April2017 by whereabouts

RNI No.: DELENG/2014/59308

Volume III Issue VII April 2017

Annual Subscription ` 660

In – Conversation with

Zubin Karkaria

Chief Executive Officer VFS Global Group In-Focus

It’s opportunity IATO for

Odisha!

Sundarbans A Truly Undiscovered Paradise

NEWS IN BRIEF

AVIATION

NTO

HOSPITALITY

DESTINATION

CONTENTS Editor Rajesh Tiwari rajesh@whereabouts.in +91 9818525672

Correspondents Jai Kishan Kaparwan Nisha whereabouts.in@gmail.com

Art Director Mithlesh Gupta

Advertising Commercial Director Dheeraj Anand +91 9560444678 dheeraj@whereabouts.in Advertising Manager (North-West) Solomon Saxeana +91 9999810390 solomon@whereabouts.in Advertising Manager (South-East) Santosh K Mishra +91 8447786636 marketing@whereabouts.in Marketing & Events Manager Lakshman Vashisth +91 9911907050

REGULAR NEWS IN BRIEF

TRAVEL BUSINESS

AVIATION

STATE 17 NTO

HOSPITALITY

CRUISE 35 FACT & FIGURES

APPOINTMENT & EVENTS

Principal Advisor

In-Focus

Anil Prakash

It’s opportunity IATO for Odisha!

Legal Advisor Advocate Brijesh Tiwari

Production & Distribution Production Manager Subhash Distribution Executive Anoop Singh

Accounts CA Rishabh Rana

Technical & Web Support

Bhubaneshwer to be the host city for the 33rd IATO Convention in September

Amit Agrahari

All information in Whereabouts is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report accurate and up to date information. All contents of this publication are reserved worldwide. Reproduction in any manner without prior written permission is prohibited. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of component courts and forums in Delhi only. Whereabouts is own, printed & published by Rajesh Tiwari. Whereabouts is printed at Pritika Printers, A-21/27, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi 110028 and published from E-8/401, Nehru Vihar, Delhi 110094. Editor Rajesh Tiwari

In–Conversation

Zubin Karkaria CEO –VFS Global Group

We are poised to build our client base in India and around the world, and will maintain strong growth levels in South Asia which is one of our core growth source markets. We are working towards introducing more customer-centric digital solutions at various steps in the visa process.

EDITOR’S NOTE In-Focus

Government relaxes e-Visa norms; a sigh of relief for inbound tour operators

Need to Know

Sundarbans

Dear Readers,

A Truly Undiscovered Paradise

Its heartening to hear that Odisha – the eastern state of the country is playing host to the 33rd Annual Convention of IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) from September 7 – 11, 2017 at Bhubaneshwar. The upcoming

mega event is very important for the state for two reasons. Firstly – IATO Conventions have been known for significantly upping destinations’ profile and boosting international arrivals in the host destination. And secondly

– the tourism statistics reveals that the tourist arrival do not do justice to Odisha’s well-deserved tourism profile; that clearly indicates the tourist footfall must go up. So we have come up with an exclusive write-up on this

Whereabouts

much awaited mega event, that will give a thought of

Kid-Friendly Fun Begins in

what IATO Convention does mean for Odisha and state’s expectations from this Convention that has come back to its threshold almost after one decade. Kindly share your feedback at rajesh@whereabouts.in

Have a happy reading!

Florida

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Goods and Service Tax: Tourism - GST Rates Fitment

fter weeks of intensive internal discussions and brainstorming sessions on GST among all its member associations and Faith GST discussions have now reached a definitive stage. They have handed over their GST representation to the team in MOF in charge for recommending rates to the GST council. These cover; Air travel agents, business exhibition services, hotel & hospitality services, tour operators, rent a cab and vacation ownership. This representation covers strategic, forex, employment, economic & of course GST rationale and rates for tourism, travel & hospitality sector of India. Hotels & Hospitality services: Request to have a GST rate of 12%. Air travel Agents: Request to continue Presumptive rate on all income and keep GST at 1% or less. Tour Operators: Request to introduce a presumptive rates mechanism of GST at 1.2 % considering difficulty of getting GST input credits from unorganised sector and the burden of compliance of registration with different states. Rent a cab: Request to have at GST rate of 5% closest to the current rate & if not possible then 12%. Tour operators selling outbound from India: request to exempt from GST since provision of services are out of India. Business exhibition selling outbound from India: request to exempt from GST since provision of services are out of India. Vacation ownership: Request to have a GST rate of 12%. Tour operators / hotels / business earning forex: request to consider a special GST exemption on forex income if it can be a criteria with MOF for GST. Adventure tour operators: request to consider special GST exemption based on J&K & a very high component of local, unorganised labour involved. The ‘rates fitment’ team will now propose them to revenue secretary who after exploring its merits will propose them to the GST council (Finance Ministers/ Chief Ministers of states & headed by the Finance Minister.

ASSOCIATION

IATO eyes at increasing membership

ndian Association of Tour Operators is concentrating on increasing the membership base from across the country. Taking a step forward in this regard the association has come up with awareness programme to educate the tour operators located in tier 3 cities and remote areas of the country. As per the current data available a large chunk of IATO’s membership belongs to Delhi, Mumbai along with other metro cities of the country. “At the moment we are focusing at the North-Eastern part of the country. Since IATO is the apex body, the tour operators from here have shown their interest to join us. Just to support them we have come up with a huge discount (up to 50%) in membership fees,” informed Pronab Sarkar while talking to Whereabouts at the sidelines of the IATO Luncheon Meeting held recently.

6 April 2017

APPOINTMENT

Shaikha Al-Khalifa appointed as Ambassador to UNWTO

he President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Chairperson of the Board of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, Shaika Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, has been appointed as Special Ambassador of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. In the resolution that adopts the Year, the UN General Assembly specifically stresses how tourism can foster better understanding among peoples everywhere, leading to a greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations and bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures. The ceremony, conducted at the Headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid, Spain, praised the role that Shaikha Al-Khalifa has played in advancing culture as a key component of tourism development in Bahrain and the Middle East, through the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage. “Your Excellency is an example for all of us in the work she does in Bahrain to promote and protect culture, to link tourism and heritage and to bring culture to life” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, in the ceremony. “It is an honor to be selected as an ambassador to UNWTO in this special Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. I believe that now more than ever tourism and culture have a vital role to play in promoting peace and understanding and in encouraging a dialogue between civilizations, not walls between nations,” said in her intervention Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa.

