Tourism Day is celebrated on the 27th of September every year across the globe and this year the official celebration of the 42nd edition of World Tourism Day will be held in Bali, Indonesia, with the theme of ‘Rethinking Tourism.
World Tourism Day is a global observance day since 1980, fostering awareness of the social, political, cultural, and economic value of tourism and the contribution of this sector towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
World Tourism Day was chosen by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 1979. The date 27th of September was selected as it marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of UNWTO in 1970 that helped in the establishment of UNWTO five years later in 1975.
Tourism’s International Observance Day will put people at the center of key discussions such as Where is tourism going? Where do we want to go? And how do we get there? The theme aims to rethink tourism for development and tourism’s impact on the planet and opportunities to grow more sustainably.
Since Tourism plays a key role in promoting a nation’s economy, identity, brand value, and building its image, participants will hold discussions on ‘The Tourism We Want.’ The overall goal of the program is to increase the preservation and promotion of
responsible tourism, to understand the tourist perspective and the ways to be adopted for tourism promotion as well. The theme “Rethinking Tourism” will reflect this.
While charting out a day to observe World Tourism Day It is high time to think from a sustainable and smarter angle to create opportunities within tourism without putting the vulnerable part at stake. Taking pride in the achievements of the tourism Industry is essential but it should also nudge people into thinking about sustainable practices. This is a reminder put across through the fears we had during the pandemic in this revival period.
UNWTO also made it a point to bring light to many developmental projects that have been in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Many countries across the globe initiate tourism plans that are “greener, safer and smarter”. Taking inspiration from these grounds can introduce a newer outlook on development through and localise it.
At times, the sector should have to go further with collaborative and conscious efforts which can bring a positive impact on the conservation of the environment. This planet itself is our dream destination as we all are tourists to visit here for this life.
World Tourism Day wishes to all!
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TO RETHINK TOURISM, WHERE IT IS GOING AND HOW IT IMPACTS PEOPLE AND
2022 WAS THE BIGGEST TRAVEL MONTH SINCE THE PANDEMIC: OYO
POLICIES ARE VITAL TO A LASTING SUSTAINABLE SHIFT
REFLECT ON THE FUTURE
OF TRAVEL
Prime Minister highlights the importance of Amrit Mahotsav and Har Ghar Tiranga Campaigns;
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, during the 92nd Edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 28th
August 2022 lauded the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostva and Har Ghar Tiranga campaigns that worked
together in uniting the people. These campaigns reflect the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
During Man Ki Baat’s address, the PM said that on this special occasion of Amrit Mahotsav and Independence Day, we have seen the collective might of the country. There has been a sense of realisation. Such a big country, with so much diversity, but when it came to hoisting the tricolor, everyone seemed to flow in the same spirit. People themselves came forward, becoming the vanguard of the pride of the tricolor. We had also seen the spirit of the country in the cleanliness campaign and the vaccination campaign. We are getting to witness the same spirit of patriotism again in the Amrit Mahotsav. Our soldiers hoisted the tricolor on the peaks of high mountains, on the borders of the country, and in the middle of the sea.
During Man Ki Baat’s address, the PM said that on this special
occasion of Amrit Mahotsav and Independence Day, we have seen the collective might of the country. There has been a sense of realisation. Such a big country, with so much diversity, but when it came to hoisting the tricolor, everyone seemed to flow in the same spirit. People themselves came forward, becoming the vanguard of the
pride of the tricolor. We had also seen the spirit of the country in the cleanliness campaign and the vaccination campaign. We are getting to witness the same spirit of patriotism again in the Amrit Mahotsav. Our soldiers hoisted the tricolor on the peaks of high mountains, on the borders of the country, and in the middle of the sea.
The prime minister also urged people to watch the Swaraj serial, which highlights the contributions of freedom fighters, especially the unsung heroes, on Doordarshan. ‘’It is a great initiative to acquaint the younger generation of the country with the efforts of unsung heroes who took part in the freedom movement,’’ he said. Modi also highlighted different individual efforts in various parts of India to celebrate Independence Day on August 15.
On the special occasion of Amrit Mahotsav and Independence Day we have seen the collective might of the country: Narendra Modi
To discuss issues related to development of Tourism in the country from 18th to 20th September 2022
Ministryof Tourism, Government of India will organize a National Conference of State Tourism Ministers from 18th to 20th September 2022 in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh under the Chairmanship of Mr. G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DONER, to discuss issues related to the development of Tourism in the country.
The three-day National Conference of State Tourism Ministers will be attended by Central Ministers, Tourism Ministers from States and Union Territories, Governors, Administrators & Seniors Officials of the Central Government, State Governments, and Heads of the Tourism & Hospitality Associations.
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh would be inaugurating the event. The event would be attended by Tourism Ministers of several states including Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Haryana, Sikkim, Goa, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Ladakh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, etc. The conference is expected to be attended by approximately 250 delegates.
The Conference shall focus on the various policies and programmes of
the Ministry of Tourism including the development of Tourism Infrastructure, Cultural, Spiritual & Heritage tourism, Tourism in the Himalayan states, Responsible and sustainable tourism, the Role of digital technology in the marketing and promotion of tourism destinations, emerging importance of home stays in the Indian hospitality
sector, Ayurveda, Wellness, Medical Value travel and promotion of domestic tourism. Other issues such as Wildlife Tourism, Responsible Tourism, tourism related aspects of G-20 will also be discussed along with the review of the implementation of various projects implemented by the Ministry of Tourism.
FAITH,
the policy federation of all the ten national associations representing the complete tourism, travel, and hospitality industry of India - ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI & TAFI has proposed ‘PM - HINES’ or ‘Prime Minister - Holiday in India Export Support’ for the upcoming foreign trade policy to fast track tourism, travel and hospitality exports from India.
PM - HINES is a combination of two existing similar support mechanisms of the government of encouraging duty-free exports and the PLI scheme. On a similar concept, to increase tourism, travel, and hospitality exports from India. PM - HINES is based on two key market principles such as the Drawback of all domestic duties, levies, and taxes which have become implicitly built into the price of tourism in India and Market linked Incentive based on increasing exports
The proposed formula by FAITH for PM- HINES highlights Domestic Duty Drawback 5% of gross forex earnings from tourism travel & hospitality services as a base drawback for all tourism exports.
As per the proposed formula, the market-linked incentive includes a 1 % additional drawback for forex earnings if gross forex earnings are < US$ 50 million, in the financial year includes a 2 % additional drawback for gross forex earnings, if gross forex earnings are > US$ 50 million up to US $ 100 million in the financial year, 3% additional drawback for gross forex earnings, if gross forex earnings are > US$ 100 million up to US $ 200 million in the
financial year, 4% additional drawback for gross forex earnings, if gross forex earnings are > US$ 200 million up to US $ 400 million in the financial year, 5% additional drawback for gross forex earnings if gross forex earnings are > US$ 400 million + in the financial year
Any exporter of tourism travel & hospitality services will get the following duty incentive under PM - HINES as 6% of their gross forex earnings if gross forex earnings are up to $ 50 m in the financial year, 7% of their gross forex earnings if gross forex earnings are above $ 50 million up to $ 100 million in the financial year, 8% of their gross forex earnings, if gross forex earnings are above $ 100 million up to $ 200 million in the financial year, 9% of their gross forex earnings if gross forex earnings are above $ 200 million up to $ 400 million in the financial year and 10% of their gross forex earnings, if gross forex earnings are above $ 400 million in the financial year.
FAITH believes this formula will immediately make tourism travel and hospitality exports super competitive globally as tourism enterprises will use the drawback incentive to market internationally, to advertise, to build global partnerships, and to reduce overall prices which will lead to much increased forex earnings.
Pre - covid, India’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism were around $ 30 bn from around 11 mn foreign tourists and around 17 mn international travellers. India has a vast unmet global tourism potential and has the inherent cultural, geographical, spiritual, and people strengths to take its foreign exchange earnings from tourism, travel, and hospitality to $ 200 bn + by 2035 and $ 100 bn by 2045. The tourism Industry has the potential to create almost 10 crore direct and indirect jobs by 2035 and almost 15 crore additional direct and indirect jobs
Despite lengthy travel restrictions by boosting domestic travel; UK sees biggest drop in the global rankings while China and Germany hold onto 2nd and 3rd position
Thelatest World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Economic Trends Report reveals the U.S. remains the world’s biggest and most powerful Travel & Tourism market. Its top ranking was reaffirmed, despite suffering long and damaging travel restrictions which did little to halt the spread of COVID-19 and only resulted in serious economic losses. However, while its number one position was retained, the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to the nation’s economy fell from US$700 billion in 2019 to just under US$1.3 trillion last year.
Research by Oxford Economics for WTTC shows there has been no change in the top three countries – with China second and Germany third. But the rankings are illusionary as the top economies bolstered their numbers through domestic travel, while international visitor numbers plummeted.
In the U.S., International traveller spending rankings saw it toppled from its pre-pandemic top position. But despite the challenges of the past two years, the new report from the global tourism body shows business travel is on the road to recovery.
Ms. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Our report shows the resilience of the Travel & Tourism sector, despite the impact of travel restrictions around the world which failed to halt the spread of the virus.
“Despite a challenging macro environment, Travel & Tourism has bounced back. The world, with some exceptions, is travelling again. And we are seeing a resurgence in business travel. Over the next 10 years, Travel & Tourism growth will outstrip the global economy.”
WTTC’s data reveals that in terms of the Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP, China held onto its second position, with more than US$814 billion, while Germany remained the third biggest Travel & Tourism sector in the world, contributing US$251 billion to the German economy. The UK slipped dramatically from fifth place in 2019 to ninth in 2021, with a contribution of just over US$157 billion, the biggest faller of the top 10 countries.
In terms of international traveller spending, France, which before the pandemic struck was in fourth place, overtook Spain, China, and the U.S. to
grab first place.
