Vol XV
Issue III
Pages 48
January 2018
Rs 60
Going Experiential... breaks the niche barrier!
adding value to holidays...
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SOUTH AFRICA’S GOT IT ALL 2 Nights Hong Kong & 2 Nights Macao Booking and Stay period: Now - 15 February 2018
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Two nights accommodation for two guests Coach transfer in Macau by hotel free shuttle bus (Pier - Hotel - Pier) Daily breakfast or lunch at Sands Resorts Macao designated outlets One - Way Cotai Water Jet Cotai class tickets from Macao to Hong Kong; or Gondola Ride; or Entries to Qube/ Qube 2/ Qube Kingdom; or Entries to Aqua World; or Eiffel Tower Observation deck admission tickets; or Planet J admission for two guest • Macao Discovery tour; or Monkey King - China Show tickets for two guests; or Shopping and Dining dollars • Deluxe Privilege Booklet ( SANDS RESORT MACAO)
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From Blue Flag beaches to Big Five wildlife safaris, buzzing city life, thrilling adventures, world-class shopping and spectacular surroundings, South Africa is the perfect holiday destination. We invite you, the trade, to be blown away by the variety of experiences and tourism products that our country has to offer at the 2018 South African Tourism Roadshow.
Date
Day
City
Time
Venue
12-Feb
Monday
Mumbai
11:00 – 16:00
Trident Hotel, Nariman Point
14-Feb
Wednesday
Kolkata
10:00 – 14:00
The Oberoi Grand
15-Feb
Thursday
Bangalore
10:00 – 14:00
Taj Vivanta, MG Road
16-Feb
Friday
Delhi
14:00 – 17:00
Le Meridien
19-Feb
Monday
Ahmedabad
10:00 – 15:00
Hyatt Regency
RSVP: Indiaroadshow@southafrica.net
SOUTH AFRICA
Mind your Millennial!
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s we have ushered in yet another year in the decade, the ripple effects of the centre's recent tax reforms on the travel and tourism industry will be much more tangible in the months to come. It is hoped that the forthcoming Union Budget will embrace favourable provisions and incentives to lend an impetus to tourism in the domestic market across different segments of the industry. Millennials will continue to be the talk of the industry for some more time to go and as their preferences redefine travel purchase decisions, experiential travel will be the flavour of the season, predominantly due to the influence of social media and peer influences. In this edition, we have experiential tourism as the cover story, besides focus on popular domestic and overseas destinations among Indian travellers. There are also insights on technology in travel and new adventure players in the market. We wish you a lucrative year ahead with plenty of vacations and getaways to help make routine life interesting. Happy Reading! Warm Regards
PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM
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Industry Buzz Delhi to host India’s first ever Adventure Sports Expo Asia & Awards 2018
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dventure Sports Expo Asia 2018 will be held on January 27th-29th at Four Points by Sheraton, New Delhi. The expo is supported by various Ministries & forumsMinistry of Tourism, Government of India, Air India - the official Airline partner, ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association), UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation), OTOAI (Outbound Tour Operators Association of India), IATO (The Indian Association of Tour Operators), ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators of India), ADTOI (Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India), ESOI (Ecotourism Society of India), WAS (World Adventure Society).
8>> Indigo commences Rajamundry operations
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ndigo expanded its regional network by commencing ATR operations from Rajahmundry
to Chennai at Rajahmundry Airport. The event was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa and Sanjeev Ramdas, Executive Vice President of Customer Service & Operations Control, IndiGo. Rajahmundry will also be connected to Hyderabad with twice daily frequencies and Bangalore one direct daily frequency each on Rajahmundry–Bangalore–Rajahmundry and Rajahmundry–Chennai–Rajahmundry sectors.
Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority launch new logo
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Far East Hospitality appoints India Sales Associates as RSO
F
ar East Hospitality has appointed India Sales Associates as the Regional Sales Office for India. With the vision of targeting more from the Indian market for existing hotels and serviced residences, the key focus of RSO Office – INDIA SALES ASSOCIATES is to grow the Indian bookings for its upcoming three hotels in Sentosa Island like Village Hotel Sentosa ,Outpost Sentosa ,the Barracks which are scheduled to open in Q2, 2019.
Virgin Atlantic appoints new Country Manager India
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irgin Atlantic appoints David Hodges as the Country Manager for India operations. He will be responsible for all the sales within India. Prior to this, he was the Senior External Affairs Manager of Virgin Atlantic. He started his career as an adviser to a Parliamentary inquiry at Westminster into English Football and its Governance. Later he worked with businesses such as T-Mobile and EDF Energy on communications and London Chamber of Commerce.
he Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority (DTC) launched its new logo ‘Visit Monaco’ for over 350 tourism professionals in the Principality during the annual conference of its representative offices abroad. While the new dynamic typology is in line with the mission of DTC, the text logo is a direct invitation to visit the Principality. The highlight was on responsible tourism for all future activities and the new strategy will revolve around the slogan ‘Green is the New Glam’. The new version of the website showcases new innovative tools such as the augmented reality plan and an interactive video project that will allow visitors to create paperless, personalised itineraries.
Heritage Palace on Wheels on maiden trip to Jaipur
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he Heritage Palace on Wheels launched its first maiden journey from Delhi's Safdarjang station to Jaipur at Gandhi Nagar with 28 tourists on board. This train will offer two itineraries – 3N (Golden Tringle) Delhi--JaipurSawaiMahdopur-Agra-Delhi and 4N (Desert Triangle) Delhi-Churu-BikanerJaipur-Agra-Dholpur-Delhi. The luxury train can also be booked for organizing conferences, board meetings and pre wedding ceremonies.
Oman Tourism launches new website
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he Ministry of Tourism Oman launches a new promotional website ‘www. experienceoman.om’ that under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture during a gala dinner that was hosted on the sidelines of the 2nd UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture held in Muscat. Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman said, “This will be as a part of the Ministry's initiatives to support the development of the tourism sector in all areas, especially in the use of electronic platforms and digital marketing. The website also will have updates on the latest events in Oman and can be viewed in 6 languages.” Salim Adi Al Mamari, the Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism, said, “ The Ministry of Tourism aims to promote these natural, historical, cultural, and architectural tourism.”
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Hospitality
10>>
HOSPITALITY
11>>
Conrad Hotels & Resorts opens Conrad Bengaluru
ACTE-BCHA to even out global hotel rating system for corporate
The property features 285 guestrooms including 21 suites and a large meeting space in addition to
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IRENE SUSAN EAPEN
various other amenities.
T
he Conrad Hotels & Resorts recently launched its second property Conrad Bengaluru in India recently. Owned by the Prestige Group and managed by Hilton, Conrad Bengaluru was officially inaugurated by Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, along with Daniel Welk, Vice President, Operations, Luxury & Lifestyle, Hilton; Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director, Prestige Group and Parag Sawhney, General Manager, Conrad Bengaluru. The event was also attended by dignitaries like K.J. George, Minister for Bengaluru Development & Town Planning, Government of Karnataka; R. Roshan Baig, Minister for Infrastructure, Urban Development, Information and Haj, Government of Karnataka; R. V.
Deshpande, Minister for Large & Medium Industries & Infrastructure Development, Government of Karnataka; PC. Mohan, Member of Parliament for Bangalore Central and R Sampath Raj Mayor of Bangalore city. Conrad Bengaluru features 285 guestrooms including 21 suites, five dining options, spa and salon, a 24 hour fitness center, an infinity pool with panoramic views and a large meeting space. On the occasion of the launch, Daniel Welk said, “The hotel is superbly located and destined to set a new bench mark in terms of luxury accommodation in Bengaluru. Conrad Bengaluru is Hilton’s second luxury hotel in India after Conrad Pune.” Parag Sawhney, General Manager, Conrad Bengaluru, stated,
“Conrad Bengaluru is the tallest structure across South India that offers the iconic views of the Ulsoor Lake. This is the 35th property that we have got across the globe. A new inspiration awaits you here in Conrad Bengaluru.“ R V Deshpande said, “Conrad
Bengaluru will be one of the greatest landmarks for Karnataka and Bengaluru. Bengaluru is a place of attractions and tourism is also growing. Karnataka is in the top three destinations of tourism in India. We would like Bengaluru to be made as one of best tourism centers in the world.”
India International Coffee Festival 2018 concludes on a high note IRENE SUSAN EAPEN
The theme for the event was ‘Express Yourself with Coffee’. It highlighted the merits of coffee tourism for the coffee industry and the small farmers associated with it.
T
he India Coffee Trust and Coffee Board of India jointly hosted the 7th edition of India International Coffee Festival 2018 in Bengaluru for the first time. Hosted from 1619 January at The Lalit Ashok, the four day event included workshops, fireside chats, keynote address by various speakers representing
different industry sectors and a coffee exhibition. The event was attended by trade visitors like roasters, retailer’s distributors, café owners, policy makers, industry captains, exporters, manufacturers and host of other luminaries associated with the coffee industry.
It was inaugurated by Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, along with Sudhir Sitapati, Executive Director – Refreshments, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Anil Kumar Bhandari, President, India Coffee Trust. Jose Dauster Sette, Executive Director, International Coffee Organisation, Srivatsa Krishna, IAS, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, Coffee Board of India, Sunalini Menon, CEO, Coffee Lab Limited Trustee, India Coffee Trust. The theme for the event focused on the lines of ‘Express Yourself with Coffee’. It highlighted coffee tourism as not just benefiting the coffee industry and the small farmers associated with it, but also to bring in the much needed growth
to the tourism in the state. Anil Kumar Bhandari said, “With this 7th edition of IICF, we are optimistic about the great ideas shared by industry experts and eminent speakers. Some exciting initiatives were also discussed during the event and we will take them up to make World Coffee Congress in 2020, a grand success.” Srivatsa Krishna said, “Bangalore being the coffee capital of India, we are seeing this as a preparatory event leading us to the World Coffee Congress in 2020. For coffee tourism, we are also in talks with few startups for creating coffee trails which will soon be in process.”
VW BUREAU
he ACTE Global (Association of Corporate Travel Executives) recently launched a global hotel accreditation programme tailored to cater to business travellers in an effort to standardise lodging expectations worldwide. While many hotels and conference centers around the world have leisure-travel industry recognized ratings, many more lack metrics for the business travel sector. The new programme, ACTE-BCHA (Business Conference Hotel Accreditation), guides corporate travel buyers in selecting the most appropriate business-quality accommodations for their internal clients. “More than 70 percent of hotels around the world are independently owned and operated. Even hotels that are part of a franchise system may not meet brand standards. This programme will identify facilities that meet business travellers’ needs,” said Vadim Zelenski, CEO of ACTE-BCHA.
regions as it identifies and adds inspection partners. “Business travellers want safe and productive experiences when they're on the road—no matter where
they travel. This new collaboration will help ensure they get exactly what they expect when they're in the Middle East,” said Savio Vaz, DNATA's Vice President Government & Corporate Travel.