IGLTA Foundation partners with PATA for conference scholarship

he IGLTA Foundation has partnered with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to provide a unique opportunity for a tourism student from Nepal to attend the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s 34th Annual Global Convention, set for 4-6 May in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bishrut Raj Pokhrel has been selected to attend the conference, which is considered to be the premier educational and networking event for the global LGBTQ tourism industry. “IGLTA’s Building Bridges Scholarship programme is a cornerstone initiative of the Foundation’s work as we look to developing passionate and deserving individuals who will be tomorrow’s hospitality leaders with a firm focus upon promoting LGBTQ tourism,” said Gary Murakami, CMP, CMM, Chairman - IGLTA Foundation Board of Directors. “We value our strategic partnership with a leading organisation on travel and tourism such as PATA and we appreciate its support to the IGLTA Foundation.”

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April 2017 7

TRAVEL BUSINESS

RoomsXML launches new version of API quotation which brings in new level of customisation.

The roomsXML has always been at the forefront of API technology for hotel distribution. In 2007 it was the pioneer in multiple supplier single feed API distribution. Hundreds of travel agents and wholesalers globally are connected to the roomsXML API which gives real time access to its inventory at competitive net rates. WH Desk

ecently, roomsXML has launched its new version of API, which brings significant upgrades to its already reliable API. By upgrading the API, clients now have the ability to search for multiple hotels of their choice in a single request. This allows them complete freedom to only search for hotels they wish to sell. With use of advanced database technologies and inventory customisation, the response times for availability searches is below one second. roomsXML has also worked on optimising the API structure, which significantly lowers the data size and processing times on the client system. For travel agents using roomsXML B2B panel, its popular Q-Push feature gets a makeover. Travel agents can email quotations directly to their customers from roomsXML system, which is now equipped with better quality images and standardised content. Travel agents can now select the rooms and rates they want to include in the

Prakash Bang Founder & E C roomsXML

“It is an exciting time at roomsXML with the roll out of all the new upgrades. We have completed 10 years, but we do not like to stop and rest on the laurels. We want to continue being innovative – that’s the DNA we were born with. There are already quite a few projects in the pipeline which will get rolled out over the course of the year to truly give unparalleled user experience to our travel agent partners”, says Prakash Bang, Founder & Executive Chairman, roomsXML.

roomsXML has recently been crowned at the World Travel Awards as ‘World’s Leading Hotel Booking Solutions Provider’. roomsXML is ISO 9001:2008 certified and has also secured high credit worthiness rating by CRISIL, an S&P Global company.

IndiGo & Travelport join hands to extend airlines capability WH Desk

ndiGo, India’s award-winning and largest low cost carrier and Travelport, a leading travel commerce platform, joined hands last year to extend the airlines distribution capability across 68,000+ online and offline travel agents worldwide. IndiGo, which is now serving 45 destinations throughout India, UAE, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Thailand and Singapore; have extended its outreach with this step connecting to 180 countries’ travel market. With IndiGo onboard - Travelport has added another top performing LCC into its bouquet of over 30 LCCs in the Asia Pacific region and aggregated its content into one standardised workflow -shopping comparison, integrated booking and change management capability. In 2016 itself, Travelport had processed 82 billion dollars’ worth of travel that consisted of 117 million airline tickets, about 65 million hotel room-nights and around 91 million car rental days. Through this unique distribution capability and massive outreach, the Indian LCC can now display its content and ancillaries in the most effective way via API connection, rather than the more traditional fare filing methods often favored by network carriers, and still have their fares and ancillaries displayed, compared and booked in exactly the same way. In addition, IndiGo will also use Travelport’s leading merchandising capabilities to bring its brand proposition to life for travellers arriving into India and then seeking domestic flights within the country. The distribution partnership will also help the airline reach travellers in international markets as it continues to expand its

8 April 2017

route network into destinations in the Indian Sub-continent, Middle East and South East Asia. For the global travel agencies, this comes as great news as IndiGo’s branded fares and ancillaries now become bookable on Travelport Smartpoint making it possible for them to: See pictures and product descriptions related to all IndiGo fares such as Corporate, Sale, Family Return and Regular Compare branded fares side by side on one screen, directly from availability Book ancillaries for your customers including Excess Baggage, Meals, Seat Selection, Lounge Access and Fast Forward (Priority Check-in and Priority Baggage) In the Indian market, it comes as a relief to the travel agents who previously had to toggle between various websites and GDS to book tickets to serve their customers better. Now with IndiGo in the same GDS with other full service carriers, travel agents can book tickets in a single screen effortlessly. In addition, due to extensive showcasing capability, they can browse through extra offerings and customize their bookings through ancillary content and serve their customers better. IndiGo now bookable at all Travelport connected agencies!

It’s opportunity IATO for Odisha!

IN-FOCUS

Bhubaneshwer to be the host city for the 33rd IATO Convention in September

Shayan Mallick

he eastern Indian state of Odisha is hailed as the land of myriad marvel and is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the country. The beautiful temples from the days of antiquity including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Konark, the serene beaches, Asia’s largest brackish water Chilka Lake, India’s second largest mangrove ecosystem at Bhitarkanika, the primitive tribal communities, are but just a few mention of some of the most saleable and exciting tourist attractions here. Unfortunately the tourist arrival numbers do not do justice to Odisha’s well-deserved tourism profile. Odisha’s share of foreign tourists that declined from 0.93 per cent (71,426) in 2014 to 0.83 per cent (66,971) in 2015, has recorded a strong 14 per cent growth in 2016 with the number of foreign arrivals now in the region of 77,000. The domestic inflow of tourists has recorded robust 9-10 per cent year-on-year growth in the last few years with the numbers now nearing 13 million mark. But these numbers do not do justice to Odisha’s destination appeal given the vast untapped tourism products and potential of the state in the sector. This can soon change. Odisha Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda who had been wooing IATO to bring its annual convention to his state for the last two-three years has seen his efforts finally succeed. IATO has now announced its 33rd Annual Convention in Bhubaneshwar from September 7-11 this year. And in the forthcoming IATO Convention, Odisha has the opportunity to showcase itself like never before and leverage the convention platform to generate tremendous publicity for its vast tourism attractions. According to Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, Director & Additional Secretary, Odisha Tourism, since the state is comparatively lesser known as compared to states like Kerala or Rajasthan, Odisha has been getting into promotions in a big way. “In

our country most of the travel plans are more or less presented by the tour operators rather than the people deciding themselves. They (customers) may decide the destination but the plan actually is worked out by the tour operators, and more so in the inbound sector. Therefore our plan is to do sustained promotion for three years. IATO Convention that we are hosting is part of the same plan to generate visibility. Our expectation is that the tour operators, a key stakeholder, are sensitised in a big way so that they will get to known Odisha and what Odisha has to offer and then market our state accordingly,” he said on the forthcoming IATO Convention that his state is playing host to in September.