China, which remains close to much of the rest of the world, was in second place before the pandemic but fell dramatically to 11th position in 2021. Across the Asia Pacific, major Travel & Tourism markets such as Thailand and Japan saw huge losses in international spending, which resulted in both markets – in fifth and eighth place respectively before the pandemic –falling out of the top 20 altogether in 2021.
According to WTTC’s predictions, worldwide business travel is expected to grow more than 41% this year. For the next 10 years, it predicts business travel could grow an average of 5.5% annually and may return faster in the Asia-Pacific region. WTTC predicts by 2032, China could overtake the U.S. to become the world’s biggest Travel & Tourism market.
The research shows China’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP could reach US$3.9 trillion by 2032, making it the world’s most powerful Travel & Tourism market, and India could leapfrog Germany to reach a third place with a projected value of US$457 billion.
According to IATA, the robust performance was recorded in international passenger air traffic, with a 234% increase in January-July 2022 (45% below 2019 levels) and a recovery of some 70% of pre-pandemic traffic levels in July
International tourism continued to show strong signs of recovery, with arrivals reaching 57% of prepandemic levels in the first seven months of 2022.
According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals almost tripled from January to July 2022 (+172%) compared to the same period in 2021. This means the sector recovered almost 60% of prepandemic levels. The steady recovery reflects strong pent-up demand for international travel as well as the easing or lifting of travel restrictions to date (86 countries had no COVID-19related restrictions as of 19 September 2022).
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism continues to recover steadily, yet several challenges remain, from geopolitical to economic. The sector is bringing back hope and opportunity for people everywhere. Now is also the time to rethink tourism, where it is going, and how it impacts people and the planet.”
An estimated 474 million tourists travelled internationally over the period, compared to the 175 million in the same months of 2021. An
estimated 207 million international arrivals were recorded in June and July 2022 combined, over twice the numbers seen in the same two months last year. These months represent 44% of the total arrivals recorded in the first seven months of 2022. Europe welcomed 309 million of these arrivals, accounting for 65% of the total.
Europe and the Middle East Lead Recovery Europe and the Middle East showed the fastest recovery in January-July 2022, with arrivals reaching 74% and 76% of 2019 levels respectively. Europe welcomed almost three times as many international arrivals as in the first seven months of 2021 (+190%), with results boosted by strong intra-regional demand and travel from the United States. The region saw the particularly robust performance in June (-21% over 2019) and July (-16%), reflecting a busy summer period. Arrivals climbed to about 85% of 2019 levels in July. The lifting of travel restrictions in a large number of destinations also fuelled these results (44 countries in Europe had no COVID-19-related restrictions as of 19 September 2022).
The Middle East saw international arrivals grow almost four times yearon-year in January-July 2022 (+287%). Arrivals exceeded pre-pandemic levels in July (+3%), boosted by the extraordinary results posted by Saudi Arabia (+121%) following the Hajj pilgrimage.
The Americas (+103%) and Africa (+171%) also recorded strong growth in January-July 2022 compared to 2021, reaching 65% and 60% of 2019 levels respectively. Asia and the Pacific (+165%) saw arrivals more than double in the first seven months of 2022, though they remained 86% below 2019 levels, as some borders remained closed to non-essential travel.
Several subregions reached 70% to 85% of their pre-pandemic arrivals in January-July 2022. Southern Mediterranean Europe (-15% over 2019), the Caribbean (-18%), and Central America (-20%) showed the fastest recovery towards 2019 levels. Western Europe (-26%) and Northern Europe (-27%) also posted strong results. In July arrivals came close to pre-pandemic levels in the Caribbean (-5%), Southern and Mediterranean
Europe (-6%), and Central America (-8%).
Among destinations reporting data on international arrivals in the first five to seven months of 2022, those exceeding pre-pandemic levels were: the US Virgin Islands (+32% over 2019), Albania (+19%), Saint Maarten (+15%), Ethiopia, and Honduras (both +13%), Andorra (+10%), Puerto Rico (+7%), United Arab Emirates and Dominican Republic (both +3%), San Marino and El Salvador (both +1%) and Curaçao (0%).
Among destinations reporting data on international tourism receipts in the first five to seven months of 2022, Serbia (+73%), Sudan (+64%), Romania (+43%), Albania (+32%), North Macedonia (+24%), Pakistan (+18%), Türkiye, Bangladesh and Latvia (all +12%), Mexico and Portugal (both +8%), Kenya (+5%) and Colombia (+2%) all exceeded pre-pandemic levels in January-July 2022.
The ongoing recovery can also be seen in outbound tourism spending from major source markets. Expenditure from France climbed to -12% in January-July 2022 compared
to 2019 while spending from Germany rose to -14%. International tourism spending stood at -23% in Italy and -26% in the United States.
The robust performance was also recorded in international passenger air traffic, with a 234% increase in JanuaryJuly 2022 (45% below 2019 levels) and a recovery of some 70% of pre-pandemic traffic levels in July, according to IATA.
Stronger-than-expected demand has also created important operational and workforce challenges in tourism companies and infrastructure, particularly airports. Additionally, the economic situation, exacerbated by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, represents a major downside risk. The combination of increasing interest rates in all major economies, rising energy and food prices, and the growth prospects of a global recession as indicated by the World Bank, are major threats to the recovery of international tourism through the remainder of 2022 and 2023. The potential slowdown can be seen in the latest UNWTO Confidence Index, which reflects a more cautious outlook, as well as in booking trends which are showings signs of slower growth.
Globally, across Europe, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, and France are some of the most sought-after destinations
Travel in India is back on track after two years of pandemicinduced disruptions, says OYO’s World Tourism Day Report. Booking data studied by OYO from January 2022 – September 2022 highlights a 62% uptick in leisure tourism between January-September 2022 compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to high consumer confidence combined with unprecedented pent-up demand in travel has given a significant impetus to domestic tourism across India. Furthermore, June 2022 saw the highest uptick in demand compared to the same period last year. These insights are a comparative analysis of the same period last year when states were just about opening up their borders to tourists once again, however, travel confidence still continued to be at a record low.
There are visible signs of revival across all segments, especially in leisure tourism, a significant contributor to India’s travel and tourism economy. The data analysis further states that Jaipur and Goa have consistently topped as India’s favourite leisure destinations.
However, Kochi, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam have also emerged as top-ranked destinations among Indian travellers. The data shows a clear inclination towards heritage cities followed by beach destinations in India. Regarding business travel, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai occupy the top spots as top business destinations in India in the first two quarters of 2022.
Given that this summer witnessed record-breaking growth for the travel sector this year, the upcoming festive holiday season is expected to give a shot in the arm of the small and medium local hospitality businesses.
Through a data-backed predictive analysis of current booking trends, OYO forecasts that metropolitan cities,
Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai will witness the highest travel demand during the upcoming peak travel months. Among leisure destinations, Jaipur, Goa, Nagpur, Dehradun, and Varanasi are set to benefit from the festive holiday travel demand. As per an analysis of the top 100 destinations, with nearly 25%, a majority of hill stations are predicted to be the most preferred destinations between October – December 2022, whereas, 20% are heritage cities and nearly 10% are beach destinations. Several offbeat destinations such as Prayagraj, Raipur, Puri, Nashik, and Bareilly also cropped up on the list, signalling the Indian traveller’s inclination to explore less explored domestic destinations.
Commenting on the changing travel scenario Shreerang Godbole, Chief Service Officer & SVP – Product, OYO said, “There’s a major shift in travel habits and sentiments. Unplanned vacations, shorter stays at the very last minute, and exploring nearby and offbeat destinations are all very relevant trends today. Flexibility tops the list. Providing consumers with access at their disposal, the choice to make travel decisions on their own terms, convenience and personalisation are all elements of being the consumer’s travel partner today. We at OYO have worked hard to understand the new age consumer and their travel habits and have therefore rolled out several app-level features to benefit their travel plans, even if it’s at the very last minute.”
Globally, across Europe, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, and France are some of the most sought-after destinations. Diving deeper, Germans prefer spending their vacations at destinations such as North Holland in The Netherlands, Zealand in Denmark, and the Baltic Sea region in Germany. Europe has also witnessed a rise in cross-country travel in 2022. In the USA, nearly 55% of American respondents opt for destinations closer to attractions such as glacier parks, lakes, waterfalls, and natural reserves, while 14% prefer to spend their vacations at the beaches. This year, destinations such as Lincoln City, New Port, and Seaside Orlando have topped the list among summer travellers..
Ofthe various industries adopting increasingly sustainable practices, tourism is among the most influential. As an operationally interactive industry, tourism has the ability to influence a heavily collaborative culture through partnerships and interconnections with varied supply chains. These factors along with the sector’s necessity to reinvent service offerings to suit altered market dynamics in the post-pandemic world combine to incentivize a shift towards comprehensively conscious business models. said Ms. Shruti Shibulal, CEO & Director of Tamara Leisure Experiences
At its very inception, Tamara Leisure Experiences was designed to be a holistically responsible hospitality group. The early integration of innovative and incremental policies measured against globally delineated Sustainability Development Goals has rendered us more resilient to volatility, including COVID-19related challenges, and served to make us more desirable to the growing segment of environmentally and socially conscious travellers.
Our core philosophy centers on harmonizing people, the planet, and profit. People are vital to the success of this triple mandate, which remains true for tourism across the board.
Since people (employees, vendors, collaborators, and patrons) are both benefactors of sustainable business as well as change agents who steer its impact across future generations, tourism must work towards not only adopting conscious practices but meaningfully engaging stakeholders to do the same. Whileit seems like an enormous and challenging task at first, I have learned through experience that thoughtful initiatives implemented incrementally can result in sustainable, even profitable, shifts.
At Tamara, these people-centric initiatives include hiring locally. Over 50% of our pan organisational staff is composed of local residents. This brings in generational knowledge of local landscapes and cultures which helps us synergise our operations and curate authentic offerings.