Winfried Barczaitis, a travel industry expert with more than 40 years in the business, has been named ACTE-BCHA’s chief operating officer. He will be based in Bad Honnef, Germany.
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“There are all sorts of ratings out there--diamond ratings and star ratings and TripAdvisor's crowdsourcing. But they cater to leisure travellers, who are most interested in whether a venue is kid-friendly, offers perks or packages, or is close to local attractions. Business travellers, on the other hand, want well-stocked business centers, safes for laptops, conference centers, room service and a fitness center, along with a secure environment,'' said Greeley Koch, Executive Director of ACTE Global and Head of Supervisory Board, ACTE-BCHA. “That's what this new rating system seeks to standardise.” ACTE-BCHA plans to accredit more than 10,000 hotels globally by 2020. Facilities will pay an annual membership fee, and compliance will be verified by independent monitors. Among the first participants in the program, Dubai-based DNATA has been selected to inspect properties in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, effective September 2017. The program will rate other
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Hospitality
12>>
Royal Orchid Hotels unveils new launches in 2018! PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM
Chander Baljee, Chairman & Managing Director of Royal Orchid Hotels Limited, shares his views on the present industry trends and highlights expansion plans in the near future.
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oyal Orchid Hotels Limited has lined up a number of hotel launches in 2018, besides several other projects in the pipeline. Chander Baljee, Chaiman & Managing Director of the hotel group, talks about the brand’s upcoming projects, plans and industry trends. “We have signed a
lot of hotel projects that are slated to open shortly. One hotel in Srinagar is expected to open in this season, while another hotel in Chennai is under construction and is expected to launch by the end of the year. There is a property under construction in Belgaum. We are also launching our hotels in Pushkar and Ajmer very shortly. We have a good presence in Jaipur with four hotels. The Ajmer Dargah is not very far from Jaipur and so, the Ajmer hotel is a natural extension. The resort in Pushkar is a very nice property suited for weddings. The Brahma Temple in Pushkar is another attraction. A lot of people from Jaipur go to these places during the weekend and we see a potential here.”
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Voyager’s World > January 2018
The hotel group has 3200 rooms right now and hopes to cross the 4000 mark in this year. Occupancy Right now, there is no oversupply of room inventory in the industry because the demand has picked up and the supply has tapered off. But there will be some pockets with mismatch, yet, by and large, the situation today is much better than what it was in the last nine years. While many hotels have opened up in Bengaluru, the office space absorption in the city is the highest in the country. Around 10-11 million square feet of office space was absorbed in the city last year and this space brings in business. In the upper category, a lot of new hotels have opened recently. There may be some rate corrections in that category but the occupancy has not been affected. The hotel industry in Bengaluru mainly has business travellers and very few leisure guests and some transit guests. In cities like Bhuj, leisure travellers are the majority clients. Our hotels in Jaipur get a mix of both business and leisure travellers. People go to Jaipur to buy granite, marbles, carpets and jewellery and also tourists. In Goa, too, there is a lot of conference business and leisure crowd. The mix varies in every hotel. In city hotels, it is a fact that the business goes down during the weekends. Average Room Rates (ARRs) vs Food & Beverage (F&B) Our restaurants such as the Tiger Trail, in our Bangalore property, are very popular among the outsiders. Our Coffee Shop caters to the breakfast crowd and outsiders come here for lunch and dinner. Our Gurugram hotel caters to mainly the guests and we cannot expect outsiders to come there with the Cyber Hub in the vicinity. We are aware that smaller hotels do not get many F&B walk-ins. Promotional Campaigns We have campaigns and food
festivals throughout the year. Many of them coincide with the festivals and occasions during that month. Distribution Earlier we used to meet the corporate clientele for business. Now the corporate business is coming through Request for Proposals (RFPs), GDS and OTAs. We have had a 103% growth in the business from OTAs in the last two years as OTAs are very aggressive in their marketing approach. We are also doing a lot of social media marketing, mailers, direct and digital marketing just like the foreign hotel chains. GST for hotels The Goods and Services Tax (GST) move is not adverse at all in our hotel industry. We were earlier paying a tax of 21.5% and with GST, it came down to 18% and has come down to 5% for restaurants. GST has been a good move for the hotel industry. It takes time for currency and financial reforms to be absorbed by the system. Manpower in hotels We started our own training programme to teach skills to candidates and have our own hotel management institution. Our students have been placed in restaurants and hotel chains after the training, besides being absorbed into our own hotels. It is about how we train students and aspirants and impart skills to them to address the manpower issues in the industry. Reputation management There are review sites and portals where people post their feedback and others refer them for their bookings. Today, people trust search engines like Google for information, suggestions and reviews for everything and there are merits and demerits to the web world reviews. With social media’s proliferation, one good or negative comment can influence purchase decisions. We try to address a negative comment immediately and revert to the guest before he checks out.
India Outbound
15>>
Vietnam witnesses 30% rise in Indian tourist arrivals IRENE SUSAN EAPEN
Nguyen Quy Phuong, Director General, Travel Industry Management Department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, talks about the growing volume of Indian arrivals to Vietnam.
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n an interview with Voyager’s World, Nguyen Quy Phuong, Director General, Travel Industry Management Department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), reveals statistics on the Indian arrivals into the country in the recent past. “We have experienced a tremendous growth from the Indian market, around 85,000 Indians visited Vietnam last year,
which is a 30% increase compared to the preceding year. Vietnam has extended e-visa for Indian nationals from January 2018 so Indian travellers are now eligible for a 30day single entry electronic visa. We have also noticed that a major chunk of the Indian traffic to Vietnam now is business travel.” “The growth from here is likely to grow once we have direct flights from India to Vietnam. With direct connectivity, they need not spend long hours transiting at Bangkok or Singapore. We heard the Vietjet, a domestic carrier of Vietnam, is planning to start a direct flight from New Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City from March 2018; this is definitely going to boost Vietnam Tourism.” Promotional Plans VNAT recently organized roadshows
in New Delhi and Mumbai and also plans to hold some more roadshows in other cities in the future. Segments Vietnam has 3,000 km of coastline with pristine beaches and luxury resorts to cater to leisure travellers. From Ha Long in the north to the Southern Islands of PhuQuoc, with Da Nang at the Centre, the country offers variety in terms of experiences. We are mainly known for our vast culture, beaches, eco tourism and city breaks. We are targeting on FITs, MICE, weddings, honeymooners, anti ageing spa treatment package, beach lovers package, family groups, golf tours, Vietnam rice terrace field tours, coffee plantation inspection, industrial visits, student groups, adventure and culinary, etc.
Spending and stay patterns Most of the travellers visit places like Hanoi, Ha long, Ho Chi Minh City and stay 7-8 days and spend 800900 USD per person on an average. Destinations Some of the unique destinations promoted to the Indian market are Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam; Ha Long Bay which is a World Heritage site; Hue, the former capital of Vietnam; Hoi An, another World Heritage site; beach destinations like Danang, Ninh Binh, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet and Ho Chi Minh City. The Ha Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh Province in the Northeast of Vietnam, 165 km from the capital. Phu Quoc is also another island destination that is becoming popular.
Trafalgar highlights local experiences for travel in 2018 PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM
During a recent visit to Bangalore to launch the 2018 itineraries, Nicholas Lim, President, Trafalgar Asia, talks about the new collections for the Indian market.
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aunching its 2018 collection among the Indian travel trade, Nicholas Lim, President of Trafalgar Asia, was in Bangalore recently for a brief interaction to unveil the company’s latest itineraries. “Once a year, we celebrate the launch of our new collections. We have just launched the 2018 collection for Europe and Britain through a
coffee table brochure with over 100 itineraries across Europe. We have added Norway as a standalone destination. There is also 'Be my guest' which is an experience at a local's house to have a meal and understand the destination. We are a 70-year old brand founded on Trafalgar Square in 1947 when we had a lot of heritage to showcase to the servicemen returning to the UK after the war,” says Nicholas. “Today we have 230 trips around the world. Our guests want to do more than just taking a picture. Trafalgar’s travel directors are from the local destinations. We bring in all the small, hidden gems only known to the locals. For instance, in one of our itineraries, guests can stay at a castle where the movie ‘The Sound of Music’ was filmed in Austria.”
“Our repeat rate is at an all time high at 52.2%, which means 1 out of every 2 guests who have travelled with us last year, will travel with us this year. For example, in our European Discovery series, we have a sample of top European cities for first timers and we have series like mono-Italy and mono-France for returning visitors. Someone visiting Italy for the first time would go to Florence, Rome, Verona and Pisa, for example. We offer other destinations like Sicily, Piedmont region or Cinque Terre too and activities like pizza making, trips to a gladiator school and painting for families.” “Our guests pay a lot of money and they want a good holiday. We take care of everything from transfers, transport and hotel check-ins to help them maximize their holiday
investment as we believe that time is money.” Local experiences “Drawing from our experience in India, we get a fair amount of vegetarian requests. We cater to them but we do recommend that they taste the cuisine of the destination as part of their overall experience.” MICE “Our MICE groups are not 600-700 pax groups. Top management people, CEOs, CFOs, super performers in groups of 10-20 pax come together for meetings and travel with us as a regular departure. They do business in a relaxed environment. Groups can have their meetings in any kind of venue/destination they want,” he signed off.
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Cover Story
16>>
Cover Story
17>>
Going Experiential... breaks the niche barrier!
adding value to holidays...
© Scheveningen, Holland
© Kayaking in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Pooja Sabharwal, Account Director, Destination Holland – India
a nightlife haven for enriched experiential tourism experiences. One can experience the many attractions of the Principality in an Aston Martin and you can also relax with a duo massage for either a retreat or rejuvenation.”
IRENE SUSAN EAPEN
Discerning Indian travellers no longer want to be part of a run-of-the-mill tour to discover attractions of a destination; they are actually keen to be part of the real stories and real experiences. Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia Some of the iconic destinations are at the heart of Australia's aquatic and coastal experiences like the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest coral reef system in the world and experiencing the reef is a life-changing adventure for travellers. he Indian outbound industry is undergoing a shift with various niche segments coming forth, experiential travel being one of them. Experiential tourism is a segment that seeks to offer travellers a different perception of the destination that they are visiting through exploration of the local culture, traditions, food and wine and the people. Discerning Indian travellers no longer want to be part of a run-of-the-mill tour to discover attractions of a destination; they are actually keen to be part of the real stories and real experiences. Travellers who seek these kinds of tours mainly comprise the millennials, solo traveller, youngsters, family people, senior citizens and backpackers.