Ashok Chandra Panda Tourism Minister Govt of Odisha

Nitin Bhanudas Jawale Director & Additional Secretary Odisha Tourism

Odisha last played host to an IATO convention about a decade ago in 2008 at Bhubaneshwar. A lot has changed since then. Today there is a stronger and growing private sector from the state that is also keen to position Odisha as the leading tourist destination in the country. IATO, according to its Immediate Past President Subhash Goyal, handles around 90 per cent of inbound tourism traffic in the country, and therefore, the success of 33rd IATO Annual Convention will be key to Odisha’s aspiration of emerging as a tourism hotspot. Presence of prominent Odiya hotel brands like Mayfair, Swosti and Toshali have played a key role in Odisha’s destination appeal, however a lot will depend also on how, going forward in the run up to the IATO Convention in September, Odisha Tourism takes advantage of the event in not only generating buzz around the event amongst the inbound as well as domestic trade across the country, but also how it is able to galvanise state’s tourism stakeholders from private sectors across hotels and travel trade to take part in the Convention in full force. After all IATO Conventions are India’s biggest and most prestigious inbound B2B event and the presence of large Odiya tourism contingent will only facilitate better B2B networking and showcase opportunity for the state with the buyers who will descend in Bhubaneshwar in September. IATO Conventions have been known for significantly upping destinations’ profile and boosting international arrivals in the host destination, and therefore, how they are married to the destination will hold the key in Odisha’s march towards a successful and prosperous tourism future. The 2017 IATO Convention happens at a time when the call to grow tourism is being made from the top office of the state, and importantly, Panda probably has the most astute managers in Arti Ahuja as Principal Secretary of Odisha Tourism and Jawale who not only has a keen eye for tourism but also perfectly understands how the tourism business grows and the socio-economic benefits that it can generate for the state’s growing job seekers. It would be interesting to watch as to what extent Odisha Tourism can take advantage of this very important event, and importantly, if it can woo its stakeholders from the state’s tourism sector to showcase their products and create long-lasting business associations with India’s inbound trade.

April 2017 9

AVIATION

Air Arabia launches new flights to Baku WH Desk

ir Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa along with Sharjah Tourism Board recently launched its inaugural service to Baku. This new flight marks Air Arabia’s first entrance into Azerbaijan- a culture-rich country with a fast-emerging appeal for tourism and its expanding travel market. Flights to Baku will depart from Sharjah just conveniently connecting to India cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai etc. The new route aims at boosting tourism in the country. Air Arabia currently operates flights to 124 destinations from five hubs across the Middle East and North Africa. Adel Al Ali Group CEO Air Arabia

Adel Al Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia said, “We are excited to announce this service,

and hope that our passengers enjoy our esteemed offerings. We are confident that this initiative will establish Baku as a destination of choice for true cultural experiences, and will positively contribute to the rapidly-growing tourism industry in Azerbaijan.” Baku, in its essence, resembles a harmonious blend of Europe and Asia, and acts as the financial hub of Azerbaijan. The city is a true example of past-meets-future, offering it all from skyscrapers and modern boutiques, to important historical sites. The new flight adds to the growing list of ‘short holiday’ destinations served by Air Arabia. Baku etched its name in international sports by hosting the European Grand Prix. Furthermore, the Caucasus city has recently been named a host for the UEFA Euro 2020 football championship. Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a total fleet of 44 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving some 120 destinations from five hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan.

Ethiopian to launch A350 operation to Mumbai soon Ethiopian Airlines is set to launch Africa’s first Ethiopian Airbus A350 -900 XWB on the Addis Ababa Mumbai route during the month of April 2017.

“Currently, we are operating 28 weekly passenger flights to India’s major cities, Mumbai and Delhi. Moreover, to further strengthen the growing trade and commercial ties between the booming economies of India and Africa at large, we have started weekly freighter operation to Ahmedabad, our fifth cargo destination in India, since March 28,” he further said.

WH Desk

assengers on Ethiopian twice daily non-stop services between Mumbai to Addis Ababa, with convenient onward connections to more than 50 destinations on Ethiopian vast intra African network, will be able to enjoy the extra features of this latest flying machine: amazing cabin interior features with the latest highdefinition touch screen, personal monitors with a higher selection of movies, wider seats and windows, the lowest twin engine noise level, advanced air conditioning technology, full LED mood lighting , which enhance comfort and reduce jet-lag after a long flight are few to mention. Tadesse Tilahun, Regional Director, Indian Sub-continent, said: “The A350 is a game changing fleet that has proven exceptional levels of luxury and reliability for a totally unique passenger experience. We are glad to be the first airline to serve our Indian customers with this latest aircraft from Mumbai.”

Tadesse Tilahun RD Indian Sub-continent Ethiopian Airlines

It is to be recalled that Ethiopian has been the first in Africa to own and operate the A350 in African skies. Among a total of 14 orders, Ethiopian currently has three of them in operation.

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

SWISS begins Geneva fleet renewal to Bombardier C Series WH Desk

WISS is about to commence the renewal of its Geneva-based aircraft allocation to an all-Bombardier C Series fleet. SWISS Geneva received its first such aircraft, a CS100, on 26 March. This will be followed by the delivery of SWISS’s first CS300 and its Geneva stationing in May; and by the end of 2018 (and completion of the 30-aircraft C Series delivery programme), SWISS Geneva will have an all-C Series fleet. Swiss International Air Lines is about to start renewing its Genevabased aircraft allocation to an all-Bombardier C Series fleet. The first such aircraft, a CS100, will commence operations from its new Geneva base with the start of the summer schedules on 26 March. The aircraft will be used on intra-European services to destinations

10 April 2017

such as London Heathrow, Dublin and Athens. With its stateof-the-art technology, the Bombardier C Series sets new industry benchmarks in comfort, operating economics and environmental terms. Geneva will also be the home base of SWISS’s first Bombardier CS300, delivery of which is expected in May. The larger CS300 offers 145 seats, 20 more than the CS100. By the end of 2018 SWISS’s Geneva-based fleet will consist solely of Bombardier C Series aircraft: one CS100 and seven CS300s. The new twinjets supersede the seven Airbus A320s that are currently stationed there. The Geneva fleet renewal is a further confirmation of SWISS’s commitment to its Geneva base and the whole of Western Switzerland.

