel guides, to ensure good service.

NEWS / AIRLINES

GoAir ON AN EXPANSION SPREE NEW INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHTS.

Go Air Team - Left to Right- Mr. Harjinder Singh Bhasin, VP – Airports, Mr. Sam Patel, VP – Network Planning, Ms. Shabnam Syed, VP – Marketing & E-Commerce, Mr. Bakul Gala, VP- Corporate Communications & PR, Mr. Arjun Dasgupta, VP – International Operations

INDUCTS 51ST AIRCRAFT, NEW SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM ON BOARD, ONCE AGAIN OTP LEADERSHIP – RECORD 10TH TIME IN A ROW.

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oAir will commence its maiden flights to and from Delhi – Abu Dhabi with fares starting at Rs 7,098; Mumbai – Abu Dhabi fares starting at Rs 6,599 and Mumbai – Muscat fares starting at Rs 7,100 on 19th July 2019, flights to and from Delhi – Bangkok with fares starting at Rs 8,197 and Kannur – Dubai fares starting at Rs 6,200 on 25th July 2019 and flights to and from Mumbai – Bangkok with fares starting at Rs 8,498 on 1st August 2019.

Subsequently, GoAir will start Kannur – Kuwait flights.

On the domestic front, GoAir is strengthening its Hyderabad operations with 8 new flights from Hyderabad to Cochin (fares starting from Rs 3,240), Chennai (1,724), Jaipur (Rs 2,373), Bengaluru (Rs 1,811), Chandigarh (Rs 4,250) and Patna (Rs 3,295). Out of these, 2 flights are frequency additions on existing Hyderabad – Bengaluru – Hyderabad sector making it a day return product.

All these new sectors will further strengthen the airline’s growing network and travelers will now have the opportunity to explore the affordable travel experience that GoAir is acknowledged with.

To support the network expansion GoAir is enhancing its aircraft fleet and aims to touch the magic figure of 100 million passengers in the next two years.

Mr. Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir, said, “We have embarked on an aggressive expansion plan and the new flights are in manifestation of that strategy. This is a milestone moment for us to have announced seven new international destinations within a year of commencement of our international operations. The global and regional expansion has been planned to allow quick and convenient connections for passengers and is a reflection of our continued journey towards excellence.”

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N E W S / H O S P I TA L I T Y

SEASONS SAROVAR PORTICO IN CITY OF LAKES, UDAIPUR SAROVAR HOTELS AND RESORTS ADDED 7TH PROPERTY IN RAJASTHAN

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arovar Hotels and Resorts continue to strengthen its presence in Rajasthan with the signing of another hotel in Udaipur. Seasons Sarovar Portico, will be Sarovar’s first hotel in Udaipur and seventh in the state after marking presence in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

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forts and palaces, museums, galleries, architectural temples and festivals & fairs. Seasons Sarovar Portico is scheduled to welcome guests by September 2019. The hotel will offer sixty well-appointed rooms including suites, planned to open in two phases.

With 2000 sq. feet of indoor meeting and banquet space and 70,000 sq. feet of garden space, the hotel is an ideal venue for social gathering, business

meeting, and destination wedding segment. It will also offer Multi-cuisine restaurant, Lounge Bar, Coffee Shop and Swimming pool and Spa. Providing convenient access to guests, the hotel is an hour drive away from Maharana Pratap Airport and 30 minutes from Railway Station.

Mountain and adventure lovers can explore the beauty of Aravalli hills which is 2 hour drive from the hotel.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said� We are happy to expand our presence further in the state of Rajasthan.

The city attracts a lot of domestic & international travellers for sight-seeing, weddings, Business and we look forward to tapping the growing market�

We are happy to expand our presence further in the state of Rajasthan.

The city attracts a lot of domestic & international travellers for sightseeing, weddings, Business and we look forward to tapping the growing market.

MR. ANIL MADHOK Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts

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N E W S / H O S P I TA L I T Y

GRAND MERCURE MYSORE CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY WITH A TWIST

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rand Mercure Mysore celebrates International Yoga Day with the concept of “Desk Yoga” along with employees.

The hotel has always been a symbol of traditionalism blending in with modernism. Desk Yoga on International Yoga Day is an effort to promote the health and well-being of its employees and guests while celebrating the spirit of Yoga which is very intrinsic to Mysore culture.

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simple steps that could be done on a daily basis while at work. Needless to state there is renewed energy now at the Grand Mercure Mysore with staff enjoying a sense of positivity as a result of this exercise.