During the pandemic, we did not lay off a single employee. Instead, we used nominal pay cuts administered across the top 3% of the organisation along with intensive cost rationalisation exercises that allowed us to invest in our staff members. The job security this created was motivational. It united teams to work undeterred towards quickly adopting the highest safety and sanitation practices to serve our guests. We then used the remainder of the lockdowns to engineer over 100 hours of both professional and recreational activities, including free access to mental health care. These development sessions built an agile, dedicated, and creative work culture.
In order to sustain the positive changes of this time, we began reviewing employees based on revenue and non-revenue goals. The former looks at explicit productivity and profit-oriented tasks, while the latter encourages every team member to ideate social and environmental initiatives –many of which directly benefit their own communities. The cohesive effort of purpose-driven thinking and the freedom to experiment catalyses innovation, which is an important by-product of sustainable development. She added
For instance, a team-driven ideational and analytical process led us to find the exact type of water-conserving plumbing now saves up to 10,000 liters of water per day at just one of our properties. We were also able to reinvest the cost savings from this to build rainwater harvesting tanks that facilitate the reuse of 90 lakh
liters of rainwater at The Tamara Coorg and 35 lakh liters at The Tamara Kodai. Collaborating with local residents informed organic farming and wildlife conservation practices which make our estates a haven for bird watching and farm-to-table dining experiences that are highly coveted by our guests.
In the vein of engaging further stakeholders in our sustainability efforts, we also employ green building practices. For instance, we noticed that most hotels have large glass windows that exceed the extent of pulled-back curtains. That surplus perimeter is hidden, does not impact the guest’s view, and yet marginally contributes to heating and cooling costs. Remeasuring windows across hundreds of rooms to align with the curtains significantly reduced energy usage. It continues to compound cost savings. We have also implemented other energy-conserving design elements to automatically aid with temperature and light control. Antique materials found on site have also been restored and reused in construction. In addition to cost and energy savings for Tamara as well as, a clean and conscious experience for our guests, these practices also allow us to engage the expertise of multiple teams such as designers, architects, engineers, and material vendors.
Through comprehensively responsible operations we are able to reinforce our vision among staff members, add value to our guests, maintain more profitable offerings and promote thoughtful practices across auxiliary markets. We believe that sustainability is a tapestry of cohesive practices interconnected by incremental actions. People remain central to this endeavour. Therefore, tourism – with its far-reaching influence on a wide web of market sectors, is critical to effecting largescale social and economic change.
The cohesive effort of purpose-driven thinking and the freedom to experiment catalyses innovation, which is an important by-product of sustainable development
is often said that we have nothing to lose and a whole world to see.
Given that the deepest desire of human nature is to constantly explore and discover, travel is an innate part of our lives and culture. It is also one of the world’s largest economic sectors.
Beyond numbers, travel and tourism have the innate power to bring people together, build bridges, facilitate cultural exchanges and foster global peace. said Jurgen Bailom, president and CEO of Cordelia Cruises
That said, the last two years have been excruciatingly difficult for the
sector given the coronavirus pandemic.
According to reports, the travel and tourism industry lost $4.5 trillion in GDP and 62 million jobs in 2020 alone. While post-pandemic the global travel and tourism industry is slowly picking up thanks to the reducing cases and increased vaccination coverage, the road to recovery certainly remains a long, uphill one.
With the world eager to travel and explore once again, there is no doubt that today we stand on the threshold of a new age in travel. And as we celebrate the 42nd World Tourism Day on 27-Sep, it is also a time to reflect on the future direction of
travel. It is a time to rethink tourism and use it as an opportunity to make travel more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. Tourism can be viewed as a powerful tool to protect and conserve our habitats and make a significant contribution to the 2030 UN sustainable development agenda.
There is no doubt about the immense potential tourism holds and the economic revenue it can generate. But one must be mindful of the fact that mindless and ‘ business-asusual tourism will have a disastrous effect on our already fragile planet whose environment and ecosystems
are teeming with plastic, carbon, and greenhouse gas emissions. There is an urgent need for conservation and protection of several local communities, and historic and heritage sites as we battle disasters fuelled by factors like climate change. In this light of this scenario, it is key that we adopt an approach that is more responsible and strikes a balance between the short-term needs of travellers and the long-term needs of our planet. It is important that tourism facilitates the development of poor, rural, and marginalized communities while preserving native cultures, heritage, and the overall environment.
Apart from new age concepts like “travel bubbles”, “staycations” and “bleisure travel” that gained wide popularity during the last two years, we have also seen the rise of the “sustainability-conscious” traveller. Individuals today are not reluctant to make a choice and even pay a premium for adopting “greener” alternatives. Hence, there is an onus on all stakeholders to make travel sustainable from an economic, social as well as environmental point of view. Informed participation from all relevant stakeholders is the need of
the hour coupled with the support of policymakers to ensure wide support. Continuous education, as well as a holistic and integrated approach, is required for the implementation of any measures; whether it is raising the levels of green investment in tourism infrastructure, making hotels more environmentally friendly, or even developing new destinations to prevent overcrowding and congestion of existing areas. The entire exercise should be viewed as an ongoing and ever-evolving process with systems in place for monitoring, measurement, and review on a periodic basis.
The industry is in a boom after an unprecedented pandemic situation, and this is where the theme for the year is becoming more relevant in rethinking the way how we are going to sell or tackle tourism globally
The global tourism industry has seen double-digit growth in the last decade. It is also predicted that by 2030 tourism will account for 10-13% of total global GDP and directly employ 313 million people worldwide. This clearly shows tourism’s significance and its potential to create sustainable livelihoods for millions of people all over the globe. In order to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030, there is an urgent need to rethink our tourism policies and strategies and the current model of tourism for addressing its adverse impacts on a wide range of human and ecological systems as well as for responding to calls for greater levels of sustainability in our approach to travel and tourism which will provide an opportunity to give back to the local communities. Secondly, the industry is in a boom after an unprecedented pandemic situation, and this is where the theme for the year is becoming more relevant in rethinking the way how we are going to sell or tackle tourism globally. The responsibility to involve and engage in these issues has to come from all stakeholders of the industry which includes, government bodies in framing policies, private sectors to implement, and the Travellers to be more responsible and understand, the destinations they go also to be considered as an ecosystem of their own society, thereby to support the local communities around and the planet. This
can be achieved by implementing green sustainability standards and practices in our travel industry and making tourism a more inclusive sector that works towards a fairer world for all. Digital transformation
in certain areas of the industry is inevitable for enhanced experiences and safety in the future but should be done by maintaining the warmth of human interactions and intervention.
has witnessed a robust rebound, and there is a renewed appetite for holidays and travel. Post-pandemic, we are seeing an increased focus and investments in digital technology. With live events and sound and light shows making a strong comeback at major tourist destinations, this is an opportunity for the industry, and travellers alike, to rethink and reimagine tourism in a sustainable and fulfilling manner. Innovative technology and immersive storytelling experiences are at the forefront of this revolution and Barco is a leader in projection mapping enabling strong storytelling and allaround entertainment with immersive experiences. From Akshardham Temple in Delhi to the Museum of the Future in Dubai, and the Niagara Fall splendour in Canada, Barco is an integral part of appealing visual narratives globally. We are bullish on the projection mapping space and foresee the segment registering high double-digit growth in the next year. Currently, we are working across several sites in India and with the new tourism policy kicking in, we hope to increase the number substantially. This World Tourism Day, Barco reiterates its commitment to powering eco-friendly tourism, while promoting digital innovation and technology in all our ventures and look forward to a world united by the love for travelling and experiencing new realities.”
Barco is a global technology leader,
headquartered in Kortrijk (Belgium), which develops networked visualization solutions for the entertainment, enterprise, and healthcare markets. Barco’s solutions make a visible impact, allowing people to enjoy
compelling entertainment experiences; foster knowledge sharing and smart decision-making in organizations, and help hospitals provide their patients with the best possible healthcare.
Green Himalayas, a joint venture and a shared passion between two NGOs – Go Green Go Organic (Go Green) and Golden mile Learning is a key contributor in planting trees to the destinations of the tours.
Celebrating World Tourism Day and the World Tourism Day 2022 theme ‘Rethinking Tourism, Adventures Overland has reaffirmed its support for ‘Responsible Travel.’ Adventures Overland’s initiative is geared toward not only offsetting the carbon footprint of its trips but also empowering all eco-travelers in supporting the idea of conscious travel for the direct benefit of wildlife, natural habitat, and local communities through a Carbon Emissions Calculator.
In line with the ‘Responsible Travel’ philosophy, Adventures Overland’s flagship trip – Road to London
currently undertaking its fourth trip, is also offsetting its Carbon Footprint. The trip is one of the world’s most sought-after cross-border road trips. It is currently taking avid road trippers on a 15000 km cross-border journey from Iran to London via Turkey, Eastern Europe, Baltics, and Scandinavia, including Nord Kapp, the northernmost tip of Norway and mainland Europe. The convoy comprises 10 cars and 25 travel enthusiasts making this epic journey via 20 countries. The tour started on the eve of Indian Independence Day and will culminate in London on October 7, 2022.
Commenting on the occasion, Tushar Agarwal, Co-Founder, Adventures Overland said, “We resonate with the theme of ‘Rethinking Tourism’ not only at the responsible travel philosophy level but also in terms of how we imagine our trips. As our world becomes smaller and resources become rarer, it is prudent to take corrective action. Being a travel company, our tourism brand has far more purpose than simply going to a destination. We are excited to play a significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of all travelers with our initiative and pledge to offset all the CO2 emissions of the crew cars on the trips. We will also encourage our clients to offset their emissions. At Adventures Overland, we are also exploring options of organising tours with Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Norway and are hopeful that these tours will become a regular feature with us. We wish all passionate travelers a Happy World Tourism Day and look forward to having them join us in some of our forthcoming trips.”
Any traveler can use the CO2 Emission Calculator feature available on the Responsible Travel section of
the ‘Adventures Overland website and reach the CO2 emissions figures of their trip based on parameters such as the type of vehicle, distance, and the fuel used by the car.