AVIATION

Air India spreads wings to fly Bangladesh patients for treatment WH Desk

he human face of Air India came to the fore yet again, as the national carrier spread out its wings to fly three young Bangladesh citizens, suffering from a serious condition of muscular dystrophy, for treatment at a Mumbai hospital along with three of their relatives. The three patients and three persons accompanying them took this evening’s Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai and will also return by an Air India flight after treatmententirely free of any charges. This reiterates Air India’s commitment to serve humanity going beyond geo-political limits and rising above commercial interest. AI773 took off from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport with the six Bangladesh nationals amongst other passengers – bringing a ray of hope to the patients suffering from a rare medical condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The patients were extended full support by way of wheelchairs and individual attendants. They along with their relatives were handed over the boarding cards by senior Air India officials. Refreshments were served and rosebuds were given to all the six passengers with a word of encouragement. Air India has always risen to the occasion and extended exemplary humanitarian service with its care and concern for passenger wellbeing. There have been innumerable occasions when flights are diverted and medical emergency landings made top save a passenger’s life. Besides, on many occasions to save the life of passengers getting ill onboard, Air India made a dramatic operation carrying a ‘live heart’ on several occasions from Bangalore to Chennai, Madurai to Chennai and Trichy to Chennai in the recent past.

Air India has proved time and again that selfless service comes before immediate commercial considerations led by a firm belief of the CMD Air India and his Team that “If we don’t, then who will?”

Air India to connect Delhi & Washington with a non-stop flight Air India will operate a non-stop flight from Delhi to Washington from July 7th, 2017, to connect the capitals of India and the USA. This will be the only direct flight connecting Delhi with Washington with a B777-200LR aircraft. Washington will be Air India’s fifth non-stop destination in USA after New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO). AI 103 will depart from Delhi at 0115 hrs (IST) to reach Washington at 0715 hrs (GMT). While AI 104 will depart from Washington at 1100 hrs (GMT) and will land at IGI airport, Delhi at 1030 +1 hrs (IST). Operating thrice a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, the flight will offer a 3-cabin configuration, with 8 seats in First Class, 35 seats in Business Class and 195 seats in Economy Class.

VFS expands network of Japan Visa Application Centres

With the impending 2020 Tokyo Olympics, VFS Global augments its collaboration with the Government of Japan with new facilities in 13 cities. WH Desk

FS Global, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in India, is expanding the network of Japan Visa Application Centres across the country, bringing visa application facilities to applicants in 13 additional cities in India. As part of the country-wide rollout, VFS Global launched Visa Application Centres in the South Indian cities of Chennai, Bengaluru, Pondicherry, Hyderabad, Cochin and Trivandrum recently. Earlier this month, on 10 March 2017, a centrally-accessible and wellconnected centre was launched in Mumbai, and on 03 March 2017, a full-fledged Visa Application Centre started operations in Kolkata. So far, New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jalandhar were the only cities where applicants could submit Japan visa applications through VFS Global centres. Applicants from other cities in India had to submit their visa applications, either in person or through a travel agent, at the Japanese Consulates in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru or through the submission facilities arranged in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Agra and Guwahati.

The network expansion comes close on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in November 2016. During this visit, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his intention to enhance the bilateral relationship with India by expanding the number of Japan Visa Application Centres for Indian nationals. Speaking about the launch, His Excellency Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, said, “India is an important market for the tourism sector in Japan. In 2016, approximately 1, 23, 000 Indians visited Japan. I see enormous potential in the Indian market. The opening of multiple centres across India is a major step towards enhancing people-to-people exchanges and the cultural relationship between the two countries.” Commenting on the launch, Vinay Malhotra, COO – Middle East and South Asia, VFS ¬Global, said, “With the opening of the Japan Visa Application Centres across India, travellers to Japan will now get their visas processed through our professionally managed services. We are confident that these centres will positively contribute to the strong ties of travel between the two countries, by maintaining best-in-class standards of service quality for applicants.”

April 2017 11

AVIATION

Etihad Airways teams up with Mumbai Indians for fourth year WH Desk

tihad Airways has once again teamed up with Mumbai Indians for the 10th edition of the Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament that began recently. The Abu Dhabi-based airline is lending its support for the fourth year running to one of the most successful franchise teams in the IPL and one of India’s biggest sports brands since the tournament was launched in 2008. Etihad Airways’ logo will appear exclusively on the back of shirts worn by the Mumbai Indians at all home and away matches. Under the sponsorship agreement, Etihad

Airways will also enjoy extensive branding and messaging beamed across LED pitchside advertising and on giant screens at Mumbai Indians’ home matches. Patrick Pierce, Etihad Airways Vice President Marketing Partnerships, said: “Etihad Airways enjoys a strong sporting tradition. Cricket captures the hearts and minds of people all over India, and in indeed in many parts of the world, so we are pleased to be associated with the IPL watched by millions of cricket lovers globally on TV.” Etihad Airways operates three flights daily between its Abu Dhabi hub and Mumbai.

SpiceJet spreads joy to 50 underprivileged children WH Desk

piceJet yet again embarked on its journey of #GivingWingsToDreamsby offering the special treat to around 50 underprivileged children in association with the Rotary Club of Chandigarh. The airline operated a special flight on 20 March, 2017 from Chandigarh for a set of kids who have never flown before thereby giving them a lifetime opportunity. The special initiative programmed a one hour flight for kids aged between 12 – 14 years who were very excited to fly for the very first time. The children were completely attended to and taken care of by the airline crew who engaged with them providing them with more information on the voyage experience and the place, thereby making the tour even more eventful. The

children were provided healthy snacks like sandwiches and juices while on-board. Debojo Maharshi, Chief Marketing Officer, SpiceJet, said: “SpiceJet is all about rising up from your daily mundane life, adding a bit of spice and experiencing something new. And when this objective fused with our vision of making every Indian fly, it catapulted into this special initiative called #GivingWingstoDreams. Dedicated to the future of our country this is our bit towards adding zest and offering a ‘wow’ experience to the lives of those special kids who have been deprived of the beautiful things life has to offer.” The children invited for the initiative belonged to states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh.