Grand Mercure Mysore has initiated interactive Yoga in Bed demo for all the guests to enjoy a sense of wellness during their stay at the hotel.. As for the hotel employees a de-stressing yoga session was conducted by a Mysore based Yoga guru, who came to the hotel to take the staff through various Asanas that could be practiced

in the work place. This initiative has not only helped the staff but most of them have also been practicing it at home and encouraging their family members to participate in Yoga.

“Yoga is a time tested and ideal way to stay healthy and happy and we believe that rejuvenation in the form of yoga is important in improving the wellness of our employees. The city of Mysore is traditionally known for its rich history with Yoga. This is our way of celebrating the spirit of this globally renowned exercise and destress activity while taking a positive step towards better fitness” – adds Sunaina Sharma Manerker, General Manager - Grand Mercure Mysore.

Mysore The city of palaces, has a luxury address — The Grand Mercure Mysore, which is conveniently located in the heart of the city, north of the majestic Mysore Palace. The hotel boasts of 146 luxurious and wellappointed contemporary rooms and suites with balconies. A viewing gallery on the sixth floor offers guests the perfect vantage-point to enjoy the grand spectacle of Dasara festivities, something they will cherish for a long time to come. Adding a special flavor to the guest experience are the lavish dining experiences on offer at the Grand Mercure. A meal fit for royalty is just what the guest wants, and enjoys as well. The cuisine is inspired

by Mysore’s rich culinary legacy, and comes with an irresistible French flourish.

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N E W S / I N T E R NAT I O NA L T O U R I S M B OA R D S

VISITMALAYSIA 2020 LOGO UNVEILED THE VM2020 ROADSHOW EMPHASIZES INDIA AS MAIN POTENTIAL MARKET FOR THE COUNTRY.

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ourism Malaysia launches the much anticipated VisitMalaysia 2020 campaign, in a 3-city roadshow covering three main cities of India, namely Amritsar, Mumbai & Hyderabad from 21st to 27th July 2019. 37 participants from Malaysia comprising a combination of 16-travel agents, 4-product owners, 9- hotels, 3 airlines, and 5 others combine together to share the latest development of Malaysian tourism, and also to announce the Visit Malaysia year in 2020. The VM2020 Roadshow emphasizes India as the main potential market for the country.

Mr. Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Director, Tourism Malaysia Mumbai said, “we are keen to host VISIT MALAYSIA 2020 Roadshow in Mumbai because this will enable us to do a quality networking with the Travel Trade fraternity and to boost Indian tourist footfalls to Malaysia. In 2018, 600,311 (+8.6%) Indian tourists visited Malaysia and spent almost RM 2.7 billion. Statistic from January until May 2019 shows that a total of 295,609 with the growth of 15.5% Indian

IN 2018, 600,311 (+8.6%) INDIAN TOURISTS VISITED MALAYSIA AND SPENT ALMOST RM 2.7 BILLION. visited Malaysia compared to the same period last year.

Apart from Borneo’s wonderful natural landscape Malaysia’s new attractions include Desaru Coast – an integrated beach destination spanning 3,900 acres where tourists can enjoy golfing at the renowned Els Club, stay in Hard Rock, the Westin or other beach hotels, or have fun at the water theme park with one of the biggest wave pools in the world and the interactive sea aquarium in Legoland which has 13,000 fishes and 120 types of species on display. Superpark in Avenue K, My Best Box in Berjaya Times Square, Futureland Fun Zone in Sunway Pyramid, and VR’s hotspot the Rift in Mid Valley Mega Mall and Skytropolis in Genting offers more fun to families or thrill-seekers.

July 2019 Tourism India

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MONACO:

FIRST EUROPEAN STATE WITH 5G FULL 5G COVERAGE OF MONEGASQUE TERRITORY.

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overnment of Monaco led by Prince II made the first pillar of the extended Monaco programme which seeks to bring the country into the digital age through 5G roll-out.

Frédéric Genta, Country Chief Digital Officer, highlighted the enormous change that 5G will bring about: “5G is not simply an improved version of 4G, it represents a paradigm shift. Whereas all of the previous generations focused on telecommunications and exchanges between individuals, 5G is shaping the integration of digital technology into every part of our society and our economy.

Energy, health, media and transport will all be transformed thanks to 5G… The technology offers enormous opportunities for the Principality, its residents, its public policies and its economy, and these will

benefit everyone.” This new technology is essential if we are to offer our clients better service and meet their growing expectations for high-speed mobile access” he said. “The future applications of 5G in the everyday lives of Monegasques look extremely promising. In parallel with the launch of 5G, Monaco Telecom is continuing to roll out its fibre network in order to deliver service quality that is

providing a service for residents and tourists.