Once calculated, the calculator shares information on the number of trees that must be planted to offset the trip’s emissions. The traveler gets an option to directly make payment to Adventures Overland’s NGO partner to get the trees planted.
Green Himalayas, a joint venture and a shared passion between two NGOs – Go Green Go Organic (Go Green) and Golden mile Learning is a key contributor in planting trees to the destinations of the tours. Over the years, Go Green has planted close to 1 million trees across Ladakh. An example project directly impacted by Adventures’ carbon offset initiative is The Phobrang Project: ‘A Billion Trees across the Himalayas.’
Adventures Overland has been aligned with the ‘Rethinking Tourism’ philosophy with the kind of eclectic tours that it organizes, such as the ongoing Road to London. In the last decade, senior citizens, solo
female travelers, couples, families with children, and differently-abled individuals, have all joined Adventures Overland or engaged its help in undertaking self-drive expeditions around the world. Cross-border trips are one of the unique product categories offered by Adventures Overland. In 2023 the company plans to run a Bus to London from Delhi.
The last IATO Convention in Lucknow was held in 1996 and there are so many new hotels have come up in Lucknow
The37th IATO Annual Convention will be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in December 2022. Dates and venue of the convention are being finalised in consultation with Uttar Pradesh Tourism and will be announced soon, said Mr.Rajiv Mehra, President in a statement issued by him today.
While announcing the decision of the Executive Committee, Mr. Rajiv Mehra, President, the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said “We are coming back to Lucknow after a gap of 26 years and it will be an excellent opportunity for our members to see the improved and developed infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. The last IATO Convention in Lucknow was held in 1996 and there are so many new hotels have come up in Lucknow and other cities which will give an insight into the facilities and development of infrastructure to the tour operators promoting the state amongst foreign and domestic travellers. Also, the added attraction would be the Ram Temple at Ayodhya which in due course of time our members would be aggressively promoting globally.
Mr. Mehra mentioned, “The success of the previous convention has raised the expectations of the members and sponsors. More than 900 delegates are expected for 3 days event and the IATO convention is eagerly awaited by
all”.
He also mentioned that the industry was going through a very bad time and with inbound tourism being reinstated, our main focus will be to have deliberations as to how we can achieve the target of Pre-Covid years.
After the convention various Post Convention Tours would be organized, which would be of great interest to our members. Concurrently with our convention, there will be Travel Mart, which will be an opportunity for the exhibitors to showcase an exciting and diverse range of destinations, conferences, and Incentive venues, especially by the state governments.
The Travel Agents Association of India’s 66th Annual convention concludes on board of The Royal Caribbean’s”
Spectrum on the Seas” from Singapore to Penang and back on a high note.
The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has successfully organized its 66th annual convention on board the “Spectrum of the Seas’ by the Royal Caribbean International, which started its three days cruises from Singapore on August 22, 2022 to Penang in Malaysia and
back on August 25, 2022, with 312 delegates includes the members of the association, industry leaders, travel trade media and the heads of International tourism boards.
The theme of this year’s convention was to Promote Regional Tourism, Rebuilding Connect, to find out the right
balance between the ever-changing technology and its human interface in the travel industry.
According to Ms. Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI, the travel trade fraternity in India needs to come together and work closely to bring about a change in perspective and
approach. I am repeating once again and giving the mantra once again to reconnect, rebuild and move forward. We need to move forward and explore all those opportunities. And believe me, there’s a market for all our fellow members. I don’t think there is any competition exists among us and there is nothing called Online Travel Agents. There’s nothing brick and mortar shops, all the stakeholders are together in it, and we all need to work together to gain our good share of the business,” she added while interacting with travel trade media during the sidelines of the convention.
“My team and I are always trying to revitalize the industry, post-pandemic, and do something out of the box to bounce back the ailing Indian tourism industry to its golden days. We conceptualised the convention on a cruise on the 1st of August 2022 and here we are in such a good number, around 300 of us after 12 days of preparation. That is the power and dedication of our TAAI team. I am thankful for all my fellow office bearers and members along with the Ambassador of India in Singapore Mr. P Kumar Naidu and Mr. Anand & Deepaji for their unstinted support to make this wonderful event, a memorable one. The 66th cruising convention has
been a success in all terms, including the number of delegates attended and the power-packed knowledge sessions during these three days, M. Mayal added with a usual confident smile and energy.
The cruise convention has been noticed by the participation of key persons from various international tourism boards, Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Nepal Tourism Board, and Kazakhstan Tourism. The convention has also witnessed the meeting with key stakeholders from the Penang Tourism authority. The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau has welcomed the Indian travel trade with a Cocktail dinner during the stay at Penang.
Mrs. Ratna Chadha, Chairperson-
Tirun Travel Marketing, who was the representative of the Royal Caribbean Cruise in India, attended the convention throughout as host and said that ‘ Cruise Tourism is a fantastic travel product for all kinds of travelers, especially the Indian middle class.
Ms. Mayal added that “India has a huge coastline in both east and west side of our country and has vast potential to develop the Cruise based tourism products for ever-growing Indian travellers. The role of the Government is very vital to move in this direction and needs to develop our major ports to enable Cruise Business, which I am sure will be a big hit in India in the near future. Any new products will create new business opportunities and more employment generation for the growth of the nation.
Withan aim to increase domestic footfalls from Gujarat the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka along with Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (KSTDC) organized Roadshows at Ahmedabad, Vadodara,
and Surat to promote tourist places, hotels, resorts, homestays, and service providers from Karnataka amongst the people of Gujarat.
A performance of ‘Puja Kunita’, an ancient art form of Karnataka was organized to showcase the vibrant
cultural heritage that Karnataka is known for. The roadshows brought together different aspects of Karnataka tourism such as nature, wildlife, adventure, pilgrimage, and .heritage.
Mr. T. Venkatesh, IAS, Director, Department of Tourism said,
“Karnataka is an around the year tourist destination; UNESCO Heritage Sites, virgin beaches and wildlife tourism make it unique.” - T. Venkatesh, IAS, Director, Karnataka Tourism
“Karnataka is home to a large and exciting portfolio of globally acclaimed tourist attractions like UNESCO World Heritage sites, splendid wildlife, and resplendent nature, virgin beaches, etc. It is an around-the-year tourist destination. The roadshow series will provide impetus to domestic inbound travel and would enhance the marketing efforts of Karnataka Tourism to promote the state’s destinations to prospective tourists and the travel trade of Gujarat.”
Karnataka Tourism’s main objective behind the event was to promote the state as a tourist attraction for leisure tourism, MICE – meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, adventure, and wildlife tourism, and a wedding destination. KSTDC is the nodal agency to conduct roadshows in various cities of India. The state also offers an avid traveler a vast range of tourist landscapes such as archaeology, religion, ecotourism, and handicrafts.
Mr. G. Jagadeesha, IAS, Managing Director, Karnataka State Tourism
Development Corporation said, “Karnataka with its diverse range of tourism products is fast emerging as one of the most interesting and productive states for both leisure and business travel. Domestic tourism is the backbone of the tourism economy and has a lot of potential that need to be tapped. Post-pandemic, these roadshow activities will be an excellent occasion for our stakeholders to renew contacts with the travel trade as well as tourists.”
The roadshow had B2B interactions and presentations that showcased the destination and also opened up new avenues to showcase Karnataka in a new light to the travel and trade community. This exclusive B2B Roadshow had over 15 stakeholders from Karnataka and many discerning trade partners including Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Jungle Lodges & Resorts, Intersight Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd, TGI Hotels & Resorts, Skyway International Travels, and Mookanana Resort.
as the ‘Booster’ edition, this OTM is happening for the second time in the same year, to help promote destinations that are now ready to take tourists in the fast normalising post-pandemic phase. The first edition was held in March this year, and then a need was felt for the
second booster edition, especially to accommodate those who could not join at that time due to the aftereffects of the pandemic.
This edition has stunningly large participation from foreign countries like Saudi, Russia, Qatar and Korea, Mauritius, and Indonesia who have
set up colourful pavilions. Russia has separate pavilions from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Murmansk. Indian pavilions of the Ministry of Tourism, and the States of Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Andaman & Nicobar Islands are not far behind. There are
OTM’22 special booster edition sets a new standard of travel trade shows in India in terms of quality of exhibitors, visitors, buyers, and top-notch infrastructure and services
500+ exhibitors from over 20 countries and many Indian States on the show floor.
“Overall we see a good year ahead for travel & tourism markets in 2022 and 2023, but it will be a very different market for sure, with huge backlogs in visa processing and other disruptions that are being experienced as a halflife of pandemic shock. This leaves a lot of need and scope for diversification of traditional source markets and destination marketing and OTM is the perfect place for witnessing these changes,” remarked Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd.
OTM’22 special booster edition sets a new standard of travel trade shows in India in terms of quality of exhibitors, visitors, buyers, and top-notch infrastructure and services at the only world-class venue in India, comparable to any 5-star international venue! The 3-day event is bringing together international and national destinations including international tourism boards, national, and state tourism boards, hotels & resorts, airlines, destination management companies, MICE, wedding planners, and film producers under one roof, with interesting ideas, strategies, and the vision to revive travel and tourism around the globe.
The inaugural session had the gracious presence of Mr. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Hon’ble Maharashtra Tourism Minister as the Chief Guest. The heads of travel trade associations, consuls, and ambassadors of participating and non-participating
countries including Argentina, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Austria, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, etc., and other notable dignitaries from the industry were also present at the inauguration.
“OTM which has been very well organized provides the ideal platform to ensure that Maharashtra becomes a tourist destination of choice for the world. I understand that the expo has participants from all corners of the world, who have come to promote their respective destinations. We welcome their initiative and at the same time would request them to send tourists to Maharashtra. We should have the confidence that we are
the best to show and give and should invite tourists from all across the globe to visit our lands, and in times to come, Maharashtra should become the tourist capital of the country. ” said Mr. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Maharashtra.
About 91% of Indians, the highest among all surveyed countries, are planning to book a dream vacation in 2022. International travel is gaining back its momentum in full swing, which is in fact, better than before –according to survey reports, Indians want to spend on international travel, comparatively more in 2022 than they did in previous years.