With connecting services from across Etihad Airways’ network in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and North America via Abu Dhabi, the airline offers cricket lovers a choice of flights to Mumbai. Together with Indian partner Jet Airways, Etihad Airways operates the largest combined frequency to and from India of any international airline with over 250 weekly flights connecting 15 gateway cities in India with the world.

Turkish increases Moscow-Antalya flights frequency 2 to 7 WH Desk

urkish Airlines, flies to the more countries and international destinations than any other airline in the world, has increased its Moscow-Antalya flights from 2 to 7 frequencies per week, as of 26th March. The global carrier also offers an early reservation campaign in this regard. Offered round trip fares are available on Moscow-Antalya route starting from 219 Euros. Mentioned round-trip fares, available on Turkish Airlines official website, are all-included and subject to conditions and availabilities. Fares may vary at Turkish Airlines sales offices and travel agencies. To view the flight schedules visit www. turkishairlines.com.

Brussels Airlines connects Mumbai to Brussels WH Desk

big news for the many thousands of Indians who travel to Belgium, both for leisure and for business. From now on, Belgian’s leading airline Brussels Airlines connects Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Airport to Brussels Airport with a direct flight. Brussels Airlines’ inaugural flight SN601 landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Airport in the late hours of March 30. As a special gesture for its customers, the departure of the first flight out of Mumbai, flight SN602, was celebrated with a ribbon and cake cutting ceremony.

12 April 2017

Since one year ago, there was no longer a direct connection by air between India and Belgium. The demand from various industries (pharmaceutical, diamond, maritime industry, amongst others), from leisure travelers and cargo forwarders for a direct service was high. With its 5 weekly services, Brussels Airlines now offers a smooth link to the European capital. The flight schedule consists of daytime flights to Mumbai on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The flights depart in the morning and arrive late in the evening in Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Flights leave Mumbai

on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and arrive in Brussels early the next morning. The Mumbai-Brussels flight schedule will allow seamless connections to many European, African and American destinations in the Brussels Airlines network, like London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Geneva, Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Stockholm, Milan, Madrid and the intercontinental flights to New York, Toronto, Washington and 19 African destinations.

April 2017 13

IN FOCUS

In – Conversation with

Zubin Karkaria CEO –VFS Global Group

We are poised to build our client base in India and around the world, and will maintain strong growth levels in South Asia which is one of our core growth source markets. We are working towards introducing more customercentric digital solutions at various steps in the visa process. Q. How has your journey with VFS Global been over the years?

Zubin Karkaria CEO – VFS Global Group is the man who came with the idea of offering visa processing services, first for the US government in India (2001) followed by Dubai, UK and then all over the world. In 2001, he conceptualised and set-up VFS Global – one of the most outstanding examples of innovation across the Kuoni Group, which became a global leader in its space in a very short span of time. VFS – serving 51 client governments in 127 countries with 2266 Application Centres is the fastest growing, most innovative and most profitable division in the Kuoni Group. In an exclusive conversation Whereabouts had an opportunity to know more about him and VFS Global. Excerpt. Rajesh Tiwari

A. It’s been eventful, exhilarating, and challenging, to say the least! Since VFS Global was started in Mumbai 15 years ago, we have grown fast, extending operations to 127 countries, and maintaining high service quality standards even in challenging environments. In this time, we believe we have brought a lot of value to the visa process, in making it more convenient, accessible, and more personalised where possible, for applicants and client governments alike. Fifteen years have gone by almost in a blink, but there’s a lot more to be done. We are confident we will keep developing new technologies aimed at enhancing the visa, consular and governance processes for citizens.

Q. What were the key turning points of your professional side? A. Definitely winning that first contract and launching VFS Global was a turning point, not just from my personal perspective, but also due to the pioneering contributions VFS made to the overall visa process. Another turning point has been more recent – when I was given the opportunity to lead the Kuoni Group through the implementation of the new structure to strengthen its three core business divisions as stand-alone companies.

Q. What encouraged you to make your career in travel and tourism industry?

Q. What are the best and most challenging parts of your job?

A. Well, I was about 19 when I started helping a friend of mine in a travel agency. Within a couple of years, in 1991, we saw the unshackling of the Indian economy, and in line with the same, the growth potential of the travel & tourism industry started looking very promising. At this point of time I realised that this is the industry I wanted to make my mark in. The learning for me in the early years was immense with one opportunity leading to the next, and the rest as they say is history.

A. Managing a truly global company where your clients are sovereign governments who demand very high service standards, and the inherent nature of business being very sensitive, is of course challenging and exciting. Irrespective of environment we operate in, we maintain the same standards of precision across regions, by empowering highly competent teams to manage robust processes and controls as per the diverse requirements of our client governments.

14 April 2017

IN–CONVERSATION I would say the best part of my job is being part of a young, ambitious company that still has the ability to develop new solutions, and that refuses to be complacent about its market leadership position.

Q. What are the latest initiatives or development at VFS Global that you would like to share with us? A. Several of our new initiatives are driven by technology and aimed at making the visa process more convenient for applicants or more cost-effective for diplomatic missions. Services such as the On Demand Mobile visa (where the entire visa application process comes to your doorstep) or our breakthrough LIDProTMsolution (that allows a mission in one country to remotely process visas in another), are the kind of innovations that revolutionise the traditional visa process. Last year, we also launched the first transactional mobile app for visa application for passengers of Emirates Airline flying to the UAE. Using the DVPC mobile app, travellers based anywhere in the world can apply for their e-visas in a matter of minutes. With more countries realising the importance of tourism for the development of their economies, e-visas are gaining traction. In this area too, we are working closely with client governments. For e.g. for the Government of Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), we offer end-to-end support to Australia visa applicants for their online visa applications, in 24 countries. We assist applicants in completing the visa applications online, upload their supporting documents and assist in making payments online as well. The future lies in these kinds of disruptive ideas, and our challenge will be to anticipate and develop solutions at the right time.

Q. How do you see the growth of VFS Global (Indian perspective) in next couple of years? A. Well, we already have very extensive Visa Services business in India, serving 37 client governments with operations in17 cities through 384 VACs. We are poised to build our client base in India and around the world, and will maintain strong growth levels in South Asia which is one of our core growth source markets. We are working towards introducing more customer-centric digital solutions at various steps in the visa process.