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Spokespersons representing various National Tourist Organisations (NTOs) in the country share their views on the trends. Experiential Tourism Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia, says, “The concept of experiential tourism highlights on talking about real stories and sharing real experiences. We also have a programme called ‘Friend of Australia’ to foster mutually beneficial and long-term ‘friendship’ with those that we regard as positive and influential storytellers. As part of this programme, we appointed Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra to showcase the best of tourism attractions and
experiences there by encouraging Indians to visit Australia. Besides this, we regularly engage with influencers such as famous Indian chefs, food connoisseurs and critics, travel influencers, amongst others who showcase different experiences of the destination. We have also collaborated with top television channels for content integration to showcase Australia to the potential Indian travellers.” Steven Dixon, Regional Manager, South and South-East Asia, Tourism New Zealand, states, “Our latest campaign talks about New Zealand’s unique visitor experience and explores the country through a more regional lens. This campaign
also describes a journey enriched by local people, places and experiences. Some of the main locations promoted in the TVC are Abel Tasman National Park – Nelson, Bowen Falls – Fiordland, Franz Josef Glacier – West Coast, Haast Blue Pools – Wanaka, Hobbiton Waikato , Kepler Track – TeAnau, Paihia Farmers Market – Bay of Islands, Poor Knights Island Marine Reserve – Northland, Polynesian Spa – Rotorua and Waitangi Treaty Grounds – Northland.” According to Rajeev Nangia, India Director, Monaco Government Tourist Bureau, “Monaco is a home for some of the best gastronomic delights, pubs and casinos and
Seema Datt, Vice President, Philippines Department of Tourism Office, India, remarks, “Some of the unique locations for experiential travel are Puerto Princesa and EL Nido in Palawan, Bohol, Boracay etc.” Pooja Sabharwal, Account Director, Destination Holland – India says that all the experiential locations in Holland are being promoted through digital marketing and familiarization trips – trade and media. “The locations are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Kaatsheuvel and more.”
© Rangitikei Farmstay, Tourism New Zealand
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Efteling, a fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel in the Netherlands, is now being promoted extensively among Indian travellers. The attractions there are based on elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore.
“Israel is a destination that offers unique experiences for all kinds of travellers, be it luxury, leisure, honeymooners, food and wine aficionados or adventure enthusiasts. Some of the places we have been promoting are the cities of Tel Aviv- Yafo, Jerusalem, Eilat and the surrounding area, the Dead Sea and the Galilee Regions and the Negev Desert,” says Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism India & Philippines explains.”
Ignacio Ducasse, Director, Tourism Office of Spain, states, “We believe experiential tourism is about experiencing something different. Sometimes known as immersion travel, you are not talking tourism with the express intent of not just seeing a new place, but somehow getting involved with its culture or tradition. For us, experiential tourism is an integral part of luxury travel which goes beyond staying in luxury villas and hotels. Luxury travel is the focus for our tourism boards and convention bureaus. The Barcelona Tourism Board, in fact, has a dedicated department ‘Barcelona Premium’ promoting unique concepts of seeing the city and its surrounds. Our unique festivals are experiences itself, visiting Valencia Region during Las Fallas or La Tomatina; Pamplona during San Fermin and many more. Attending annual gastronomical events such San Sebastian Gastronomika in the Basque Region or Madrid Fusion in the city of Madrid are rewarding experiences to those associated in the culinary field.” Statistics Nishant says, “India achieved the fastest growing market status in 2017. We witnessed arrivals growing by 15% till October 2017 from India to Australia, with an influx of 294,000 visitors, compared to the
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© Monaco
© Parasailing in Boracay, Philippines
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Steven Dixon, Regional Manager, South and South-East Asia, Tourism New Zealand Travellers prefer to create their own itineraries which help them to be experiential and adventurous. The self drive tours are also a great option for them to explore the destination. same period last year. We are hoping in achieving our Tourism 2020 goal of 300,000 visitors annually, by the first quarter of 2018.”
experiential travel is growing substantially than sight-seeing. We expect to see a double-digit arrival growth in FY18.”
The Indian arrivals to New Zealand are steadily growing and for the year ending November 2017, total arrivals from India were up by 16.7% (59,392 arrivals), while holiday arrivals are up by 7.9% (27,680).
Rajeev expects Monaco to have more Indian travellers and is focusing more on responsible luxury.
Steve says, “Tourism growth is increasing and we are confident to continue with this progress for our new fiscal year as well. We see an increase in the number of Indians opting for self-drive tours and the trend of Indian travellers preferring
Voyager’s World > January 2018
The Philippines has seen a consistent growth of 22% from India in 2017. It is targeting to close this year with 100,000 arrivals from India market. It is expecting to grow at a much higher rate and that will go beyond the 100,000 mark. Holland has noticed a remarkable growth of 23% in Indian arrivals
to Holland till September 2017. The destination would continue to look for a good growth from the Indian market with the objective of promoting the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam. It looks forward to sustaining and adding further on the double-digit growth in the year 2018. Ignacio Ducasse,Director, Tourism Office of Spain says, “ We witnessed an optimistic growth in 2017 that exceeded 100.000 tourists in the month of October. The MICE segment has also experienced a good growth so we are expecting a positive growth of around 15-20% in 2018. We will be conducting presentations
in new cities like Raipur, Lucknow, Amritsar and Jaipur.” For Israel, 2017 has been a great year with over 58,000 Indian tourist arrivals and also for setting a record in arrivals from India, a 31% increase over 2016. “Based on this trend, we are optimistic of our growth in arrivals from India in 2018,” says Hassan. “We have recently also announced relaxed visa rules for Indian tourists who have travelled to any of the Schengen countries, USA, Canada, Australia or Israel mainly to boost tourist arrivals. Air India and Arkia will be introducing their flights between India and Israel that will increase connectivity from India to Israel.”
Rajeev Nangia, India Director, Monaco Government Tourist Bureau Monaco is a home for some of the best gastronomic delights, pubs and casinos and a nightlife haven for enriched experiential tourism experiences. One can experience the many attractions of the Principality in an Aston Martin, for instance. “Besides that with our marketing activities we are expecting around one lakh Indian tourists to travel to Israel in 2018.We are also looking forward for the release of the Bollywood Movie ‘Drive’, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez, as the first Indo Israeli movie collabration and the movie features a song that was shot in the vibrant city of Tel Aviv,” he added. Activities “In terms of experiential activities, we offer varied experiences for all age groups as Australia is known for its aquatic and coastal, nature and wildlife as well as food and wine.
Some of the iconic destinations are at the heart of Australia's aquatic and coastal experiences like the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest coral reef system in the world and experiencing the reef is a life-changing adventure for travellers,” Nishant informs. “Apart from this, travellers can also get to explore the marine life, swim with the world’s largest fish, watch the world’s smallest penguins waddle along the beach, surfing big waves. They can experience world class restaurants in unique locations of the destination. One can explore the ancient rain forests on the fringe of modern cities.”
Steven says, “Travellers prefer to create their own itineraries which help them to be experiential and adventurous. The self drive tours are also a great option for them to explore the destination.” Seema says, “Some of the great experiential experiences like shark diving, underground river, jack fish feeding and coral reefs exploration during snorkeling, yellow submarine and scuba diving.” Pooja explains, “Zip Holland attracts adventure seekers. It is the most unique zip line in The Netherlands, covering a distance of 350 meter from the top of Bungy Tower, with
a speed over 70 km/h besides the het Ferris wheel, over sea and the beach en stops above the terraces on the Scheveningse Pier. Efteling, a fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel in the Netherlands, is now being promoted extensively among Indian travellers. The attractions there are based on elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore. One can visit Madurodam: Nieuw Amsterdam. In the immersive attraction, you go back in time and experience New Amsterdam in the 17th century. One can experience the Dutch roots of New York at Madurodam through Nieuw Amsterdam.”
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Ignacio Ducasse, Director, Tourism Office of Spain Experiential tourism is about experiencing something different. Sometimes known as immersion travel, you are not talking tourism with the express intent of not just seeing a new place, but somehow getting involved with its culture or tradition. In the opinion of Ignacio, “You get to be part of a gastronomy journey by exploring the region in Northern Spain. The St James Way offers an original and different way of sightseeing in northern Spain.” Some of the activities in Israel are the Sound and Light Night Spectacular at the Tower of David in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea region with historical sites, outdoor trails, unique accommodation and personal care products or the thriving nightlife of Tel Aviv. Hassan explains, “You can go on wine and cheese tours and also go for a mud spa treatment at Dead Sea or even swim with the dolphins in Eilat. For those who are adventurous they can experience the Tandem Sky Diving in Eilat and the Luxury Desert Camping at Mitzpe Ramon. Mount Hermon
Voyager’s World > January 2018
offers as the best spot for skiers during winters.” “For Experiential tourism, Israel has multiple indoor and outdoor activities. Besides that, there are AirBNB, like Bedouin hospitality experiences and Zimmers a guest house in the Galilee region or at wineries in the Negev Desert, or the sunrise in the Old City of Jerusalem and sunset in Jaffa on the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the Outdoor activities including hiking, biking or jeeping in the Ramon Crater, water sports and adventures like snorkelling to explore the coral reef or swim with dolphins, exploring ancient history at the underwater museum Caesarea or floating in the Dead Sea,” he added.
Travellers Nishant says, “We have seen 68% of Indian visitors visiting Australia for leisure which is either for a holiday or visiting friends and relatives. Apart from this, business travellers also play a significant role as they indulge in a few leisure activities.” Steven explains, “Self-drive holidays are popular with Indian outbound travelers and the number has been on a rise and will only increase as Indians are opting for more flexibility in their itineraries.” Monaco has been visited by all kinds of travellers and vacationers, right from families to bleisure traveler to couple getaways and celebrities. Seema observes, “Our travellers have mostly been small groups,
back-packers and millennials.” Pooja says, “The target audience for experiential tourism comprises millennials, solo-traveller, youngsters, family people and senior citizens.” Ignacio observes several profiles of travellers who are interested in experiential tourism. “Young, unconventional Indians in the age bracket of 18-35 years are looking for offbeat experiences. Also known as the millennials, these travellers are very keen on active tourism, culture, gastronomy, road trips, outdoor activities and experiencing festivals. Repeat travellers are increasingly important as they have an interest in exploring and experiencing new destinations. While luxury travellers are looking for refined and
© Opera Monte Carlo, Monaco
© Waihopai Valley, New Zealand
© Zaandam, Zaanse Schans, Holland
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Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism India & Philippines Israel offers unique experiences for all kinds of travellers, be it luxury, leisure, honeymooners, food and wine aficionados or adventure enthusiasts. We have been promoting places like Tel Aviv- Yafo, Jerusalem, Eilat, Dead Sea, Galilee Regions and the Negev Desert. sophisticated experiences such as an extravagant party on a yacht in Marbella or sleeping in a cave in the South of Spain. We have witnessed an important growth of social influencers that attract a huge fan following who create the buzz around a new product or experience and promote it in their blogs and social media accounts. The FITs and high end corporate groups are looking at experiencing something unique, distinct and unconventional.” Promotional Plans Tourism Australia’s marketing plans are focused on media promotions, digital and PR Play. It will be leveraging the ‘Friend of Australia’ programme and partnering with our Key Distribution Partners as
well as Aussie Specialist Agents. Steven says, “We are working on our marketing campaigns to target more Indian visitors with a focus on North India and have also partnered with several travel agents to increase our business and trade activities for the coming year. We have regular training sessions with the Indian travel trade which includes a focus on the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme, in-market trade training and hosting Tourism New Zealand led events, such as Kiwi Link India that helps connect the New Zealand industry with the Indian travel trade.” Israel will continue to have its joint marketing agreements with the travel trade partners. Monaco is promoting a new strategy that will
focus on the slogan ‘Green is the New Glam’ to showcase Monaco as an eco-friendly destination. In the opinion of Seema, “We will participate in trade shows, business and wedding shows, tactical joint promotions with the trade partners, roadshows with prominent trade partners from The Philippines, trade conventions, organize Fam trips for trade and media, press meets to announce new developments.” Pooja states, “Our objective for 2018 is to ensure consistent and sustained growth with respect to Indian arrivals in the Netherlands. We will increase partner revenue and partner participation through collaborative marketing campaigns in which airlines, destinations and attractions can come together to
transact business. “ Spain Tourism’s marketing plans will highlight new products that are expected to boost travel to Spain besides the traditional products promoted in the Indian market. It is also targeting cosmopolitan tourists with a high spending power who can spend more on upgrading hotel rooms, shopping luxury items and dining at high end restaurants.” Experiential tourism is only anticipated to gain increased foothold in the niche travel segment in the country as social media, increased exposure to international travel and the need for unique experiences prod the new age traveler to take the road less travelled.