“The aim of this experiment is, eventually, to reduce the use of personal cars, develop public transport, and promote soft forms of mobility. We are entering into a period of learning about this transport of the future,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia as she introduced the new initiative. “If the experiment is successful, we will be

PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO ALSO TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS “SMART PRINCIPALITY” CONCEPT, DEVELOPED BY THE #EXTENDEDMONACO PROGRAMME acknowledged as the best in the world.

This is our goal for the company and our mission as the national operator.”

The power of 5G, implemented via a precise network in the territory, will be an essential platform for digital transition. This launch proves that day after day, the Prince’s Government is shaping the face of Monaco for the future,” he concluded.

The Principality of Monaco also takes another step towards implementation of its “Smart Principality” concept, developed by the #ExtendedMonaco programme: a self-driving electric shuttle is now operating on the Rocher,

going ahead with the development of this mode of transport, which could offer a solution to address the shortage of night buses, which is due to cost, or to serve areas in which the city buses cannot operate.”

Prince Albert II officially launched MonaBike, the new electric bikesharing scheme in the Principality and the latest step in promoting soft mobility. The scheme aims to encourage cycling in the Principality, to improve coverage within the country, and to increase the capacity of the existing bike stations.

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N E W S / H O S P I TA L I T Y

KARMA GROUP RETURNS TO THAILAND’S KOH SAMUI WITH KARMA APSARA KARMA GROUP IS CURRENTLY OPERATING 33 RESORTS IN MORE THAN 10 COUNTRIES

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arma Group has announced a return to Thailand’s Koh Samui with the opening of Karma Apsara, a tranquil oasis located on the pristine coconut grove slopes of the fabled holiday island. Located on an elevated slope in Mae Nam along Koh Samui’s breathtaking north coast, Karma Apsara brings together 32 spacious one and two-bedroom residences offering both garden and ocean views.

“Koh Samui is one of my favourite islands in south east Asia and as Karma previously developed a highly successful resort on the island, I am delighted we are returning,” said John Spence, Founder and

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Koh Samui is one of my favourite islands in south east Asia and as Karma previously developed a highly successful resort on the island, I am delighted we are returning.

MR. JOHN SPENCE Founder and Chairman of Karma Group

Chairman of Karma Group. “Karma Apsara, named after the mythical water nymphs, is located in the north of the island close to pristine white beaches and the Santiburi golf course, making it a perfect base to explore the spectacular local surroundings or just kick back and relax by the pool.”

Karma Group is an award-winning international travel and lifestyle brand offering extraordinary experiences in the world’s most beautiful locations and is headed by Chairman and Founder, John Spence. The Karma Group is comprised of Karma Resorts, Karma Retreats, Karma Royal, Karma

Estates, Karma Beach, Karma Spa and Karma Boutique. The Group is currently operating 33 resorts in more than 10 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

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F E AT U R E / O U T B O U N D D E S T I NAT I O N

MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE IS AN AREA OF PRESERVED SAVANNAH WILDERNESS IN SOUTHWESTERN KENYA, ALONG THE TANZANIAN BORDER. THIS UNIQUE WILDLIFE PARADISE IS THE HOME OF LIONS, CHEETAHS, ELEPHANTS, WILDEBEESTS ZEBRAS AND HIPPOS.

By MR. MILIND BHIDE

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y first wildlife trip & that too in Africa - Kenya! To be very candid I am more of a mountain person, “Himalayas” is my Mecca.

However this wildlife safari has been a great experience! To see the “Big Five” Lion, Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Rino in the wilderness is something else & the wilderbeest , various kinds of bucks, Zebras and Giraffe grazing in hundreds on the vast Masai Mara plateau! It was amusing that I had seen most of these animals in the, zoo or circus as a child.

We visited the Ark Lodge, Sweet Water Camp, Nakuru Lake and Masai Mara. For me the Masai Mara was the highlight . I could see vast stretches of grassland till the horizon. Till then had read about these “Savanna’s” only in the geography school books!

Fortunately/ unfortunately, I was not carrying any camera, but that

THE MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE GREATER MARA ECOSYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING GROUP RANCHES: KOIYAKI, LEMEK, OL CHORRO OIROWUA, OLKINYEI, SIANA, MAJI MOTO, NAIKARA, OL DERKESI, KERINKANI, OLOIRIEN, AND KIMINTET. WILDEBEEST TRAVERSE ITS PLAINS DURING THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION. THE LANDSCAPE HAS GRASSY PLAINS AND ROLLING HILLS, AND IS CROSSED

BY THE MARA AND TALEK RIVERS. THE AREA NEARBY IS DOTTED WITH VILLAGES (ENKANGS) OF MAASAI PEOPLE.