I enjoy motivating people and mentoring them to success: Zubin Q. How would you describe yourself? A global citizen who loves to travel and gain new experiences! At heart I believe I am a simple and very direct person who believes strongly that all human beings are essentially good people, and that they can achieve miracles if they have a clear goal and are truly committed, passionate, hard-working and remain true to their purpose. I enjoy motivating people and mentoring them to success. I am a family man who believes in family bonding and family values. I am also a Zoroastrian priest and strongly believe in the Zoroastrian religion which is founded on the principles of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Q. Where have you travelled recently with your family? KohSamui in Thailand, last December Q. Do you have any favourite childhood travel memory? When I was 7 years old, I had my first international trip to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sri Lanka along with my parents. It was my first taste of foreign travel and it was such an impactful and memorable experience that perhaps, it even influenced my choice of profession in later years! Q. How do you make a balance in your personal and professional life? Difficult, but I manage it to a pretty good extent. Obviously, it is not always possible to maintain water-tight compartmentalization between the two, so I allow them to merge to some extent at some levels. I do manage to squeeze in some time on work matters while on holiday, but not at the cost of spending quality time with my family. Q. If not a travel and tourism professional; what would you be? I’m pretty sure whatever other profession I would have chosen, it would be something related to travel as I was very focused on making a career in this industry from a very early age!

Apart from our core visa processing business, we see strong potential in the Identity and Citizen Services, through which VFS Global enables governments to assimilate next-generation solutions into public-facing services. These biometrics-enabled services can be used in a variety of application areas, from e-passports and e-visas, to national identity cards, driving licenses, electoral registration, resident permits, healthcare cards, and a host of other governance, and administration-related solutions.

Quick fire

We are already doing a lot of work in India and other countries in this field (including South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria) in this area. For example, in Mumbai, we operate 25 Citizen Service Facilitation Centres for the municipal corporation. These centres, present in all wards, offer 113 services to citizens and local establishments –from birth and death certificates, to shop licensing, public garden approvals, etc.

Cuisines: On holiday I always go for the local cuisine and am adventurous to some extent as I love different flavours, different cuisines. However at work I prefer lighter, more universal menu choices.

Significant resources have been invested in enhancing digitisation, innovation, customer-centricity, and strategic partnerships, with the objective of offering enhanced services for client governments and applicants.

Destination (India/Overseas): There are many destinations in India and many other countries which are fantastic leisure destinations. My family and I select destinations based on the type of holiday experience we are looking for. Essentially the destination should be good for family bonding, offer a new experience, and at the same time allow us to have some fun.

Hotel: I enjoy the St James Taj in London, and also the Hyatt properties. Airlines: Currently since my home-base is Dubai and I tend to use Emirates a lot, and it is of course an excellent airline.

April 2017 15

IN-FOCUS

Government relaxes e-Visa norms; a sigh of relief for inbound tour operators The government of India has agreed to liberalise e-Visa norms by extending the time limit to apply for entry permit, duration of stay with double entry permission – a long pending demand of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). Also introduces two new categories Intern Visa (I) and Film Visa (F). Rajesh Tiwari

he launch of e-Tourist Visa (eTV) was a big step in the history of tourism in India which was expected to have a big impact on the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to the country. However, on being operational it was felt by the professionals of this segment (inbound tour operators) – based on their experience with foreign travellers that e-Tourist Visa required several relaxations to meet the high expectations in terms of foreign tourist arrivals.

India, respectively. Also, both business and medical visas will be granted within 48 hours of application upon urgent requests. According to Kohli, the key changes like extending the application period, making it double entry and extending the stay the visitor can have; are critical to meeting the needs of traveller into India. “We needed these to enable more of our visitors to use the e-Visa system and make our destination more competitive vis-a-vis other competing destinations who had similar systems in place for a long time,” he added. Due to the relaxation in norms of obtaining the e-Tourist Visa and staying in India for longer period (up to 60 days) the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) is expected to go up significantly in the coming season. “The relaxations will definitely give a boost to inbound tourism, by increasing medical and business trips to the country,” explains Pronab Sarkar.

Elaborating on this development Pronab Sarkar, President, IATO said: “It was a very long pending demand from inbound tour operators of the country. We were following the government for a long. After a cabinet meeting held in November several relaxations were supposed to be announced by February 2017 which actually happened on 1st April.” Speaking on the same lines, Rajeev Kohli, Sr Vice President IATO said: “We would have ideally wanted these implemented when the policy was first introduced, but better late than never. These changes will most certainly improve the travellers experience and ability to plan better.”

Pronab Sarkar President IATO

The window for application under e-visa scheme has been increased from existing 30 days to 120 days and duration of stay on e-visa has been increased from 30

After a cabinet meeting held in November several relaxations were supposed to be announced by February 2017 which actually happened on 1st April. days to 60 days with double entry on e-tourist and e-business visa and triple entry on e-medical visa. There will be three new subcategories for grant of e-visa, i.e. e-tourist visa, e-business visa and e-medical visa, from April 1, 2017. In addition, two more new categories – Intern or (I) visa and Film or (F) visa will be granted for foreigner seeking internship in nongovernment organisations, and those seeking to shoot movies in

16 April 2017

Rajeev Kohli Sr Vice President IATO

The 30 days limit for applying for Visa was creating a lot of fuss among the travellers as a large number of traveller prefers buying air tickets and get through hotel bookings as early as possible. “There were a lot of hiccups among them what if all bookings are done but the Visa is not granted? So this will not happen from now onwards as they will have enough time to do their travel bookings and apply for the Visa at the same time, ” explains Rajeev Mehra, Vice President, IATO.

We would have ideally wanted these implemented when the policy was first introduced, but better late than never. These changes will most certainly improve the travellers experience and ability to plan better. “Also we were losing lot of business because of single entry permission as the tourist were not allowed to renter in India so either they were cancelling their trips to Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka or going there only by skipping India,” he further added. E-visa facility has been extended to the nationals of 161 countries for entry through 24 airports, up from 16 airports allowing such entries, and three Indian ports i.e. Cochin, Goa and Mangalore to tap the potential of cruise tourism from different countries. This service will also be provided from Mumbai and Chennai seaports shortly. Separate immigration counters and facilitation desks to assist medical tourists have been provided at Indian airports namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The multiple entry tourist and business visas for a period of five years will now be available to nationals of most of the countries.