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India Outbound
India Outbound
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The Garden Route…all things wild and wacky! © View from Helicopter_East London
The Garden Route in South Africa is a mélange of pleasant city life, lush encounters with nature and
© John Benn Cruise
© Plett Winelands
W
e had brought to you the high spots to visit and experience along the Garden Route, in the last few editions and as we come to the end of the series of accounts on the region, highlighted below are some activities that are sure to fascinate travellers of all kinds. Insomniac Party Bus The highlight of our itinerary in George was the Insomniac Party Bus in the evening of our arrival. We were in for a pleasant surprise as we boarded the bus that was lit up just to prepare us for a party on
Voyager’s World > January 2018
the way to the Juus cocktail bar in George for a pre-dinner outing. Cango Wildlife Ranch The Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn offers great tours while showcasing its objective of conserving wildlife. It was originally the Cango Crocodile Farm before it became its present form in 1986. The facility has 90 species of animals from around the world, all of which have a function and a message that are conveyed to visitors through the tours. Some of the highlights include the crocodile cage diving and close encounters with cheetahs, African leopard and the white Bengal tiger at the ranch. There are standard,
premium, annual and VIP tours for visitors. The Lemur Falls here is the only interactive lemur exhibit on the South African continent. The display has been centred on the theme of a Madagascar forest. It is entered by crossing a large river teaming with bird life such as spoonbills and whistling ducks that are inhabitants of the exotic island. © Canoeing_Areena River Resort
PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM
© Buffelsdrift Game Lodge
wildlife, quaint lifestyles, ranches and exhilarating adventures.
In this facility there are three species of lemurs, the ring-tails, the black and white ruffs as well as the brown lemurs. The Snake Park in Cango Wildlife Ranch houses slimy snakes, whose presence is crucial to our ecosystems. There is also a Wallaby Walkabout where visitors can feed wallabies.
The Croc Cage diving encounter lets you watch the beasts grab their food from the guides while standing on a moving jetty. This activity is allowed only for people over 14 years of age. There is also a kid zone in the ranch. Buffelsdrift Game Lodge For those wishing to spend a night or two in the wild, the Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers luxury waterfront tents, family tents and tents further from the waters edge. Located close to Oudtshoorn, the lodge's main area is close to a waterhole with hippos, turtles and big fish. We spotted several elephants in herds, duos and singles grazing and drinking water
as we drove through the reserve. We also spotted two lions sleeping inside their reserve. There are activities like bush safaris, elephant feeding, brushing and walking here. The accommodation offers the advantage of spotting hippos and other game from one's tent. Sedgefield Market On day five of our programme, we visited Sedgefield, which is South Africa’s first officially recognized Slow Town. Sedgefield offers a lot of family attractions. It has many pristine beaches, water sports, canoeing, paddling, sailing and several shopping markets. From local homestays, arts and crafts,
one can enjoy a very relaxed and hassle-free stay in the town’s unhurried way of life. Some of the noted shopping outlets include the Wild Oats Community Farmers Market that is open on every Saturday, the Scarab Village which has art and craft, restaurant, nursery and handmade paper and open on all days of the week. The Mosaic Market has a variety of food, craft, art, books, music and a kids play area. Other activities in Sedgefield include birdwatching, hiking, walking, cycling and boat trips. John Benn Cruise Soon after the Sedgefield visit, the weather turned cloudy. We had
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India Outbound
India Outbound
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trail in Knysna’s natural forest areas for bird and animal sightings. However, due to a sudden change in the weather, we opted to have our lunch aboard the John Benn restaurant.
The
John
Benn is a double-decker floating restaurant that offers daily lagoon cruises to the Knysna Heads. The cruise lasted about two hours and we completed our lunch quickly to step out on the walkway of the boat to take in the sights of the views. There are special group menus, local beer and wine offerings and two full bars on upper and lower deck.
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Plett Wine Tours After an adrenaline-pumping bungee jump experience in Bloukrans, we headed to Plett Winelands in Plettenberg Bay. The sprawling vineyard boasts of a verdant landscape dotted by vales and horses, making it a sunlit picture perfect location. The Plettenberg Bay has 18 vineyards with 10 of them producing and bottling their own wines. Plett Wine Tours offers wine tours with lunch, overview of the wine making process, viticulture, tastings, etc. There are also options to cycle or relax on a horse drawn carriage or self drive through the vineyards. We sampled a few white and red
wine varieties paired with the local food before venturing to take photos of the beautiful surrounds. East London On day eight of our tour, we reached East London at night and went to Bombay Express, a recently opened Indian restaurant for dinner. The warm reception extended by the local government officials and the restaurant staff made us unmindful of the chill wind outside. The restaurant offers sumptuous Indian starters, main course and desserts like roti, dal, gravy, raitha, biriyani and kebabs and other desi dishes.
Areena Resort The next day we set forth to the Areena Resort, where we were divided into two groups. The first group went on a quad bike drive into the resort while the others took to canoeing in the river. Some of the activities offered here are zipline, river cruise, quad bike safari tours in durations of 20 minutes, one and two hours, abseiling for a minimum of 6 pax, obstacle course, team building, hiking, canoe trail for half and full day, kayaking, segway safari tour, paintball, archery, bow hunting and pellet gun target shooting. This site is very suitable for team
building groups and adventure enthusiasts. There is also a game reserve spread across 350 hectares, sheltering giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, eland, blesbuck, impala, nyala, fallow deer, waterbuck, duiker, bushduck and ostrich. Water lovers can go fishing on the banks of the river or hire a canoe and paddle down to the beach. There is also a 40-pax double decker river cruiser. Helicopter flips in East London On the last day of our trip we went to Westline located at the General Aviation area of the East London airport on the Sunshine coast for a 30-minutes helicopter.
© Sedgefield market
© Cheetah_Cango Wildlife Ranch
© Elephants_Buffelsdrift Game
planned to go on a hike and bike
floating
© Crocodile Cage Dive Cango Wildlife Ranch
© Areena Resort
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The Westline Group offers advanced flight training at the facility and also offers hot air ballooning, flight safety courses, aircraft maintenance, military operational training, etc. With the skies being clear and sunny, the timing of the tour could not have been more opportune. We went for the flips in groups of four with the pilot after a briefing on safety instructions. The helicopter tour gave a bird’s eye view of East London and the azure coast and we tried hard to spot dolphins and whales flipping about the ocean, but in vain. After the tour, we took a short river
cruise of about one hour. The boat
The 12-day itinerary to South
bounced up and down against the
Africa’s
swelling waters while we deftly
across the Garden Route revealed
held on to our phones and cameras
the country’s extensive history,
to avoid the splashes.
heritage and way of life, with
lesser
known
towns
every bend from the coastlines The afternoon ended with a quick
and foothills of the mountains
lunch before we left to the East
conveying the distinct attributes
London Airport to catch our flights
of each town, all woven together
back home. We flew from East
with a warm eagerness to tell
London to Johannesburg and from
us its tales. This route will,
Johannesburg to Dubai before
undeniably, pack in as much of
returning to India. The domestic
learning into the experiences of
carriers have a baggage restriction
solo, family and group travellers
and hence, it is advised to shop
from the Indian market, backed
and pack wisely at the domestic
by
airports or keep the money ready
infrastructure,
to pay for the extra luggage.
and tour operating facilities.
a
well-connected
transport
accommodation
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TECHNOLOGY
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Online Travel
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Izi: Innovating information for evolving traveller preferences
Healthy GDP augurs well for outbound travel from India
Ummer Sahib, Executive Director, Informap Technology Center, UAE, talks about how Izi encourages
Narayanan Hariharan, Head of Marketing, Pickyourtrail, is optimistic about the rising outbound travel
tourism stakeholders to produce viable audio guides to transform the traveller’s experience while
trends in India with increased internet penetration and GDG growth.
PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM
IRENE SUSAN EAPEN
exploring a place.