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F E AT U R E / O U T B O U N D D E S T I NAT I O N

meant I could watch everything at ease through  the binoculars . As we were driving through the Masai Mara grasslands a few thoughts crossed my mind and had few observation, which I thought of sharing here.

In Masia Mara one can really experience how the life form and nature coexist. There seems to be a perfect balance between nature and the various forms of life. Every animal seems to be contented. Apart from the fear of life, there seems to be no other insecurity. Yes, they have to work for food ; some have to walk for miles, others have to hunt. They fight for territory and to procreate, but still there seems to be some agreement within them. Someone would loose, someone would win, someone is killed someone survives, few are loners and

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few are in a pack, there are leaders and there are followers. But inspite of this, they are at peace. They do not seem to have any enmity that lingers. B I wonder and compare this with us humans, mankind, and all the big thoughtful synonyms, the obvious questions are why we are so unsecure? why do we tamper this balance under the name of development, growth, progress...? Where has the intellectual quest and innovation lead us too? We wear a T shirt saying “Being Human” !!! Isn’t it deplorable?

With the virtue of intelligence, speech, imagination and perception we consider ourselves as a superior species. But it does not allow us to stay in similar communion with the nature. Overall it does not seem that it has allowed us to overcome our

insecurities. We still leave in disguise of greed, envey, jealousy.. as a race we are still at wars. Are we too weak to survive otherwise?

In the animal world there are no crimes, if at all there is one that they commit, then it will only be for their survival which is a birth right of every living being. But as human it seems we use power more to harm. As said

by Charlie Chaplin “we need power

only to harm else love is enough for everything else” The questions remain. Have we gone wrong in our understanding and purpose of intelligence, our power of imagination and perception? Do we need to redefine the way we live?

Else in the quote - unquote Man V/S Beast who is the “Beast” the way we understand?

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THE PENGUINS ARE COUNTING DOWN TO LAUNCH PHILLIP ISLAND, A POPULAR DAY TRIP FROM MELBOURNE, LIES JUST OFF AUSTRALIA’S SOUTHERN COAST. AT SUMMERLAND BEACH, SPECTATORS GATHER DAILY AT SUNSET TO WATCH THE PENGUIN PARADE, WHEN LITTLE PENGUINS COME ASHORE IN GROUPS.

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hillip Island’s iconic Penguin Parade, one of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions, is now just four short weeks away from opening the doors to its exciting and visually breathtaking new visitor centre.

“We feel both proud and honoured to have developed this modern, environmentally sustainable visitor centre, which will replace the existing ageing facilities and provide a world class asset that better meets visitor expectations,” said Catherine

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Basterfield, Phillip Island Nature Parks’ CEO. “One of the primary drivers of this development has always been the benefit the new centre will provide to Phillip Island’s colony of Little penguins, with the restoration of over 6 hectares of prime penguin habitat on the site of the old building and coach parking areas. It is exciting to know that up to 1400 breeding penguins will soon be able to reclaim this area as their own, and we will be able to continue our world-leading penguin research.”

A WIDE RANGE OF NEW FACILITIES INSIDE THE NEW CENTRE, INCLUDES A HOST OF FUN AND INTERACTIVE INTERPRETIVE ACTIVITIES, A STATEOF-THE-ART THEATRE AND DIVERSE DINING EXPERIENCES.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a wide range of new facilities inside the new centre, including a host of fun and interactive interpretive activities, a state-of-the-art theatre, diverse dining experiences catering to all tastes and budgets, plus modern retail spaces.

The centre’s environmental credentials are equally impressive, with an array of 666 solar panels on the expansive roof, a water filtration system to recycle rainwater for non-potable use, increased roof and floor insulation, and double-glazed windows. Low carbon building materials have been used throughout the centre’s construction, including

sustainably sourced Victorian Ash hardwood for the impressive laminated beams.

Its spectacular architectural design has already been acknowledged internationally, having just been announced as a winner at the 2019 International Architecture Awards, out of a field of over 380 submissions from 41 countries.

“This is the most significant infrastructure project in the Nature Parks’ history. We are thrilled that this important development has had the added impact of boosting jobs and tourism in regional Victoria not only during construction, but also once

operations have commenced.” “We are looking forward to officially opening the doors of the new Penguin Parade Visitor Centre on Thursday 25 July and welcoming our visitors into this fabulous new space.”

The Penguin Parade Visitor Centre development was made possible through generous funding announced by the Andrews Labor Government in April 2016 in the amount of $48.2M, with an additional $10M contributed

by Phillip Island Nature Parks, a selffunded not for profit conservation organization.