STATE

Arunachal Pradesh aims to become adventure & exotic tourism hub The department of tourism, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh is constantly committed to developing the tourism infrastructure in the state through creation of tourism products that will attract and assist trade partners to provide unique offerings to tourists and put Arunachal Pradesh in the consideration set of holiday makers. Jai Kishan Kaparwan

promote and attract tourists in the pristine State of Arunachal Pradesh. OxigenWallet has signed on as the official E-wallet Partner for the department of tourism and is committed to promote cashless transactions in the tourism sector of the state. Joining hands with them is MakeMyTrip.com who has signed on assist official partner in the Online Travel Portal Category to drive tourists into the state of Arunachal Pradesh using its online portal Makemytrip.com and its associated digital platforms.

runachal Pradesh has tremendous scope for development of various types of tourism activities, such as Cultural, Adventure, Historical, Wildlife, Nature and Eco-tourism. Keeping in view all the factors and rich tourism potentiality of the state, the Department of Tourism, during last couple of years had taken up various developmental programmes to boost up tourism activities in the state. “Arunachal Pradesh is investing to become the adventure and exotic tourism hub of India,” said Dr Joram Beda, Tourism Secretary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh while speaking at the Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Conclave 2017 in New Delhi recently. “Since the role of tourism partners in building awareness and encouraging on the unique attractions this state offers is paramount, this conclave will help us in coming closer to the travel fraternity that will help us to reaching our goals,” added Dr Beda. The Conclave was graced by Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, and Honorable Parliamentary Secretary Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh P.D Sona. Aimed at enhancing the information about tourism products and state offerings the conclave was an effort to boost domestic and international tourist inflow in the state. According to the Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh has been organising theme-based events like the Tawang Festival, Ziro Festival of Music, Arunachal Spring Carnival, Adventure at Mechuka as also the Kameng River Festival.” He informed that the state is very keen to promote Machuka Adventure Festival at international front. “For that the department is planning to tie up with Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) to bring Machuka Adventure Festival at world map. There would be some international competitions such as paragliding and paraselling to make it more interesting,” added Dr Beda. Further elaborating on his expectation from 2017 in terms of tourist arrival he said: “We expect the number of tourist arrivals to grow exponentially. Through our various schemes and offers we do encourage our tourism partners to continue promoting the rich biodiversity and ecotourism attractions that Arunachal Pradesh has to offer.” The state has received over 3.4 lakh domestic and 5000 international tourists in the year 2016. The tourism industry in the state is well poised for growth and is looking for yearly growth of around 20% in the next three years. In a pan India bid to formulate strategies and methodologies to develop tourism opportunities in Arunachal Pradesh, the department of tourism has also signed Memorandum of Understanding signaling strategic partnerships between four key partners to work together to

Kiren Rijiju Dr Joram Beda Union Minister of State for Home Tourism Secretary Govt of India Govt of Arunachal Pradesh

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), one of the largest travel and tourism associations whose primary focus is to protect the interest of the industry and safeguard the travelling public from exploitation have come on board as official Partner in the Travel Agents Association Category. Fly Wings (FWSTC) who has signed on as the official partner for Hospitality Training will lead the initiative to assist the unemployed youth to get trained under the Tourism and Hospitality Management programme. The National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) is the official Creative and Brand Development partner to the department of tourism and will provide support in creating effective branding and creative campaigns for the state’s tourism initiatives. Elaborating more on the importance of MoUs Dr Beda said: “The combined efforts of these partners will harness the potential of tourism in Arunachal Pradesh and develop tourism facilities and various tourism destinations as per the master plan.” Arunachal Pradesh displays a wide variety of tourism options. From being an Eco Tourism hotspot that boasts of rich and diverse biodiversity to allowing for a complete cultural, religious and spiritual immersion, as well as ample options for heritage and adventure tourism. The department of Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh is working to overcome the inherent infrastructure challenges and transportation bottlenecks as the sector moves from its nascent stage into the country’s tourism foray. Beyond the unique tourism options, travellers are now spoilt for choice with the types of accommodation ranging from star hotels, resorts, tourist lodges and popular home stays in the state.

April 2017 17

STATE

Gangaur celebrated with traditional pomp and pageantry WH Desk

he traditional Gangaur procession with all its regal pomp and pageantry, started today at 6 pm from the Tripoliya Gate (City Palace). This year the route winded its way through Tripoliya Bazaar, Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar and finally converged at Pondrik Park. The procession will also leave on Friday (31 March) at the same time. Organized by the Department of Tourism, District Administration, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust and Jaipur Municipal Corporation – arrangements had been made for the tourists to photograph the procession from the terrace of the Hind Hotel opposite Tripoliya gate. Over the years, numbers of festivals and fairs have changed in nature – however, the procession has retained its traditional charm. The tourists and visitors got to witness the traditional dances and performances like Kachhi ghodi, Kalbeliya, Behrupiya, Algoza, Gair, Chakri, ‘Shehnai Vadan’ among others. The procession also included the cannon carriage, decorated rath, ornamented horses and camels. A number of bands also accompanied the procession. The sawari of the Gangaur was at the end followed by Dhalet chobdar, women in traditional dress with Kalash. Additional matter for padding Gangaur is one of the most important local festivals in Rajasthan. In some form or the other it is celebrated all over Rajasthan. “Gan” is a synonym for Lord Shiva and “Gauri” or “Gaur” stands for Goddess Parvati, the heavenly consort of Lord Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the union of the two and is a symbol of conjugal and marital happiness.

Gangaur is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks the end of winter and the onset of spring. This festival is celebrated especially by women, who worship clay idols of “Gan” & “Gauri” in their houses. These idols are worshiped by unmarried girls who seek the blessings of Gan and Gauri for a good husband, while the married women pray for the good health and long life of their husbands. This worship which starts form the first day of the chaitra month culminates on the 18th day into Gangaur festival with a great religious fervour. On the eve of Gangaur festival, women decorate their palms and fingers with henna. The idols of Gan and Gauri are immersed in a pond or in a nearby lake on the last day of the festival.