I
zi was started in 2011 by Dutch innovators who were originally supplying audio guides to art and museum galleries. European museums, city tours and hop-onhop-offs realized the emergence of apps and smartphones with every single tourist. They used Google maps and online portal for their travel requirement and realized a smartphone app is the best way to provide the experience. Coming with an experience of 30 years in geospatial technology and development of innovative solutions for city planning and management, Ummer Sahib, a City Planner and Technologist and presently the Executive Director, Informap Technology Center, UAE, shares the story behind Izi. “When we conceptualized Izi, we wanted to provide the traveller an audio guide to understand a tourist attraction in a comprehensive way. People prefer to be individual travellers rather than be part of a packaged tour. They are using Google Maps and sometimes seek assistance or a personalized tour guide. At that moment, he or she resigns to taking just some photos and comes home with a really diluted user experience.” “The intention was to give enough information and a wholesome experience to the individual traveler. Museums and art galleries do not have an effective way to communicate to tourists. They used to have guides, brochures and audio
Voyager’s World > January 2018
T guides. Today tourists simply want to have it on their smartphone and they don’t want to have too many apps. In countries like India, museums don’t have the infrastructure or the resources for producing audio guides and distributing them and maintaining their logistics.” “Such museums can simply log into Izi Travel and tap into the tourist requirement which is a smartphone app. Izi provides voice over artistes to help transmit the story of every single exhibit in the museum.” From the perspective of the tourist, many museums and art galleries, particularly in Europe, began developing their own apps and later realized it was difficult to maintain and update them. A new tourist has to download the app every time they visit the place and it occupies a lot of storage in their phones. Here is why Izi offers a platform for both the producer and the consumer. Many museums have a lot of information but it is neither printed nor distributed as the task entails a certain amount of resource. Every time a new exhibit is put up, they have to reprint the hard copy, purchase the audio guide and reload the audio into each equipment, besides having to recharge and sterilize them. The logistics were hence not cost effective. Through Izi, museums can continuously refresh, add and edit the content in a transparent way. Challenges Our main challenge was in the area
of production and publishing of the tours. We went to many European galleries who were quite receptive and they have the funds to innovate and automate their offerings through technology. In India, our first challenge was motivating the tourism departments to produce tours on our app. They are in need of resources and training, lack of access to studio and voice-over artistes. Our Izi Academy feature has videos with a step-by-step explanation on how a museum or a tourist place can produce an audio guide. Izi created a robot voice over artiste in many languages in connection with the Amazon Web Service. The tourism department and museums need to only write the script without vernacular names as the robot cannot pronounce such words. They do not need a studio or a voice over artiste. These features are free of cost. Since its inception, Izi has been functioning as an open platform like Wikipedia or YouTube. We have been able to tap existing tour guides and worked on them. We have guides with a QR code, wherein the author of the tour or heritage walk, accompanies the guest and takes them through all the attractions and makes the tours in different languages. They ask them to scan the QR code and listen to the tour. There are also paid tours. Out of 7500 audio tours that we have, 10% are in-app purchases. The tour publisher receives 50% of the ticket value and 25% goes to the Play Store. Izi also has value added services such as tie-up with ticket counters to help tourists skip
a huge queue to purchase tickets to attractions like the Colosseum in Rome, for instance. Besides these, we make highly sponsored tours through location based advertising, wherein we approach selected restaurants and receive sponsorship from them. When the audio guide is played, there is a push notification with a voucher code for a restaurant, souvenir store, ice cream parlours, etc. that the user can send to. Today Izi has 3.5 million users across 90 countries and 51 languages, including 1600 museum tours. Our main market is Europe and Russia. Moscow has 300 audio guides. India, Japan and China are our prime markets for 2017 and 2018, from where we will be able to cater to outbound tourists going to USA, CIS countries and Europe. We have already published tours for all districts in Kerala and are present in Telangana and Maharashtra. Izi is in talks with the tourism departments in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some northeast states. The challenge in Asia, Middle East and Africa is that very few museums want to publish their own tours. Hence, we help co-create the tours with the tour departments, hold workshops and encourage them to liaise with tourism institutions, universities, archaeology departments and provide them studio and audio guide equipment for production. By the end of 2018, we aim to have at least 100 audio guides for India’s major tourist attractions.
oday, India has more than 70 million passports but the number of people travelling abroad is only around 20 million, so there is a huge potential for growth in outbound travel from India in the coming years. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that there will be around 50 million Indians travelling abroad by 2020. Pickyourtrail is a travel platform
that allows people to plan their own vacations and book it online. Presently, there are more than 40 countries on its travel platform to enable holidayers to plan, customize and book their vacations to places such as Europe, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and more. Narayanan Hariharan, its Head of Marketing, says people’s passion for travel has prodded healthy trends in the recent years. “When we launched Pickyourtrail in 2014, our first client was a couple who were planning a vacation to Thailand. Now we have families, honeymooners and senior citizens booking with us. Most of our travellers belong to the 25-35 years age group, consisting of DINKs - Double Income, No Kids and seconded by families with children.”
Marketing Plans Four years since the launch, Pickyour trail has been growing at over 100% year on year. “Our repeat and referral customers amount to a growth rate ranging between 60% and 65% in our total business. This year, we will continue to improve on the same line with a loyalty-cum-referral programme. We are expanding internationally to at least two other regions in our 2018 roadmap.” “Some of the trends we have noticed are India’s healthy GDP growth and an overall internet penetration of 31% that have given the average Indian more inspiration to explore the world outside. With better disposable income and a large number of low cost airlines, we see more Indians are choosing to travel outside India,” he signed off.
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Editors Pick
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Podcasts emerge as new modes to recount travel stories IRENE SUSAN EAPEN
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Travel Events
GLIMPSES OF IITM KOCHI 2018 Sphere Travelmedia& Exhibitions organized its 103rd edition of India International Travel Mart (IITM) from 11-13 January 2018 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kochi.
Saif Omar, Co-founder, The Musafir Stories, elaborates on the trend of travel podcasts catching up with the discerning Indian traveler.
It is just the beginning of something big as the industry is slowly warming up to be an alternative to other mainstream media like radio, music, television and print. Podcast consumption has seen healthy increase year over year across the world and in India, the rate has been manifold. Destination promotion through podcasts Our podcast, The Musafir Stories, aims to share travel experiences in the form of audio that is freely available on the internet and downloadable for offline listening on the go. The broad idea is to provide a unique way of sharing information and awareness about the wide range of destinations that our country has to offer through fun conversations with fellow travellers. We are confident that this information will be beneficial to travellers both from India and abroad. Besides, this also offers listeners a fun way to destress/unwind, all while listening to an informative conversation about a destination and experiences it has to offer! How has the growth been from India in 2016/2017? What is the expected growth for 2018? The number of podcasts worldwide has tripled over the last decade. It is believed that there are now about 500,000 podcasts overall. The adoption has been quite slow in India, though over the last five years, the number of indigenously produced podcasts has gone from a handful to over a hundred. It is just the beginning of something big as the industry is slowly warming up to be an alternative to other mainstream media like radio, music, television and print. Podcast consumption has seen healthy increase year over year across the world and in India, the rate has been manifold.
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Since podcasts in general (and travel podcasts in particular) are still at a nascent stage in India, there are not a lot of definitive studies done on the estimated listener base as such and it is difficult to draw a direct co-relation between listeners and potential travelers at this stage (we currently have over a 100,000 plays/listens since going live about nine months ago). It has been estimated that while the overall podcast industry is growing in healthy double digit figures, outperforming other forms of media, this rate is much higher in India given that we are in an early stage of the adoption. But with some mainstream platforms like Saavn, Gaana, Hungama and Bookmyshow quickly embracing podcasts and original content, the adoption is only expected to rise exponentially in the coming months and years. Marketing and promotional plans Given that podcasts are a fairly new medium in India, discoverability still remains a huge challenge. We rely heavily on word of mouth, our guest travelers and existing listeners to get the word out. We have also been experimenting with different forms of social media since our listener base is mostly the urban youth, primarily in the 25-35 years bracket, who mostly consume podcasts on their smart phones. As most podcasts are currently bootstrapped/passion projects, with limited or no marketing budgets, one has to be creative with marketing and promotions in order to reach the intended audience. We
try and engage with well established travellers and bloggers so that we can create awareness within the community and plan to introduce contests and prizes to engage listeners. In the future, as we gain more traction, we hope to tie up with other stakeholders in the travel industry in order to reach out to more people.
off the beaten path and trying new things and new places while the more seasoned travellers seek to value the experiences the place has to offer. More and more travellers are willing to move out of their comfort zones and experiment to know more about people, culture and tradition than just the sights a place has to offer.
What are the unique destinations promoted through travel podcasts? Indian travel destinations and experiences are the broad topic of discussion on our podcast. We have covered a range of destinations from offbeat to popular places, roadtrips, family trips and solo expeditions. We have also discussed niche experiences such as volunteering and yoga to adventure tourism and cultural tourism. In terms of places, we have covered a gamut of places including road trips that stretch from Leh to Kanyakumari, popular festivals like Hornbill in Nagaland to Rannotsav in Kutch, just to name a few. We speak with seasoned travellers on the podcast in order to ensure that the podcast is not just informative but also shares the message of traveling responsibly while enjoying the experience.
With increasing disposable incomes, better connectivity, affordable means of transportation and improving work-life balance the number of travellers is set to continue growing. At the same time, there is a need to spread awareness about responsible travel in order to preserve the environment, monuments, places and nature for the future generations - by simple steps like avoiding littering, plastics, noise pollution, vandalism and reducing the carbon footprint. This is a common message that our guest travellers and we strive to spread to the wider audience through the podcast.
Podcast trends In the short time after we went live, we have interviewed solo travellers, adventurers, road trippers, couple travellers as well as those who enjoy travelling with family. There has been a notable contrast with the younger travellers keen on going
Influence of podcasts on travellers We hope to inform and inspire the new breed of travellers who are willing to experiment and explore their own backyard as well as foreign travellers who are looking to experience the different sights, colours and culture that India has to offer. Our goal is to share travel experiences with our listeners with the hope of inspiring them to explore our diverse and exotic country. Our motto is travel, share and inspire!
www.voyagersworld.in
Travel Events
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2 - 3 march 2018
A wealth of expertise at ITB Berlin Convention 2018
Vivanta by Taj MG Road, Bengaluru, India
VW BUREAU
Leading international speakers will respond to the big future challenges at the event like overtourism, revolutionary forms of transport and digitalization in the travel industry.