With the recent openings at Goa and Dharamshala, the ITC HOTELS Group now has its 5th property in Goa and its 12th hotel in Himachal Pradesh
Hotels has signed 5 boutique properties under the new brand, Storii by ITC Hotels, a collection of handpicked boutique properties, designed to satiate the ever-evolving needs of the global traveller.
Popular leisure destinations Goa, Dharamshala, Solan, Sirmour, and Kufri are the frontline destinations for Storii with Storii Goa and Storii Dharmashala already opening doors to guests. With the recent openings at Goa and
Dharamshala, the ITC HOTELS Group now has its 5th property in Goa and its 12th hotel in Himachal Pradesh.
With the Storii brand, ITC Hotels brings bespoke experiences at immersive locations through typical
hotels and resorts that are unique by character, design, or heritage and strive to co-exist with the environment and the community. Every hotel under this brand will tell its own unique ‘story’ which could stem from its architecture, location, heritage, theme, or even its facilities and offerings. This parameter is key for a property to qualify under the Storii by ITC Hotels brand even as there may be a lot more flexibility offered in terms of the design approach, property size, and a few other parameters.
Speaking on the occasion, Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC Hotels said, “Leisure travel in India has grown in the last two years. Postpandemic, the domestic traveller has not only explored destinations in India but also realised how much more there is to see and do in India. At ITC Hotels, we analysed the changing trends and recognized the demand for
a boutique, experiential offering. Storii by ITC Hotels caters to this segment in a way that attracts the discerning traveller who is looking for unique accommodation and comfort without having to worry about consistency and quality of service. We are grateful to our Owners for their faith in ITC Hotels and our decades-strong operational excellence in hospitality”.
The recently opened Storii by ITC Hotels, Goa is a boutique hotel that holds myriad stories within its centuryold walls, representing a confluence of Portuguese and Indian culture.
Originally built in 1897 and called ‘Casa de Morada’ or home of happiness, this charming property was lovingly restored, and is now eagerly waiting to tell its Storii.
Offering another charming experience is the Storii by ITC Hotels, Dharamshala which tells the story of
a contemporary retreat offering plush and stylish rooms with mesmerizing views, an all-day dining restaurant, and other food and beverage outlets. This experiential property will also offer a well-being zone along with recreational activities.
ITC Hotels will further strengthen its footprints in Himachal Pradesh with the addition of three more boutique properties in Sirmour, Solan, and Kufri that will offer a distinct experience so that no two stays are the same while discovering the picturesque beauty the State offers.
Storii by ITC Hotels consists of intimate-sized properties in the premium segment at both expected and unexpected destinations – breathtaking locales or sites steeped in history, golden untouched beaches or jungles thriving with adventure, quiet scenic valleys or deserts buzzing with folklore.
Nestled amidst mountains and valleys, the property is inspired by Tibetan architecture
Group of Hotels has announced the opening of Quality Inn™ Bhagsu Heritage property in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala Quality Inn™ Bhagsu Heritage is a newly
Suba
built hotel inspired by local Tibetan architecture with a heritage look and feels to it.
The property is nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, close to the
home of his holiness the Dalai Lama. It is well-situated and is close to the main square of McLeodGanj and Namgyal Monastery and a few minutes away from the famous Bhagsu Nag Temple
and waterfall. One can easily walk from this property and explore the town and its popular places of interest.
The hotel is a unique blend of warm and cozy interiors with sophisticated facilities. There are 32 well-appointed spacious rooms, a multicuisine restaurant, and a specialty rooftop restaurant that serves Tibetan and Chinese delicacies.
Inviting people to enjoy the property, Sidharth Sood, MD of Quality Inn™ Bhagsu Heritage, says, “McLeodGanj has been a popular tourist destination for both domestic as well as international tourists for years. Keeping in line with the multicultural tradition of the town and tribal communities, we have designed our property with much love and care to reflect the warmth and sophistication of Tibetan architecture. Our hotel is surrounded by mountains and valleys and is close to Bhagsu Falls and the Bhagsunath Temple.” “We have ensured that our property offers spacious and sophisticated rooms with all facilities and comfort to every kind of traveler. We have dynamic venues for hosting weddings, events, exhibitions, yoga, and conferences and serve a delightful dining experience at
our signature restaurants and cafes.”
He added, Part of the Choice Hotels Asia Pacific Group, Quality Inn™ Bhagsu Heritage is managed by the Suba Group of Hotels. Commenting on the opening of the hotel Mr. Mansur Mehta, MD of Suba Group of Hotels, says, “Quality Inn™ McleodGanj is a premium property at reasonable prices. Every room in the hotel offers a scenic view and is a great property to spend relaxing and enjoyable moments with family and friends. It is an instagrammable property for the new age traveler and we are happy to be an integral part of a heritage property offering the best-inclass service quality.”
McLeod Ganj is an internationally acclaimed tourist destination and home to his holiness 14th Dalai Lama. It is also the base camp for reaching the summit of the picturesque Triund Trek, starting from Dharamkot in McLeod Ganj. Dharamshala, a popular tourist destination, is 12 km away from the hotel and can be accessed from Delhi and Chandigarh by road. The nearest airport is Dharamshala airport which is only 19km away from the hotel. Sightseeing attractions like Dhauladar ranges, Dal Lake, Norbulingka monastery, Karmapa monastery, Tibetan Market, Tsuglag Khang, St John Church, and the international cricket stadium can be easily explored from the hotel.
The Bollywood star couple, travel buffs themselves, team up with Cleartrip to fulfill everyone’s travel dreams and make them a reality.
bets big on the upcoming festive season by announcing one of India’s biggest travel festivals as part of ‘The Big Billion Days’. Cleartrip has brought together hundreds of partners from the travel and hospitality industry to provide access to a bouquet of offerings that will enable people to get out of their confined spaces and take that much-needed vacation at attractive prices.
Bollywood’s star couple Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif in their firstever joint collaboration have come
together with Cleartrip in its journey towards making people travel more.
“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Cleartrip! In its latest avatar, Cleartrip is a fresh, young and optimistic brand - which really vibed with us and resonated with who we are - not just a couple that loves to travel, but one that wants to take bold steps in our domains. We loved Cleartrip’s fresh outlook and plan to revolutionize the travel industry.”, said the celebrity couple.
Speaking on the collaboration, Kunal
Dubey, CMO at Cleartrip, said, “This is an exciting period for us with the kick off of the upcoming festive season. And we are thrilled to collaborate with Vicky and Katrina, as they resonate with our brand personality and values. It was also the right time to collaborate, as we recently unveiled our new brand identity. We are all set to celebrate travel and enable people to tick off that dream destination from their list.”
The offers are valid for sale from 22nd September till 30th September 2022 available on Cleartrip Website and Mobile app.
Travellers to Indonesia eligible for Visa on Arrival can now enjoy a quicker, smoother visa application journey by completing the process online, pre-departure, through VFS Global. VFS Global has entered into an exclusive agreement with TLP, the Immigration Department for the Republic of Indonesia, and Bank Mandiri, to provide online prepayment of fees, fast-track access, and concierge services to international passengers upon arrival in Jakarta.
Nationals of the 75 eligible countries can apply for their Indonesia Visa on Arrival through VFS Global by submitting their documents and paying the fees online at www.indonesiavoa. vfsevisa.id prior to their travel.
A confirmation will be sent to their registered email ID and the visa processed in advance to be stamped upon arrival. With the payment having been made online, the on-arrival process reduces to just the stamping of the visa, which can be done at the designated fast-track Visa on Arrival immigration lanes.
Mr. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, of VFS Global said, “Indonesia is a popular destination for travellers across the globe, and we are excited
Mr. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global
to unveil a service that will make their visa application journey quicker and simpler. With tech-led Do It Yourself solutions becoming increasingly popular, this first ever fast-track Visa on Arrival service is sure to offer applicants a more relaxed on-arrival experience.”
Indonesia received over 15 million foreign tourists in 2019 before the pandemic. Between January and July 2022, the destination welcomed around 1 million international travellers. From India alone, over 657,000 tourists arrived in Indonesia in 2019, before the pandemic.
the first time to make the visa
experience quick and
for 75 nationalities including
travelling for business,
tourism and visiting family
SouthernTravels, one of the pioneer organizations in the travel and tourism industry, celebrated its journey of 5 decades. The Golden Jubilee celebrations were inaugurated and the new brand logo was unveiled by Mr. G Kishan Reddy Union Cabinet Minister of Tourism
and Culture, Government of India on 14 September 2022 at The Lalit, New Delhi. On this occasion, in his presence, Southern Travels announced that it is the first company to have been awarded 18 rooms and 36 dormitory beds facility at the Kashi Vishwanath temple premises.
“Today, I am delighted to manifest and comprehend the contribution of Sothern Travels to travel and tourism in South India. Indeed, both have a golden history, a history based on commitments made with people, culture, and time,” said G Kishan Reddy, adding, “50 years of excellent services,
recipient of National Award, 8 times in a row, and the privilege of representing the country at WTM, ITB Berlin, ICCA, ATM, TANA and other events of international repute. And, it is the company’s staunch leadership, guided by ethical values embedded in Indian culture, that has made this possible.”
Established in 1970, Southern Travels has been offering travelers a gamut of options – individual holidays, fixed departures, incentive holidays, special interest tours, visas, and hotel bookings across the globe. The company is now heading for an expansion spree. By March 2023, it will register its presence also as a service provider with Travel Brand Stores in over 50 cities in India.
“Southern Travels is the first company to be awarded an 18-room + 36 Dormitory Beds facility inside the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Premises/Corridor making Southern Travels a really distinguished player in India’s tourism industry. This will certainly boost the traffic and allow senior citizens and NRIs to experience the Darshan from
closer quarters and comfortably. Apart from this, the company is poised to embark on overseas destinations with ambitious plans and viable strategies to exhibit India’s global vision – from South India to South East Asia by 2024 and gradually into other continents. Presently, the company owns 11 offices across India with a fleet of its own vehicles and caters to over 1.5 Lakhs tourists yearly,” mentioned Managing Director of Southern Travels, A Krishna Mohan.