The Phillip Island Circuit is a well-known track for motorcycle and car racing. The Nobbies outcrop is the viewing site for Seal Rocks, home to a large colony of Australian fur seals.

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❝MEDAL OF MERIT TO IMTIAZ ALI FOR ❝JAB HARRY MET SEJAL❞ THE BOLLYWOOD DEMAND TO SHOOT IN PORTUGAL IS HIGH.

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ollywood Director Imtiaz Ali was distinguished with the Portuguese Touristic Medal of Merit. The medal and diploma were awarded by the Minister of Economy, Pedro Siza Vieira, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho. Imtiaz Ali shot the movie Jab Harry Met Sejal in Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais and was awarded this medal for choosing Portugal to film his movies and promoting Portugal overseas through his Bollywood lenses.

The Indian ambassador to Portugal, K. Nandini Singla, was also present, along with other members of the Indian community living in Portugal.

The movie Jab Harry Met Sejal, which premiered in August 2017, was shot in its main part in Portugal and its main roles are performed by two of India’s most famous stars - Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma.

After receiving his medal, Imtiaz Ali stated that the conditions to shoot in Portugal are exceptional. According to Imtiaz, “Portugal is a special place, full of beauty and character. It’s been a

privilege visiting here, getting to shoot with these wonderful people. I feel immense gratitude for this medal to the ministries of Economy and Tourism and Cinemate, for the warmth and the recognition. Can’t wait to come back to work here - I feel I have seen only the tip of the iceberg, Portugal has many hidden treasures. Muito Obrigado”.

In the past few years, more than ten Bollywood movies were shot in Portugal. In August and October, two Bollywood movies shot in Portugal will premiere in India. Cuca Roseta, who sings “Yaadon Mein” with Mohammed Irfan and Jonita Gandhi in the movie, was also present during the ceremony and sang three songs in Portuguese and Hindi.

After having shot Jab Harry Met Sejal in Portugal, Imtiaz Ali inspired several other Bollywood directors to shoot their movies in Portugal.

For the Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, “This is a public recognition from the Portuguese Government of Imtiaz Ali’s role in connecting Portugal and

MORE THAN TEN BOLLYWOOD MOVIES WERE SHOT IN PORTUGAL.

India more and more and in promoting Portugal as a great destination for making movies and, particularly, Bollywood movies. We have a new cash rebate system of 30%, great locations and great light all year round”.

To position itself as a prime location for international filming, Portugal Government approved the new Cinema Incentive Fund, which instituted a new cash rebate incentive of up to 30% to international productions filming in Portugal and recently created Portugal Film Commission, a one stop shop to facilitate and promote Portugal as a major international film destination.

July 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / AIRLINES

TWO NEW FLIGHTS BETWEEN INDIA AND PORTUGAL

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even times weekly services in summer 2019 and five times weekly service in winter 2019/2020 by Qatar Airways to Lisbon.

Four times new weekly services

by Emirates to Porto along with its on-going double daily flights year round to Lisbon. Travellers will have direct access to Qatar Airways’s and Emirates’ global network via Doha and Dubai respectively.

Qatar Airways and Emirates recently announced their recent launch of new year round services between Portugal and India.

Qatar Airways will start its new route from its global network from Doha to the capital of PortugalLisbon. There will be seven times weekly services in summer 2019 and five times weekly service in winter

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Tourism India July 2019

2019/2020 between Doha and Lisbon from 24th June 2019.

Porto will become Emirates’ second destination in Portugal after its capital, Lisbon, which the airline currently serves with two flights a day. There will be four times weekly services by Emirates between Dubai and Porto which will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2nd July 2019.

Portugal was founded in 1143, making it one of the oldest nations in Europe. Portugal is named after

its 2nd largest city, Porto. There are 22 UNESCO World Heritage classifications in Portugal; and each year more than 20 million tourists visit the country. With the longest bridge in Europe, Portugal is also a very popular destination from India for those looking for a Euro break and an extension to their Spain and Morocco itineraries. The total flight duration from Portugal to India is 10 hours, 42 minutes and India is 5:30 hours ahead of Portugal.

July 2019 Tourism India

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www.travelturkeyexpo.com

13 th INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR AND CONGRESS 13. ULUSLARARASI TURİZM FUAR VE KONGRESİ

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5-7 December Aralık 2019

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF HİMAYELERİNDE

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SUPPORTERS DESTEKLEYENLER

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ORGANIZERS ORGANİZATÖRLER

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Tourism India July 2019

TOURISM INDIA JULY 2019 VOL. 22 NO.3 RNI NO. KERBIL/1998/7642 POSTAL REGN. NO. KL / TV (N) / 432 / 2018-20 25TH & 26TH EVERY MONTH