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rom 7 to 10 March 2018 at the ITB Berlin Convention leading international speakers from industry and science will present valuable ideas and suggestions and provide first-hand expertise and information. Fascinating lectures and panel discussions and topical, exclusive surveys as well as reports on best practices will await visitors to the leading think tank of the international travel industry. Admission is free for trade visitors at ITB Berlin. Forward-looking ideas for the travel industry On 7 March at the ITB Future Day, kicking off events at the leading think tank of the global travel industry, leading scientists and practitioners will outline future scenarios within the tourism industry. Together with Zambia, the Convention & Culture Partner, and the WTCF, the co-host of the event, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the partner region of ITB Berlin, will officially open the convention. Afterwards, in a keynote speech Jane Jie Sun, CEO of Ctrip.com International Ltd., will examine the much-discussed topic of ‘Tourism: the Gateway to Global Peace and Prosperity’. In the afternoon attention will focus on an up-to-the-minute topic: 'The Revolution of Travel'. Traffic levels are increasing all the time and in the long run cannot be handled by existing transport systems. Innovative technology and apparently revolutionary means of transport such as driverless flying taxis, high-speed hyperloop systems and fully automated electric shuttles will make it possible to implement completely new concepts. Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Inc. (HTT) and founder and CEO of JumpStarter Inc., will talk about tomorrow’s transport system and the future
Voyager’s World > January 2018
role of Elon Musk’s hyperloop technology. Another session will discuss the reality of the ‘Revolution of Travel’. Technology pioneers including Dirk Ahlborn and Alexander Zosel, co-founder of Volocopter GmbH, will provide an update on their revolutionary projects, and discuss commercial prospects and business models. The latest findings of the market survey conducted by ITB Berlin in collaboration with Travelzoo will be eagerly awaited. In this survey for ITB Berlin the international publisher of exclusive travel deals researched the opinions of travellers from Europe, America, Asia and Australia on new forms of transport and the approval ratings they gave. Rounding off the ITB Future Day will be two other fascinating sessions. In an ITB CEO interview Gillian Tans, president and CEO of Booking.com, will provide valuable insights into the world of online hotel booking platforms and give tips on how to improve one’s own strategies. A panel discussion entitled ‘Blockchain: the next Technology Disruption in the Travel Industry’ will examine what Blockchain really is and the impact of this innovative technology on the structures of the global travel industry. Overtourism – update and outlook On Wednesday, 7 March, ITB Destination Day 1 will look at ’Overtourism’, now a highly controversial topic. Kicking off the event, a market survey conducted by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tourismuswissenschaft (DGT) and Internationale Vereinigung wissenschaftlicher Experten im Tourismus (AIEST) for ITB Berlin will provide the latest update on overtourism and describe measures and best practices at European tourism destinations. At the session to follow Mato Franković, mayor of Dubrovnik,
a representative of the city of Barcelona and Frans van der Avert, CEO of Amsterdam Marketing, will reveal their recipes for success and lessons to be learned by those managing tourism destinations. They are regarded as pioneers of solutions for regions impacted by overtourism. Gloria Guevara Manzo, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, will talk about ‘Best Practice Solutions. From Setting Quotas to Pricing to High Tech’. In her lecture she will present the latest findings of a study published by McKinsey in December 2017, and based on the initial experiences of particularly affected destinations will highlight the solutions that have met with success and those that have not. Sharing economy, big data and challenges facing the hotel industry On Thursday, 8 March at the ITB Marketing & Distribution Day highranking representatives of the international tourism industry will discuss future trends such as the sharing economy and big data. In his keynote speech on ’The Evolution of Airbnb and how Global Travel is Changing’ Nathan Blecharczyk, cofounder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb and chairman of Airbnb China, will provide an update on the latest developments at Airbnb and an insight into the changing travel market. At the ITB Hospitality CEO Panel in cooperation with PhocusWire leading CEOs representing hotel groups around the world will debate successful corporate and distribution strategies. Afterwards, in an ITB CEO interview with Philip C. Wolf, founder of Phocuswright and serial board director, Mark Okerstrom, the new CEO of Expedia will respond to a number of questions: 'What are the global growth strategies of
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this travel industry giant? What new technologies and market challenges does Expedia face? Which future trends concern the new CEO most? Dr. Alexander Tayler, another leading figure, is also scheduled to speak at the ITB Marketing & Distribution Day. In an ITB executive interview the chief data officer of the data analysis specialist Cambridge Analytica will talk about ’Big Data and Intelligent Data Analysis: the Death of Traditional Advertising?’ and the lessons that companies can and should learn from the US elections he accompanied. Sustainable tourism is on the rise The ITB CSR Day has been firmly established at the ITB Berlin Convention for many years now and is regarded as the biggest driving force of sustainable tourism. On Friday, 9 March experts will present innovative concepts and the prospects for future-oriented sustainable tourism. Michael Lutzeyer, Owner & Managing Director, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve South Africa, Prof. Dr. Niko Paech, Professor for Pluralism in Economics, Siegen University, Post Growth Economy Expert, will debate the nature and extent of the ambivalent relationship between tourism and sustainability. The two will be ’Hot Seat’ adversaries presenting their factladen best arguments and will hold a controversial debate offering new insights and uncomfortable truths. Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free for trade visitors, exhibitors and media representatives. Numerous sessions at the ITB Berlin Convention will be streamed live on the internet. Full details of the programme at the ITB Berlin Convention 2018 are available for downloading at www.itbconvention.com.
Pioneering platform for exchange of knowledge and best practices in the International Standard Healthcare and Tourism in India. The event will feature over 100 national and international Speakers. Attendees and delegates will discuss and deliberate on present industry trends and provide insights on recent developments.
Conference Highlights
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300+ Attendees National and International 100+ Speakers national and International 200 International Hosted buyers Hospital visits Thought provoking panel discussions
City to city strategic agreement Hospital to hospital agreement Opportunity to diagnostic agreement Telemedicine opportunity IMTF to hospital agreement
Highlights of IHTC 2017
Contact us for Registration Mr. Gautam Menon Mob: +91 973 126 1053 | Ph: +91 80-26080705 Email: gautam@cimglobal.net
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Cruise
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Asia emerging as major cruise source market: CLIA VW BUREAU
Cruising is expected to capture a much larger percentage of the Asian population in the near future, which could catapult Asia’s share of the global market.
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ruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, has released the 2018 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook. The report offers an in-depth look at the cruise industry’s overall global economic impact as well as the trends impacting cruise travel in 2018. Current data shows cruise travel is steadily on the rise with a projected 27.2 million passengers expected to set sail in 2018. In 2017, an estimated 25.8 million passengers cruised compared to a confirmed 24.7 million passengers in 2016, an increase of 20.5 percent over five years from 2011-2016. To meet ongoing demand, more ships are scheduled to set sail in 2018. CLIA Cruise Lines are scheduled to debut 27 new ocean, river and specialty ships this coming year. “It is without question that the cruise industry continues on a growth trajectory, gaining in consumer interest and creating a positive impact on the global economy,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “The 2018 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook is a way for us to keep a finger on the pulse of the global cruise industry and its impact on the global economy and identify new travel trends that will influence cruise travel in the future.” CLIA is also reporting on the global economic impact of the cruise industry in 2016. Cruise industry expenditures generated $126 billion in total output worldwide, supporting more than one million full-time equivalent employees who earned $41 billion in income, an increase from previous years.
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Managing Director of CLIA Asia, Joel Katz, said “With annual source market growth of more than 40%, Asia is emerging as one of the most significant cruise destinations and cruise source markets in the world. Cruising is expected to capture a much larger percentage of the Asian population in the near future, which could catapult Asia’s share of the global market.” As part of the 2018 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook, CLIA has forecasted the top nine cruise travel trends for the coming year. 1. All Budgets Will Cruise – The soon to be released, 2018 Cruise Travel Report found that almost all income brackets are cruising. In fact, a third (33%) of the cruisers surveyed who have taken a cruise within the past three years, have a household income less than $80K. While the data shows cruising does skew a bit more to the affluent consumer than other types of holidays, the report indicates almost all levels of income enjoy cruise vacations. 2. Transformational Cruise Travel – The next evolution of experiential travel sees travellers taking a step further and seeking “transformational” experiences. From cultural immersion and voluntourism to extreme adventures, those returning from a cruise will have shift in perspective and a sense of accomplishment. Some upcoming cruise itineraries include the opportunity to indulge in local cuisine, guided tours through small villages and even visits inside private homes. Thrill-seekers can fill bucket lists with chances to swim with sharks in South Africa, ride a
Harley Davidson in Alaska or mingle among penguins in the Arctic. 3. Sustainability at Sea – In the coming year there with be an even greater focus on sustainable tourism. Travellers can look forward participating in sustainable practices both onboard and off from recycling and waste management to popular voluntourism initiatives that focus on creating a positive environmental and social impact at destinations around the globe. 4. Millennials Take to the River—River and small ship cruising continues to gain traction among travellers, specifically the Millennial set. With ever-expanding itineraries and destination experiences that reach far beyond walking and coach tours and endless options for the perfect “Instagram moment,” the younger generation is embracing river cruising. 5. Skip-Gen Cruising – Multigenerational cruising is projected to increase in popularity, as forecasted by CLIA’s Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook in April 2017. But there’s a twist: “skipgeneration” trips, with grandparents and grandchildren traveling together without their parents, are predicted to be highly popular in 2018 and beyond. 6. Travellers Warm to Chilly Destinations –The coming year is projected to see an increase in popularity of colder climate destinations including the Baltics, Canada, Alaska, and Antarctica. With an array of unique excursion options, from penguin watching to ice fishing,
these winter wonder destinations are drawing in both new and repeat cruise travellers. 7. Healthy Doses – Travellers are seeking health and wellness trips more than ever before and the cruise industry is responding with services and experiences for the mind and body. Today’s cruise travellers can participate in onboard health wellness seminars led by popular health experts, custom fitness programs, stress management, and spa services. There are even entire cruise itineraries dedicated to weight management and healthy living including Weight Watchers cruises and menus for a variety of dietary needs from diabetic-friendly to plantbased. 8. Smart Travel Technology— The coming year there will be a rise in traveller-friendly onboard technologies. Several cruise lines are introducing wearable technology for cruise guests that provide a personalized and seamless experience while onboard. Ranging from keychains to bracelets to necklaces and more, wearable technology on cruises interacts with sensors on the ship in order to do everything from turning the lights on as a cruiser approaches their cabin to acting as a security agent. 9. Tapping Travel Agents – Travel agents continue to see a steady demand from consumers in planning and executing holidays. Some of the largest factors behind continued popularity of travel agents? Ease of planning, valued expertise, and affordability.
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WTM Latin America creates hotel hospitality lounge T he next edition of WTM Latin America will feature a hospitality lounge that will be created especially to promote independent undertakings, which include hotels, inns, resorts and hostels that work on an individual basis in the Brazilian and international markets. Located in an area of 32 square meters and with capacity to receive up to eight independent projects, the lounge was created to encourage the world hotel sector to seek opportunities and get closer to Latin American buyers, with the aim of generating new business with small and medium players in the segment. It is being supported by the Brazilian Voyager’s World > January 2018
Hotel Industry Association (ABIH), an entity that has more than 3,200 associates nationwide.
The partnership comes about thanks to the increase in the demand from undertakings and visitors who identify how important the event is as a starting point for prospecting for and winning new business. In 2017 alone, more than 3,500 visitors to WTM Latin America chose hospitality facilities as an interesting product when contacting exhibitors at the event. “We’re very happy with this partnership. Thinking about and creating opportunities for individual hotels, a segment in our industry, which as is well known, has made a great contribution
to Brazilian tourism, shows WTM Latin America’s commitment to the development of our industry. Without doubt, this is a great step forward and a win for entrepreneurship and tourism,” says Dilson Jatahy Fonseca, President of the ABIH.
Among the benefits offered to lounge participants is access to the My Event platform, which allows exhibitors to identify their main contacts and promote their products and services by way of directed messages and the organization of a prior meeting and conference diary, and participation in Speed Networking sessions that bring together more than 800 exhibitors and 200 senior buyers in five-minute meetings,
based on the purchase requirements of each buyer.