Briefing the journey of Southern Travels, from a time when the country’s infrastructure was in a nascent stage and the travel and tourism sector was not as diverse as it is today, Jatinder Paul Singh, CEO of Southern Travels said, “The leadership and understanding of Shri Alapati Venkateswara Rao ji have been a source of inspiration to many budding entrepreneurs in this field. The journey is not yet over; of course, we have passed a milestone, but we will continue our journey to spread our wings all over the globe.”
Headquartered in New Delhi Southern Travels has successfully created a niche for itself in the corporate & leisure travel segments. It has the advantage of the experience and in-depth knowledge of various aspects of the travel and tourism industry, which enables the creation of products best, suited to client needs in addition to pioneering novella holiday ideas.
Researchconducted by ICICI Lombard reads an increase of 76 % in India’s travel insurance on international travel post-pandemic compared to 50% before the pandemic, as 94 percent of those planning to travel overseas will subsequently purchase travel insurance for their trip. Additionally, digital adoption is high for travel insurance purchases. Almost 1/3rd of customers looking for travel insurance visit the insurance company websites to purchase the travel insurance, while the other 30% purchase from online aggregators and online travel platforms.
ICICI Lombard has conducted a survey to understand traveller’s purchasing behaviours, the difference in perception between leisure and business travel, willingness to purchase insurance & the importance of travel insurance in current scenarios & awareness of COVID-related coverage. The study also highlights that international travel post-pandemic is more purposedriven, i.e., for business/work and medical reasons.
The survey points out the impetus of pandemic driving travel insurance from being just a commodity to a necessity as post-pandemic, awareness and
adoption of travel insurance increased significantly. COVID coverage is the critical benefit travelers seek while looking for travel insurance, not just medical coverage as more than 1/4th of customers bought travel insurance policies due to a COVID medical cover. Also, an increase in post-pandemic trips to USA/ Canada (1.6x) and Europe (1.4x) similar to Asia and Australia was observed.
Commenting on the research Mr. Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard said, “Our research indicates that the outbreak has raised awareness of the importance of travel insurance. Before the pandemic, only 50% of international travelers purchased travel insurance, but after the pandemic, that number has risen to 76%. Customers are increasingly cautious and seek adequate medical cover, including COVID-19 cover for overseas trips. The bulk of travel purchases always took place digitally, with the numbers now only increasing. Once perceived to be not so important, travel insurance is now a necessity.
With ‘revenge travel ‘ now back in vogue, we see a huge opportunity and are delighted to note that one-third of respondents chose ICICI Lombard as the preferred partner of choice.”
Survey shows a higher proportion of customers rely on digital channels to buy travel insurance as 94% will purchase travel insurance for their trip abroad in the near future.
OdysseyWorld Tours and Flamingo Transworld come together to form a new venture to leverage each other’s strength to grow their businesses post-pandemic. The Joint Venture is formed with an aim to expand footprints in Gujarat and Kerala respectively by sharing cuttingedge expertise mutually. Odyssey World Tours and Flamingo Transworld both operate in the key domains of inbound and outbound travel, catering to handcrafted holidays and strategies.
According to Mr. Ramesh Nair, Managing Director, Odyssey World Tours, “Both ventures individually have their distinct brand image in the market. With close to 20-25 years of experience in respective fields and markets, both are going to get benefit largely from the association. It is, therefore, a win-win situation moving forward for both the entities and the Joint Venture.”
When asked about the future expectations and goals due to Joint Venture Mr. Nair replied, “Odyssey has been doing a great job by targeting the South-Indian market and the same goes with Flamingo. With this association, we are looking forward to new assignments and expanding our presence in other parts of India as well. This joint venture will enable us to unlock 50% of growth from the existing market, based on the current potential
of the market”.
Mr. Nair mentioned that this association would allow them to improve their services and cater to their existing and new client base more efficiently. “As of now, we are focused to unlock the utmost potential for the Kerala market, and then later proceeding towards other parts of Southern India. We look forward to
catering the best-in-class services for our clients who book a holiday with us”, he added.
Ramesh Nair, mentioned that the association is now focused on the Kerala market solely. Later, the joint venture would look towards expanding in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka as well as Andhra Pradesh.
The carrier will take the winners of the “Love Connection” Campaign to Vietnamese touristy coastal cities
has announced the “Love Connection” Campaign – the first ever for India that offers Indian couples opportunities to experience their dreamful “honeymoon” in Da Nang and Phu Quoc, the touristy coastal cities in Vietnam.
Lasting from September 15 to November 30, (GMT+7), the “Love Connection” Campaign is a tailored talent contest dedicated to Indian couples. With their own impressive moments recorded in the journey to find each other, couples have many
opportunities to become one of the luckiest who wins valuable awards by Vietjet.
Accordingly, the winning couples with their unique stories will win the prize of a romantic vacation in Da Nang, a coastal city that has become
a magnet for tourists in Central Vietnam or Phu Quoc – the so-called “Pearl” Island of Vietnam. Especially, the “Pearl” Island which is famous for its pristine white sand beaches and poetic scenery would be a destination for millennial weddings. In addition, the selected couples will have the opportunity to experience the unique services of Vietjet – an airline with 17 routes connecting Vietnam – India.
Apart from festive activities, the main event to be held in around midNovember of 2022 will also feature a jury of celebrities, influencers, representatives of Vietjet, and winning couples. They will participate in a oncein-a-lifetime experience named the “Celebration of Love” Event on Mumbai beach. Also, they will receive airline return tickets from India to Vietnam by Vietjet as well as a resort voucher for the two. With its far-reaching flying network, Vietjet offers the winners capability to choose their preferred flight to Vietnam including Mumbai / New Delhi / Ahmedabad / Hyderabad – Phu Quoc / Da Nang / Ho Chi Minh
City / Hanoi with departure times from 15 November 2022 to June 30, 2023.
The stories will be registered until the end of October 15, 2022. Then, the winners will be shortlisted and announced by Vietjet on October 24, 2022, based on the decisions of a Jury Board. The winning stories should feature participants’ love stories with a strong taste for discovering new destinations. Participants are required to follow the official format of a post with a picture (up to 1,000 words, and 5 photos (each photo size is no more than 5MB) or 1 video (video size is no more than 200MB).
The winners whose stories receive the most votes from the contest’s
official website and related social platforms for their uniqueness will receive an invitation for being at the Love Connection 2022 award party as well as the Celebration of Love event in Mumbai. They are also rewarded with a honeymoon trip to Vietnam, discovering a never-before-seen paradise with luxury resort services in Vietnam.
Known for its unexplored beaches, Phu Quoc had an endless coastline with a diverse and magnificent natural landscape. With the presence of many luxury world-class resorts and rich and diverse local products, Phu Quoc has become a “bright pearl” on the international tourist map.
Asdemand for air travel continues to recover, Jetstar customers looking for low-cost travel options can now access IndiGo’s low fares from Jetstar’s hub in Singapore to key Indian destinations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Tiruchirappalli via jetstar.com.
Jetstar Connect is an integrated booking system that allows passengers to select flights, buy bundled and unbundled ancillary products such as baggage and seats, and enjoy seamless connectivity between international flights.
Mr. Poh Tiong Seng Jetstar Asia Commercial Lead, said “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for Jetstar as we continue to expand our network via Singapore’s Changi Airport through our partnership with IndiGo. “Jetstar Connect allows us to offer our customers more exciting opportunities to travel and more great value fares all at the click of a button, making travel even more accessible.”
Mr.Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo said “This strategic agreement will enable both airlines to tap into the rising demand for international travel, with
the upcoming festive season. “The partnership will enable customers to enjoy seamless connectivity between Jetstar and IndiGo and access to a wide variety of destinations across the Asia Pacific. This partnership will also help us to expand our international connectivity to yet another continent through Jetstar’s network.
“We look forward to having Jetstar’s customers on our lean clean flying machine, as we extend to them our on-time, affordable, courteous, and hassle-free travel experience.” Jetstar Asia currently operates services to 11 destinations in Southeast Asia. More details are available on our travel alerts.
Mr.Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Senior bureaucrat and Electronics and Information Technology Secretary has been appointed to the inaugural Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a significant recognition of India’s growing prowess in digital governance and new-age technologies.
Mr. Sharma, a 1990 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer from Rajasthan and a former Secretary in the Cabinet
Secretariat, is among the panel of ten distinguished experts hailing from all regions of the globe on digital governance, which includes Nobel Prize-winning journalist Maria Reesa, and digital expert Vint Cerf.
The Panel also consists of five exofficio members, and they include Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, the SecretaryGeneral’s Envoy on Technology.
The members have been appointed for a two-year term during the 2022–23 IGF cycles, the UN said.
Launched as part of the recommendations in Mr. Guterres’ Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the Leadership Panel has the mandate to deal with ‘strategic and urgent issues of the internet. It also provides strategic advice to the IGF, which strives to bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals on policy issues relating to the internet in both the public and private sectors.
In his illustrious career, Mr. Sharma has also served a stint with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as the national project director for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation. Earlier, he was CEO and Managing Director of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) and had additional charge as the Member Secretary and CEO of the National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT), the apex body formed to oversee the development of all industrial corridors across the country.
His other assignments included as Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Director of Kerala Tourism (2001 to 2004), Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (2009-2012), Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (2012-2015), Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (2019-2021), and Director in Bharat Petroleum, Keltron, Western India Plywoods, Apollo Tyres, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, and Indian Rare Earths Ltd.
The leadership Panel by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is a significant recognition of India’s growing prowess in digital governance and new-age technologies.
has appointed Santosh Kumar as Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. He succeeds Ritu Mehrotra, who earlier served in the same role.