“This is something else that’s new in the next edition and shows how we’ve dedicated ourselves to improving the event’s products, ensuring that WTM Latin America a strategic enabler for all the companies that are present, whether as an exhibitor or a visitor”, says Luciane Leite, a director of WTM Latin America. WTM Latin America 2018 will be held from 3-5 April in São Paulo and expects to receive more than 8,000 visitors and more than 700 exhibiting companies. For more information access: http:// latinamerica.wtm.com www.voyagersworld.in
Destination
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Munnar: Spelling Sheer Magic along the way! Kiran Raj. K
Exuding splendour with all its might, Munnar is etched in the writer’s mind with every single mile lending a unique high
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f all the tourist places that I have visited so far, the trip to Munnar, the hill station in Kerala, is etched in my mind forever. Munnar bears a breathtakingly beautiful testimony to the adage: ‘God’s own country’. Located at a height of about 1600 metres above mean sea level, it is a portion of the Western Ghats that lies south of the Palakkad Gap. Munnar’s accessibility has become easier over the years with rail and road connectivity improving as a result of growing popularity among tourists. Like many places in India Munnar’s spelling does not tell you quite exactly how it should be pronounced. As I got to know later from the locals, it is pronounced as “moon-aar” which means the land of three rivers in Malayalam. At the outset of my trip, I was clear about making this journey by road given the fact that getting to Munnar anyway
Voyager’s World > January 2018
itb.travel
requires some amount of driving no matter how you approached the place. It is well connected by road, rail and air. The nearest airport and the railhead is in Kochi, which is 130 km away from Munnar – a two hour drive. After an amazing bike ride of seven hours, I arrived in Munnar and went to a lovely place next to the Ponmudi reservoir in Rajakkad, where my accommodation had been booked. However, I just had enough energy to have dinner and retire for the day. The next day, I got ready for a sumptuous breakfast with a stunning view of the reservoir. My first stop was the Attukad Falls at Pallivasal. The entirety of the spectacle, misty hill tops, tea estates on the slopes and the water gushing through so many different angles proved to be impossible to capture in a single still picture. I was completely captivated
as I lingered languidly while having hot tea and fried savouries at an eatery just by the falls.
The next morning, I set forth to return home and as I reached the state border to enter Tamil Nadu,
After gloating over the gorgeousness of our planet, I left Attukad Falls with an extreme eagerness to explore out more. After lunch, I headed to the Kanan Devan Tea Museum where I learned how tea leaves are plucked and then either steamed and dried into green tea or cut, oxidised and shaken into various grades of black tea ranging from leafy to dusty. It was an interesting site that emanated the essence of tea, from the lecture and videos on tea to the various exhibits, all illustrating the making of the favoured beverage. After having purchased some tea and spices, I returned to my stay. I then stopped over at the Kallimali viewpoint near the resort to admire the Ponmudi reservoir from another angle.
I realised that the while the trip definitely confirmed the beauty of the planet we live on, we often live in our made up worlds, running on the seemingly ever-accelerating treadmill of our routines. At a height of 3,500ft and with the company of clouds, the only sound I had heard was my heartbeat. Not all those who wander are lost; Munnar is the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. I cannot change the direction of wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination...Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination and all you need is the courage to press on it... Thus, my journey will be continued.
Destination
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Rajasthan… a splash into its golden marvels! Mayaa V
From fairy tale palaces and epic forts to colourful festivals and wildlife encounters, Rajasthan offered me glimpses of its tales of war, romance, valour, sacrifice and beauty.
THE ONLY TRADE SHOW FOCUSSED ON OUTBOUND TRAVEL A trade-only event connecting buyers & suppliers of outbound travel industry from across the globe, offering unparalleled networking and contracting opportunities
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embarked on an exciting journey to the land of the kings or ‘Rajasthan’ on a train that pulled into the station at midnight. We reached Jodhpur after a day to the bustling noise of vendors and hawkers and I was welcomed by the cold morning breeze that knocked all my sensitivity. I spent the next 15 days exploring the place by car. Jodhpur is a delightful blend of the modern and the traditional; known as the ‘Blue City’, its architecture is predominanatly marked by vivid shades of blue. Known to be built in place of the ancient capital, Mandore of the state of Manwar, Jodhpur is home to many havelis, temples, palaces and forts. The people of Jodhpur and surrounding areas are commonly known as Marwaris. The city mesmerized me with its history, heritage and royalty. Ancient architects had made ample use of stones and marbles in their designs while expressing their innovation and creativity. Some of the places I visited were
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Mehrangarh Fort, Khejarla Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Moti Mahal, Ranisar Padamsar, Phool Mahal, Jaswant Thada, Ghanta Ghar, Mahamandir Temple, Mandaleshwar Mahadev, Masuria Hills, Mandore. In Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’, I perceived the allure of ancient history in the convenience of a metropolis. The bustling modern city is one of the three corners of the ‘Golden Triangle’ that includes Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Some of the places I visited in Jaipur were the Jaipur Palace, Jantar Mantar, Amber Palace, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Digamber Jain Mandir, Galtaji, Kanak Vrindavan, Amar Jawan Jyoti, Jaipur Wax Museum, Samode, Madhvendra Palace and Nahargarh. In most of the palaces here, the contrast between the exterior and the inviting interior left me surprised. Magnificent carvings and precious stones and mirrors adorned the interiors.
My next journey was to Udaipur, the ‘City of Lakes and Palaces’. It is also known as the Venice of the East.The city is known for the profuse use of zinc and marble in its architecture. I was lucky to be a part of the Shilpgram Festival at the time of my visit. The festival happens for 10 days every year in December. My eyes reflected blue shades as I traversed the lakes and visited the Udaipur Palace, Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, Monsoon Palace, Ahar Museum, Jagdish temple, Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola, Bagore ki Haveli, Udai Sagar Lake, Doodh Talai Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Navalakha Mahal and the wax museum. Wearing traditional costumes and dancing along with Rajasthani people left me with very sweet memories. The traditional shops sell all kinds of costumes, carvings, food items, stones, etc. My final stop was Jaisalmer. Unlike most forts in india, the Jaisalmer fort is not just a tourist attraction.
It houses, shops, hotels and ancient havelis (homes) where generations of people continue to live. In Jaisalmer, I also visited Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli, Salim Singh Ki Haveli, Patwon Ki Haveli, Mandir Palace, Jain temples, Gadisar Lake, Bada Bagh, Desert National Park, Kuldhara, Jaisalmer War Museium, Laungewala War Memorial, Akal Wood Fossil Park, Vyas Chhatri and the Amar Sagar Lake. On the way near the desert, we passed through the India-Pakistan border guarded by the armed forces. The desert halt was the icing on the cake for me. I enjoyed the sunset, safari ride on the camel, camp fire with traditional performances and local food. I left the destination with vivid impressions of its artistic and cultural lifestyle that permeates every aspect of the life of the locals. Cherished moments captured in my camera urge me to visit the place once again.
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FESTIVALS OF THE WORLD January 2018 California Restaurant Month, California, USA
30 January, 2018 Up Helly Aa, Shetland, Scotland
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he California Restaurant Month is taking place in January with a legion of participating restaurants in cities and regions like San Diego, Sonoma, Temecula and Tahoe as they have their own restaurant week that last from a week to 10 days. Some of the prominent restaurants who are part of this festival are SLO Cal Restaurant Month, Santa Maria Valley Restaurant Week, Oakland Restaurant Week, Sonoma Valley Delicious, Temecula Valley Restaurant Month, Dine GPS Presents the Chef’s Table, Cheese Burger Week in Pasadena, Santa Monica Restaurant Week and San Diego Restaurant Week.
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he Up Helly Aa will take place on 30 January. It is one of Britain’s biggest and most spectacular fire festivals. Held in Lerwick, Shetland on the last Tuesday of every January, the festival also features a torch lit parade of almost 1000 people who will be dressed as Vikings or other fancy dress costumes, ceilidhs and party all night. This is a community event that involves a number of volunteers in planning this festival.
18 January-4 February, 2018 Celtic Connections, Scotland
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he Celtic Connections will take place from 18 January to 4 February. Also known as Glasgow’s annual festival, this will showcase the Celtic music and its connections to cultures across the world with the presence of 2,100 musicians from around the world who will descend on Glasgow and bring the city to life for 18 days of concerts, ceilidhs, talks, art exhibitions, workshops, and free events. This year will be the 25th anniversary celebration.
31 January-4 February, 2018 Ghent Light Festival, Flanders
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he Ghent Light Festival is taking place from 31 January to 4 February once every three years wherein the city is illuminated with works of the international light artists. The nights of this festival are dazzling with ingenious installations, spectacular performances and stunning events. This event also promotes Ghent as a destination of uniqueness and you can explore the historical sites and monuments. The fourth edition of this festival included the Historical Centre and the Arts Quarter showcased in light and the Ghent’s industrial history.
27 January, 2018 Great Kiwi Beer Festival, New Zealand
2 - 11 March, 2018 Taiwan Lantern Festival, Taiwan
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he Taiwan Lantern Festival is taking place from 2 – 11 March. The festival focuses on Chiayi history, traditional craft and some of the works of local artists. The lantern zone features water and light shows which are on par with international standards on the globally famous sea of clouds, sunrise, forest railways and cherry blossoms of Alishan, in addition to a presentation of the water landscape and architecture of the Southern Branch, National Palace Museum located right in Chiayi. The shows are organized along with the dance performances by professional troupes.
Voyager’s World > January 2018
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he Great Kiwi Beer Festival will be taking place on 27 January. It is a festival of brewing that promotes a range of more than 300 local, national and international brews. Hosted by industry experts in Christchurch, visitors can sample brews from Europe to Asia and interact with people of the prominent brands while enjoying live performances, cooking demonstrations, beer and food matching, seminars.
1-6 February, 2018 26th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash, Jamaica
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he 26th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash will take place from 1-6 February. The event highlights the authentic Jamaican culture through music, food and creative art expression. The Birthday Bash in Negril features popular international reggae artistes performing live. The event attracts Jamaicans along with visitors from across the world and also includes top International artists. Besides all that, one can take a long walk around the Reggae Village and Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre and the Bob Marley Museum.
27 January, 2018 Yamayaki, Japan
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he New Year event of Japan is celebrated on 27 January. The festival originated from the boundary disputes among temples. It involves igniting the hill with the sacred fire by the members of Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha. The torch is first lit at Kasuga Taisha Shrine and later carried down to a small shrine at the foot of the hill by a parade of Buddhist monks where fireworks are launched.
www.voyagersworld.in
Happenings
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Israel MoT holds ‘Where Else’ Tourism Conference
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he 7th edition of ‘Where Else’ conference is the official tourism conference held annually by the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT)
for the world travel industry. The week-long convention held in Tel Aviv from 30th November to 5th December, 2017 was attended by 130 travel agents from 17 countries. In attendance were 9 top travel agents from India accompanied by Hassan Madah - Director, IMOT India and Philippines. The group explored Eilat and Dead Sea, tours in the North focusing on religion and history and city breaks in Tel Aviv- Jaffa and Jerusalem, in addition to business meetings.
Happenings
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Akquasun lifts up World's Leading DMC 2017 by WTA
Kapil Dev unveils Adventure Sports Expo Asia 2018
kquasun has been awarded as World’s Leading Destination Management Company 2017 by World Travel Awards held on 10 December 2017 in Vietnam. Basheer Abdul Rahim, Founder & Group CEO, Akquasun, said, “Firstly thank you very much for World Travel Awards, we are third time winning in a different category in this year’s nomination and we have won The Leading Global Destination Company. This platform has given us a tremendous boost.”
Points by Sheraton, New Delhi today. This unique and first of its kind expo is expected to witness the participation from over 60+ brands and 15000+ visitors
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Sujit Nair, Founder & Group Managing Director, Akquasun, said, “It is a privilege to be recognized by the World Traveler Awards, especially when it is a world winning platform.”
Renowned cricketer Kapil Dev inaugurated India’s first ever Adventure Sports Expo Asia 2018, the biggest adventure sports event in the country at Hotel Four with the adventure sports enthusiasts over the 3-day long adventure extravaganza. The expo has received strong support by various Ministries & forums- Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Air India - the official Airline partner, ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association), UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation), OTOAI (Outbound Tour Operators Association of India), IATO (The Indian Association of Tour Operators), ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators of India), ADTOI (Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India), ESOI (Ecotourism Society of India), WAS (World Adventure Society). The three-day expo presented exhibition, speaker sessions, adventure activities, workshops and award night that will act as a one-stop destination for adventure sports fraternity. Adventure Sports Expo Asia aimed to catalyze the growth of adventure sports & responsible tourism by bringing in world-class gear equipment makers, expert trainers, best practices, and technology advancement.
Jumeirah Group conducts pan-India webinar The Jumeirah Group held a webinar for the travel trade across the country to update and further educate the travel trade community regarding the latest developments within the Jumeirah properties. India is a key source market into the UAE and into a number of other destinations including the UK and the Maldives. The webinar provided a common platform for 500 travel agents to connect and gain more insights into the significant USPs offered by the properties. Jumeirah Group’s key objective was to expand and strengthen their ties with the luxury travel segment.
J&K Tourism delegation meets Bengaluru's travel trade
Scuba Diving Festival in Netrani Island
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The Netrani Scuba Diving Festival was organized by the Government of Karnataka by Finkick Adventures and the SCUBA diving was provided by dive centers present at Murudeshwara Dive Goa, Netrani Adventures and West Coast Adventures on 6 and 7 Jan 2018.
he Tourist Trade Interest Guild of Kashmir (TTIG) organised a roadshow in Bengaluru on 27 December at the Lalit Ashok Hotel,
wherein the local outbound tour operators of the city were appraised about tourism products of Jammu & Kashmir and the Buddhist Circuit of Ladakh. Priya Sethi, the Minister of State for Tourism & Culture, Sarmad Hafeez, State Tourism Department Secretary and Smita Sethi, Tourism Director represented the delegation which also consisted of other officials of the state tourism department and members of the travel trade from Kashmir.
Voyager’s World > January 2018
Oman Tourism organizes Fam for MICE agents
Travel Club Lounge launched at T1 CSIA Mumbai
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umbai & Delhi have been identified as primary markets to source MICE movements into Oman. Agents from major agencies in these markets recently witnessed Oman’s offerings as a MICE destination on a familiarization (FAM) trip conducted by the Ministry of Oman Tourism. The group consisted of 9 shortlisted agents from leading travel companies like Via.com, Goomo Orbit Corporate The first ever scuba diving festival was held at & Leisure Travels, Geanis Holidays Pvt Ltd., Travel the Beach town of Murudeshwara. The festival Clinic, HRG India, Thomas Cook, Ambassador included trial dives for beginners, fun dives Express Holidays Pvt. Ltd. and Fountain Head for the certified divers, followed by snorkeling, underwater hockey and introduction to free-diving Corporate Journeys. They explored Oman’s history, adventure, culture, food and the Oman Convention and water sports, beach football and spikeball. and Exhibition Centre. There were also expert talks on free diving, movie screenings and a photo exhibition of the underwater world.
ravel Food Services (TFS) launched Travel Club Lounge last week at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) T1, Mumbai. With the pre-eminent facilities, the lounge will be providing travelers with a host of facilities and is open 24*7. Travel Club Lounge by TFS offers travelers a wide spread of buffet, recliners, entertainment, live cooking, snacks, tea and coffee, and cold beverages. The lounge also offers a wide selection of popular newspapers and magazines, complimentary Wi-Fi and salubrious toilet facilities. Designed with a focus on comfort and quality, guests at the new lounge by TFS can avail world class facilities.
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Business Travel
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DBE strengthens key partnerships with MoUs in 2017 VW BUREAU
Agreements have allowed Dubai Business Events to form strategic collaborations with key stakeholders to reinforce Dubai’s position as hub for business events
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ubai Business Events (DBE), a division of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), signed a total of six Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) throughout 2017, outlining collaboration with entities across a range of key industries and sectors that will solidify Dubai’s position as a business event hub.
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Under the umbrella of DBE’s Al Safeer Ambassador Programme, the MOUs serve as a basis for attracting and organising international meetings and conferences in Dubai, which forms a central part of the convention bureau’s strategic framework. This includes identifying potential international conferences as well as developing and coordinating bids for these conferences across multiple stakeholders. The strategy is fully aligned with the UAE Vision 2021 – aimed to help grow the country into a global knowledge hub.
Throughout the year, DBE entered agreements with educational, scientific and government bodies, including the Society of Engineers, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the British University in Dubai. The emirate’s convention bureau also signed with the Road and Transport Authority (RTA), the Emirates Medical Association (EMA) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Each and every agreement we enter has significant potential, and is mutually beneficial for all parties involved. In 2014, the Dubai Association Centre was formed as the result of an MOU between Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dubai World Trade Centre and ourselves. This has grown very successfully, resulting in the first Dubai Association Conference held in December 2017. These agreements provide wide scope for cooperation, forming an important part of DBE’s strategic frameworks, as well as reflecting the strong public-private partnerships that exist across Dubai.” Layla Faridoon, Executive Director of the Director General’s Office at the RTA, said: “The agreement with
Dubai Business Events is part of our strategic framework to share knowledge and experiences with government bodies in Dubai. This is in line with the government’s vision to unify Dubai’s efforts and ensure an integrated working system that works towards share objectives.” She added: “This agreement aims to benefit from DCTCM’s expertise in attracting and developing international conferences and meetings. As one of the largest government bodies in Dubai responsible for large projects and activities, RTA has a local, regional and global business agenda and maintains a complex network of relationships at various levels. This coincides with organising numerous high-level events, conferences and meetings, which are held in accordance with the highest international standards.” Faridoon affirmed that Dubai has become an exemplary model for events and conferences, and that the memorandum will have a positive impact on social, economic and scientific development. It also supports and strengthens Dubai’s status and reputation as an important modern city capable of attracting many international events.
Chancellor of the British University in Dubai (BUiD), said: “This Memorandum of Understanding outlines a framework of joint cooperation between BUiD and Dubai Business Events. It serves Dubai’s strategic objectives through seeking to organise international scientific conferences and events in a range of fields, which will positively impact the emirate’s global status as a knowledge hub and a centre of economic activity. The implications of this agreement will be reflected in our scientific research plans, as well as student activities. In fact, we have already contacted and received interest from many scientific organisations to discuss joint activities here in Dubai.” Dr. Moza Al Sharhan, President of the Emirates Medical Association, said: “The Emirates Medical Association is proud to be a strategic partner in strengthening the UAE’s status as a scientific hub and an international destination that attracts local, regional and global conferences through hosting high-level medical conferences. Such events present excellent opportunities to share the latest medical developments, which contribute to advancing national healthcare capabilities and economic growth.
Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, Vice
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Voyager’s World > January 2018
Top Appointments
45>> Amit Sachdeva
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mit Sachdeva is the new Hotel Manager of the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel and Lakeside Chalet-Marriott Executive Apartments. He has worked with brands like Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, AccorHotels, The Imperial, New Delhi, Starwood Hotels and Carlson Rezidor Hotels across India such as the Ibis and Novotel Bengaluru Techpark.
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General Manager The Den Hotel Bangalore
V
inesh Gupta joins The Den Hotel, Bengaluru as the General Manager. He had previously worked with Moevenpick Hotel and Resorts Bangalore, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La, The Leela Kempinski, Hyatt, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. He has also worked for three years in Seychelles with Hilton managing their Labriz Seychelles Resort.
Chef Kapil Dubey
Anand Ramchandran
Executive Chef The Den Hotel Bangalore
Chief Operating Officer Sterling Holiday Resorts
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nand Ramchandran has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Holiday Resorts. He brings with him an experience of over 22 years in the FMCG business, both in India and international markets. He has previously worked with Unilever and Britannia Industries and most recently, he worked as the Zonal Vice President of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages.
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apil Dubey is the new Executive Chef of The Den Hotel Bangalore. He brings with him an experience of 17 years in the industry. He has worked with Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel, Dubai, Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giravarru Maldives, Ritz Carlton, Dubai, JW Marriott, Mumbai, The Westin Pune, JW Marriott Absheron, Baku, Azerbaizan, Europe, The Westin Gurgaon New Delhi and Sheraton Hyderabad hotel.
Tushar Nagar
Akshay Manglagiri
F&B Manager, Courtyard Marriott & Fairfield Marriott, Bengaluru ORR
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ushar Nagar joins Courtyard Marriott and Fairfield Marriott, Bengaluru Outer Ring Road as the Food and Beverage Manager. He was part of the pre opening team of JW Marriott, Park Hyatt and Hyatt Regency Ludhiana. Prior to this, he had worked as the Food and Beverage Manager at Crowne Plaza Bengaluru and The Westin Pune.
Meetings Director Crowne Plaza Bengaluru
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kshay Manglagiri is appointed as the Meetings Director of Crowne Plaza Bengaluru. Prior to this he worked as Crowne Meeting Manager. He started his career with Marriott Hyderabad in food and beverage department. Besides that he has also worked with various hotels like Marriott Pune, Courtyard by Marriott as events executive and was promoted as an Assistant Events Manager.
Nilesh Jain
Utsa Majumder
F&B Manager, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway
General Manager Hyatt Place Rameswaram
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heraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway appoints Nilesh Jain as the Food & Beverage Manager. He brings with him an experience of over 12 years. Prior to this, he has worked as the Assistant Food & Beverage Manager at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, The Oberoi, Le Meriden, The Leela Palace.
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yatt Place Rameswaram appoints Utsa Majumder as the General Manager. She brings with her an experience of 13 years. She started her career with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. She has worked with Hyatt Regency Kolkata. She was part of the pre-opening team of Hyatt Regency Pune and has also worked with Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, Hyatt Place Hampi and Hyatt Place Pune/Hinjawadi.
Daniel Chao
Mohit Kanwal
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Vinesh Gupta
Hotel Manager, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel & Lakeside Chalet- Marriott Executive Apartments
General Manager, Novotel and ibis Chennai OMR &General Manager Delegate for Accorhotels Chennai
Director of Sales & Marketing Hyatt Regency Delhi
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ohit Kanwal is the new Director of Sales & Marketing of Hyatt Regency Delhi. He has an experience of more than 18 years in the hospitality industry. He has worked with various brands like The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, The Oberoi and Trident Nariman point in Mumbai, Hyatt in Pune Hyatt Regency Mumbai.
D
aniel Chao joins as the General Manager of Novotel and ibis Chennai OMR and General Manager Delegate for AccorHotels in Chennai. He joined the Group in 1999 and since then he has worked in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America and in Sofitel, Novotel, Grand Mercure, Mercure and from the Food and Beverage background.
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