With full responsibility for the leadership and development of Booking.com’s business in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia, Santosh plays a critical role in driving growth, strategy and operations across one of the most dynamic and diverse regions in the Asia Pacific. Santosh is a seasoned leader, who brings over a decade of leadership experience from the travel and hospitality industry.
As the travel industry navigates its next phase of recovery and looks at new growth prospects, Santosh will spearhead efforts to shape the future of travel in the region with a strong focus on supporting our partners in rebuilding their businesses, while ensuring the company continues to deliver the best value to our customers.
“Santosh joins us as an entrepreneurial and strategic leader with an in-depth understanding of the travel and technology industry. With over 15 years of experience in managing multicultural teams, Santosh will spearhead the region with a strong focus on supporting our partners in rebuilding their businesses, while ensuring the company continues to deliver the best value to our customers.” said Nuno Guerreiro, Regional Director, South APAC & Chains.
Previously, Santosh was Managing Director of the Indian subcontinent at HRS Group, a global SaaS-based corporate travel accommodation technology provider. He has also worked at American Express Global Business Travel and has extensive consulting experience working with Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Deloitte, Collabera and Diamond Management and Technology Consultants in USA and India.
“I am honoured and excited to lead
the Booking.com business in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. Booking.com’s mission is to make it easy for everyone to experience the world and with us slowly embracing the new era of travel, I am looking forward to working closely with our accommodation partners to ensure that we offer travellers the most convenient, seamless and unforgettable experiences in travel.” Santosh Kumar said.
Grand Palace Indore has announced the recent appointment of Karam Dogra as the Executive Chef of the property. In his new role, he will be responsible for planning, supervising, and managing the kitchen operations including procurement and maintenance of inventory for smooth functioning of all operations.
Prior to joining Sheraton Grand Palace Indore, Karam was associated with Dyota Hospitality, Delhi as the Director of Operations. With over 20 years of experience, he has worked his way through culinary discipline holding various positions across leading brands such as ITC, Radisson, Hilton and Shangri-la. A skilled culinary professional, Chef Karam specializes in Continental as well as Indian Progressive cuisine and brings strong interpersonal skills and creative thinking.
Commenting on his appointment chef Karam Dogra said, “I am elated to be associated with Sheraton Grand Palace Indore and eagerly look forward to giving my best to enhance and improve the overall guest dining experience at the property.”
Indore Marriott Hotel strengthens its team by appointing Mr. Vikram Singh as the Director of Sales and Marketing.
With over 21 years of experience, Vikram brings a wealth of knowledge in the Food and Beverage and Sales and Marketing domain. An industry veteran with a rich experience across renowned hospitality brands like ITC Hotels, and Hyatt Place, he will be responsible in driving commercial objectives and enhancing the brand positioning for Indore Marriott Hotel.
His Marriott career began in the year 2008 with Hyderabad Marriott & Convention Centre, after that, he moved to JW Marriott Chandigarh, and before joining Indore Marriott, he was associated with Fairfield by Marriott Lucknow, as Director of Sales.
Some of his achievements include prestigious awards like DOSM of the year (North India) by BW Hotelier in 2020, and Sales Manager of the Year 2018 – Global Recognition of Fairfield Brands.
Mr.Shinoj Joseph has been appointed as the General Manager of O by Tamara Trivandrum, a premium luxury business hotel of Tamara Leisure Experiences.
Mr. Shinoj has vast experience in the hospitality sector and in a career span of 21 years, he held leadership positions in various hotels & resorts which include Kumarakom Lake Resort, The Raviz, and Taj Ginger Hotels. Prior to this appointment, he was working as the Area General Manager, Bangalore of Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels.
Mr. Shinoj holds a Doctorate in Hospitality Management from the Indian School of Business Management in addition to MBA and Hotel schooling. Shinoj started his career with Kumarakom Lake Resort, subsequently joined with Air India, and later with Qatar Airways as Cabin Crew.
Shinoj is a passionate hotelier and has bagged various accolades and awards such as Most admires General Manager 2018 from TIMES, Hospitality Superstar from STAR Group, and Young Achiever 2021 from World Of Hospitality in association with AHPWI.
Marriott Hotel has announced the recent appointment of Shantanu Palshetkar as the Front Office Manager of the property. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing Front Office operations, enhancing the guest experience, and fostering customer loyalty.
With his in-depth knowledge of front office operations and experience in the field for over 12 years ranging from various brands like Hilton, Hyatt, and Best Western, Shantanu will surely be an asset to the team.
Prior to taking up this role, Shantanu held the position of Front Office Manager at Hilton Mumbai International Airport. He began his career with Hotel Best Western Premier London and later in his career was also associated with JW Marriott which gave him exposure to Marriott International’s processes and philosophy.
Shantanu holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Hospitality and Leadership Management. He possesses a strong sense of responsibility and leadership with strong guest relation skills and people management.
by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal has appointed Chef Vivek Pillai as the Executive Sous Chef. Chef Vivek Pillai is an extraordinary chef with an impressive culinary background and a wide array of skills. With over 12 years of experience in multiple five-star hotel restaurants, including Marriott, Sheraton, and The Leela, Chef Vivek brings a mixture of youth and experience, making him the perfect candidate for the Executive Sous Chef position. His meteoric rise in the industry is indicative of his talent and drive.
Through his decade-long exposure to high-end dining, Chef Vivek has been able to learn from some of the best chefs in India. His extensive culinary background will enable him to deliver a luxury experience to all.
Chef Vivek has expertise in managing operations, developing menus, catering for a large number of people, and has an eye for detail. His large repertoire of awards includes Manager of The Year by Sheraton, among others.
On his appointment, Neha Chhabra, General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru said, “We are extremely excited to welcome Chef Vivek as an integral part of our team and elevate the culinary experience for our patrons.”
Vagamon hill station in Idukki district of Kerala, among the few spots on the planet that need to be experienced firsthand to truly discover its glory
Vagamon hill station in the Idukki district of Kerala is among the few spots on the planet that need to be experienced first-hand to truly discover its glory and a very ideal tourist adventure spot with tea gardens, beautiful meadows, deep puzzling valleys, and dales. The grassy hills, velvet lawns, and overall mysticism of Vagamon cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. The enchanting hill station of Vagamon dotted with tea gardens is becoming one of India’s foremost ecotourism and adventure destinations. All trekking enthusiasts will enjoy climbing this 1100 metres tall hill. The tourist destination of Vagamon offers the adventure enthusiasts spots such as Thangal Para, the IndoSwiss Project, and Kurisumala Ashram. These adventure spots of Vagamon will rejuvenate the travellers and make them cherish memories of this enchantingly beautiful land.
This quaint town lies untouched by any modern influences and is neatly tucked away in the Idukki district. Visitors can avail many activities including trekking, paragliding, mountaineering, and rock climbing. People love travelling across a chain of three famous hills: Thangal, Murugan, and Kurisumala. These are important to Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, respectively, and are a perfect example of the communal harmony prevalent in the place. The Kurisumala monks have an enchanting dairy farm nearby that is an absolute delight to visit. A curious blend of religious mysticism and European legacies, this little hillside village of Vagamon is a haven of tranquility as well as a perfect adventure holiday spot. The chain of three hills - Thangal Hill, Murugan Hill, and Kurisumala - is a mark of religious harmony. The dairy farm managed by the Kurisumala monks is worth a visit.
Vagamon does not have a long history to boast of as it had remained unexplored for centuries. Though the British had plantations here, it was only in 1926, when Walter Duncan and Company started their tea plantations here, that it became well-known. In the 1930s, more tea plantations were set up in the area. After 1940 people from Travancore mostly from southern Travancore and people from Madras (Tamil Nadu) migrated to Vagamon. Later after the formation of Kerala State people from various parts of Kerala migrated there. In the 1950s, the famed Kurisumala Ashram was set up here and that was the turning point in its development into a well-known place.
The catchment area of a waterfall in Vagamon with grassy hillocks stretches into the forest on one side and ends at the cliff on the other. This large tract of land ideal for trekking and adventure activities at Vagamion has a small stream originating at the lake and going through the forest land. The steep hill tract which provides access to the waterfall area is along the ridge and adventure enthusiasts can enjoy outdoor activities around this spot in Vagamon. Enjoying the rain, and wind
and the infinite view of the hillscapes, ballooning and para gliding activities are also popular.
The adventure holiday destination of Vagamon is roughly 100 km from Cochin, the commercial capital of the State. It is also 64 km from Kottayam -the nearest railway station. It is easily accessible by road from Kottayam and Cochin. Other tourist attractions around Vagamon like Bird Sanctuary
at Kumarakom, Hill resorts at Munnar, Kodaikanal, etc. are easily accessible by road from Vagamon.
As part of the destination promotion, a familiarisation trip was organised by the Vagamon Resorts Owners Association & Vagamon Destination Makers Association at Vagamon from 30th August to 1st September. Twenty-one tour operators from Tamilnadu participated in this event.
Booking.com has curated a list of domestic destinations with the most anticipated art festivals of 2022 for travellers to get into the vibe
After more than two years of silence in the fields and cities of the best-loved art events, festivals are back with a bang. Held at beautiful destinations across India, these festivals offer unique opportunities for art enthusiasts. People passionate about art forms such as music, films, or photography can amalgamate their
love for art with travel for an enriching break. And with organizers clearly determined to remind festival-goers what they have been missing, some of the country’s fine artists will grace art festivals across destinations for the rest of the year.
Now that the world is finally opening up again, Booking.com has curated a
list of domestic destinations with the most anticipated art festivals of 2022 for travellers to get into the vibe. From Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh to Alsisar in Rajasthan, plan ahead for exciting upcoming art festivals where each festival offers something completely unique.
Ziro music festival hosted in Arunachal Pradesh’s lush green Ziro valley is an amalgam of vibrant culture, music, and art. The Ziro Music Festival brings some of India’s top musical talents to a wide audience yearning for some original and cool music. In addition to the festival, the valley has a lot to offer for travel enthusiasts. Home to the Apatani tribe, the Ziro Valley stands out for its picturesque scenery, majestic mountains, charming villages, rivers, and landscapes. One can explore and understand centuriesold indigenous farming practices, stroll through villages, plan a trek to Hakhe Tari, or visit the Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the endangered clouded leopard. With four days of wonderful music combined with a spellbinding location; travellers are sure to have a place worthy of their bucket list.bucket list.
The Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthani International Folk Festival) is a fiveday musical gateway that embraces Rajasthan’s rich musical legacy. The festival is hosted at the spectacular Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the quintessential Blue City, described by Rudyard Kipling as “the work of angels, fairies, and giants.” When more than 250 performers from all over the world play against the majestic backdrop of Mehrangarh Fort, the audience is captivated by the sheer beauty and grandeur of the music. Jodhpur, also popularly known as the “Sun City,” encapsulates all that the state is known for—from golden deserts and crumbling forts to sumptuous palaces and luxurious accommodations. So, this October, get ready to visit opulent palaces, indulge in local flavours, partake in adventure activities, experience the cultural extravaganza, and enrich your journey with memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.
The Indian Photo Festival (IPF) is organized by Light Craft Foundation in partnership with the department of tourism, the government of Telangana, and the State Gallery of Art. IPF, India’s longest-running international photography festival, celebrates the world behind the lens with talks, workshops, screenings, and print and digital exhibitions by photographers from around the world. The festival aims to promote the art of photography while also addressing social concerns. The festival is hosted at several locations around Hyderabad, which offers a range of tourist attractions such as age-old heritage monuments, gardens and resorts, lakes, parks, museums, scrumptious dishes, and an amazing shopping environment. Hyderabad, endearingly named the Pearl City, is a stunning panorama of the past and is a blend of rich cultural and historical traditions spanning 400 years.
Known as one of the most stunning music festivals spanning three days in the magnificent Mahal of Alsisar in Rajasthan, Magnetic Fields is nothing less than a visual dream. It is a unique marriage of contemporary culture with Rajasthani customs and hospitality. The musical carnival features some of the world’s biggest underground stars as well as some of the country’s best and most forwardthinking music. Apart from the wonderful music, attendees can enjoy an adventurous jungle safari to the popular Ranthambore national park, high tea sips at a garden picnic, relax at majestic pool parties, and indulge in gourmet treats at The Chef’s table. Magnetic is more than simply a festival; it’s a whole experience that you must have.
Nestled deep inside Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley, Dambuk is acclaimed for its oranges. Nature reigns in all her purity here, away from all the clamour of the city, retaining the state’s distinct rustiness. Hundreds of acres of orange orchards on the mountain slopes add to the region’s charm during the harvesting season. This sparked the idea of an orange-themed music and adventure event. The Orange Festival of Adventure & Music attracts visitors from all over the world who want to discover Arunachal Pradesh’s untamed natural beauty and learn about the native way of life. The event is a perfect combination of traditional and modern elements, including music, speed, and thrills. The Orange Festival of Adventure & Music is not just another music festival but a confluence of music, oranges, and adventure put together in the scenic setting of the stunning Dambuk!
Held in the serene dreaming town of McLeod Ganj, artists and film enthusiasts consider it one of India’s greatest independent film festivals. The Dharamshala International Film Festival is also known for its exciting and unusual selection of documentaries, shorts, and feature films. The festival also serves as a platform for filmmakers across the globe to showcase their talents. McLeod Ganj, often known as Little Lhasa, is a fascinating blend of Tibetan and British cultures. Home to the spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, this town is famous for its breathtaking trekking trails, relaxing weather, magnificent scenery, and dynamic culture.
your mood, there’s an idyllic Golden State beach with your name on it.
La Jolla Shores, San Diego
Lather up the SPF 50 and rent some gear on this mile-long crescent of sand, then try out a new sea-salty sport. Kayakers cruise out to La Jolla’s sea caves. Boogie boarders and stand-up paddlers ply the gentle surf. Snorkelers spot California spiny lobsters, sheep crabs, and leopard sharks. Wear yourself out during daylight, and
then stick around for a twilight beach bonfire. Your fellow beachgoers? They won’t just be tourists—see why a La Jolla local lists this particular sandy stretch as his go-to, and get tips on what else to do while in the area.
Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach
Remember that Bette Midler movie, Beaches? It was filmed here on three miles of silky and dotted with charming 1940s-vintage cottages (to score one, book a year in advance). Surfers and
skim-boarders tackle the reef break while landlubbers enjoy beach walks and search for sea stars. At day’s end, stroll to the Beachcomber Café for clam chowder at sunset, then rent a fire pit and roast gooey s’mores as darkness falls.
Check your compass—in the American Riviera, aka Santa Barbara, the coastline faces Mexico, not Hawaii. But Butterfly Beach is one of the few
with west orientation, so you can watch that fiery orange ball dip into the Pacific. Visit this popular dog-walking beach near the Four Seasons Biltmore during low tides, when you and Rover can log 10,000 steps strolling to Santa Barbara’s East Beach or Montecito’s Hammonds Beach. Plan your visit to Butterfly around the museums, boutiques, restaurants, and the historic mission of Santa Barbara.
In the postcard-pretty village of Carmel, a curving white-sand beach lies at the foot of storybook cottages and manicured gardens. Aquamarine Carmel Bay’s protected cove hosts an annual sandcastle-building contest, featuring not just castles but also sea turtles, mermaids, dragons, horses, and more. When the crowds thin out, long-billed curlews work the intertidal zone, and squadrons of pelicans fly in V-formations inches above the waves.
College Cove, Trinidad
Trinidad is what happens when picture-perfect headlands collide with sandy beaches and wave-sculpted sea stacks. A one-mile trail tunnel through conifers cloaking the Elk Head bluffs then winds down to this secluded North Coast beach. Pack a picnic and savor views of Pewetole Island, a rock outcrop straight out of a fairy tale. Or, if you’ve got a few days to spare and a travel itch, head out on this Hidden Beaches road trip.
The dunes at Manchester State Park Beach back a driftwood-laden swath of sand, ideal for meditative walks and searching for washed-up treasures along the five-mile-long shoreline. When night falls, pitch your tent at the park’s campground and doze off to a lullaby of waves.
Your wave is waiting for you at this rural beach south of Santa Cruz. Fogfree weather and an unspoiled sweep of coastline offer ideal surfing and beach-walking conditions. Scan the sea for whales and dolphins, warm your toes at a bonfire as the sun sinks over Monterey Bay, or spend the night
in a tent just a short walk from the waterline.
Sun-drenched Stinson is where San Franciscans go to escape the summer fog. Kids with sand buckets and longboard surfers crowd the lines at the burrito stand while lifeguards keep watch over the white-crested waves. Seals dive, cormorants cruise, and unplugged joys prevail—like kite flying, paddle ball, Frisbee, and novel reading. Another reason folks visit Stinson? It’s a stop on one of the best hikes out of San Francisco.
Malibu’s broad, pearly beaches stretch along 25 coastal miles, so it’s tough to pick a favourite strand. But Point Dume, a promontory that forms the northern boundary of Santa Monica Bay, delivers much more than just surfing and swimming. Top-roped climbers scale the seaside cliffs, migrating gray whales parade past the point, and a blufftop preserve offers unforgettable views of the Malibu coast and Catalina Island. After savoring those sights, go explore the
quintessentially Southern Californian beach town (and celebrity stomping ground) of Malibu.
Cayucos State Beach, Cayucos
No place does “laidback beach town” better than Cayucos. The six-mile-long beach north of Morro Bay celebrates the slow life with mellow pleasures like basking in the sun, kayaking near the shore, or watching joyful retrievers race into the shallows to retrieve tennis balls. Kiss your stress goodbye as you strip off your shoes and walk barefoot on the cool sand, or join the twilight-hour romantics strolling the 1872 Cayucos Pier.
San Buenaventura State Beach, Ventura
This Ventura beach fits everybody’s definition of endless summer. Spike a volleyball or toss a Frisbee on two miles of curving sand. Pedal the paved coastal bikeway or log a few laps on California’s oldest and longest wooden pier (1,958 feet). Hungry? Shuck some bivalves at The Jolly Oyster Shuck Shack. Looking for a reason to extend your visit? Consider a trip to Channel Islands National Park—Ventura is a gateway to the five-island archipelago.
Resort places guests in the heart of the action with “Manta Hot Dates”
that time of year again when the seasonal plankton-rich currents in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve attract the world’s largest known population of manta rays for a feeding frenzy. And Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru – the birthplace of worldwide charity, The Manta Trust – is the best place to stay to experience this breathtaking phenomenon.
It’s that time of year again when the seasonal plankton-rich currents in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere
Reserve attract the world’s largest known population of manta rays for a feeding frenzy. And Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru – the birthplace of worldwide charity, The Manta Trust – is the best place to stay to experience this breathtaking phenomenon.
“It’s an absolute privilege to share the wonder of these incredible creatures with guests at Landaa Giraavaru,” comments Beth Faulkner of the Maldivian Manta Ray Project. “Education is highly
important to us. To meet a manta is life-changing and inspires a desire to take care of our ocean’s gentle giants – that’s our goal.”
There are many more ways that guests can interact with mantas during their stay at Landaa Giraavaru. The Resort’s Manta-onCall service supplies guests with a “manta phone” that rings when mantas are sighted nearby before a speedboat whisks them to the site for an incredible open-water snorkelling experience. Guests can also book private manta-spotting cruises and opt to spend time on The Manta Trust research boat: a full day at sea immersed in every facet of the research experience with the Manta Scientist for a Day activity.
It’s because of the in-depth research undertaken – including analysis of monsoon currents and other predicting factors – that MMRP is able to gain an insider’s perspective on mass aggregation dates. The result? hot dates for 2022 – August 25-29, September 8-12, September 24-28, October 8-1, October 23-27, November 6-10, and November 22-26 are the times when large groups of manta rays are most likely to be seen in the waters around Landaa Giraavaru. Note that manta ray sightings are subject to weather conditions and the temperament of these gentle giants.