OTA

J&K Bank to promote state tourism SOTC launches bespoke WH Desk

he Jammu and Kashmir Bank has decided to promote the states rich tourism potential through its branches in different cities, reveals a PTI Report. This was agreed in a meeting between state Secretary for Tourism and Floriculture Farooq A Shah with J & K Bank Chairman Parvez Ahmad. Both agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard. J&K Bank will promote the state of Jammu and Kashmir through all its branches by providing publicity materials and other information to its clients and customers, according to the agreement. Similarly, the banks website will also have information displays about the state tourism product and services. The JK Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) packages will also be promoted in the respective branches. “J&K bank is an established institution and will effectively help in promoting the state across the country as it is credible and will be supported from the department in all its efforts to showcase rich potential of tourism in domestic market,” Shah said. He said the tourism trade bodies have appreciated this step and expressed hope that it will yield good results.

18 April 2017

tour packages to attract Gujarati travellers WH Desk

n an attempt to cater to the rising number of Gujarati travellers opting for international vacations, SOTC has crafted unique group tour packages especially for Gujaratis. The special tailor-made tours offer Gujarati travellers a home away from home experience with professional, friendly Gujarati speaking tour managers, Gujarati brochures and the added comfort of vegetarian, home cooked meals. From enjoying an Indian Breakfast in Las Vegas to a Gujarati Thali in Los Angeles and Niagara to experiencing a scintillating Garba night with Gala Dinner in New York to relishing a steaming cup of Masala Chai at select cities across the world, SOTC’s products are designed to create delightful experiences for our Gujarati travellers amidst exotic locations spanning across Zermatt, Spain, Portugal, Canada and South Africa.

April 2017 19

NEED TO KNOW

Sundarbans A Truly Undiscovered Paradise

Viewpoint

Located at the South Eastern tip of the 24 Paraganas district in the state of West BengalSundarbansNational Park is a part of the world’s largest delta, formed by the mighty rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Situated on the lower end ofGangetic West Bengal, the Sundarbans is criss-crossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries. It is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth, a truly undiscovered paradise. Whereabouts brings more on this fascinating destination.

undarbansgot its name from one of the mangrove plants known as Sundari (Heritiera Minor). Thisis a part of the world’s largest delta formed by the rivers Ganges,Brahmaputra and Meghna. Sundarban is a vast area covering 4262 sqkms in India alone, with a larger portion in Bangladesh. 2585 sq. kms of the Indian Sundarban forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India. The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal, halophytic mangrove forests in the world. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

WILDLIFE OF SUNDARBANS The Sundarbans forest is home to more than 250 tigers. The Royal Bengal Tigers have adapted themselves very well to the saline and aqua environs and are extremely good swimmers. As you enter the adventurous wild land of the Sundarbans, you will be thrilled to see the Chital Deer and Rhesus Monkey. The aqua fauna of Sundarbans include a variety of fish, red fiddler crabs, and hermit crabs. There are crocodiles, which can be often seen along the mud banks. Sundarbans National Park is also noted for its conservation of the Ridley Sea Turtle.

20 April 2017

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seems to be leaving no stone unturned in trying to transform the state’s tourism sector into a valuable source of revenue for the government. In the Budget last year, the govt has allocated Rs 295 crore for the tourism department - a 25-fold increase since 2010. The allocation Mamata Banerjee would be used to promote homestays, Chief Minister promotional films and a river-cruise West Bengal along Sundarbans among others.

Rajeev Kohli Jt. MD Creative Travel

I went there some years ago and I will say that it offers a very unique perspective on nature and culture that you cant find elsewhere. From the fishing boats to the mangroves, I think Sundarbans offers the traveller an offthe-beaten track journey. We need to encourage development of more tourism infrastructure in the region.

An incredible variety of reptiles is also found in Sundarbans – these include King Cobra, the Rock Python and the Water Monitor. The endangered river terrapin, Batagurbaska, is found on the Mechua Beach, while barking deer are found only on Haliday Island in the Sundarbans. Wild Animals in Sundarban National Park Sundarban mangrove forest is the single largest home of the Royal Bengal Tiger (PantheraTigris). Sundarban is also the only mangrove forest in the world having the tiger as its indigenous population. There are 58 species of mammals, 55 species of reptiles and around 248 bird species.

NEED TO KNOW

Also harbors a good number of rare and globally threatened animals including Estuarine Crocodile (CrocodilusPorosus), Fishing Cat ( FelisViverrina ), Common Otter (Lutra), Water Monitor Lizard (VaranusSalvator ), Gangetic Dolphin (PlatinistaGangetica), Snubfin Dolphin (OrcellaBrevirostris), River Terrapin (BatagurBaska ), marine turtles like Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys Olivacea), Green Sea Turtle (Cheloniamydas ), Hawksbill Turtle (Eritmochelysimbricata ). Six species of Shark and Ray, which are found here, are included in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act. These indicate that Sundarban Reserved Forest is a natural biodiversity hot spot. Other mammals comprise of Wild boars, Spotted deer, Porcupines and Rhesus macaque. Among the reptiles, the King cobra, the common cobra, Banded krait, Russells Viper comprise the community of venomous reptiles, while the Python, ChequeredKil-Back, Dhaman, Green Whip Snake and several other species constitute the non-venomous snakes. Birds in Sundarban National Park There are about 248 bird species found in Sundarban National Park including a large number of migratory birds from higher latitudes that visits the park in winter months Herons, Egrets, Cormorants, Storks, Green Pigeons, Sand Pipers, Large and Small Spoonbills, Darters, Seagulls, Teal, Partridges, great variety of Wild Geese and Ducks.Key to birding in national park is overcoming the geographic and physical hurdles because of its difficult terrain as well as the limited view one gets from a noisy boat. Important Places in Sundarban Sajnekhali Watch Tower:Sajnekhali Watch Tower is counted among the most renowned watch towers in the park. The reason behind its popularity is its close proximity to a number of resorts in the Sundarban area. This place also serves as

the head office of the forest department. A tourist can obtain the permission to enter the national park from this spot only. The watch tower can accommodate 20 people at a time. The major attractions in this region are Bono Bini Temple, Mangrove Interpretation Center and the tourist lodge of the Bengal Tourism Department. This watch tower makes exploring the wilderness fun and easy. Especially, the bird lovers get a special spectacle of avifauna species such as Pelican, Kingfishers, Plovers, Lap Wings, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Whimprel, Curfews, and Sandpipers. Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower:Sudhanyakhali Watch tower is the perfect place from where a wildlife freak can spot a tiger. The watch tower can hold 25 people at a time. There is a pond having sweet water behind the watch tower. Wild animals use to come and drink water at this point. There is vast grassland behind the pond which endows an invigorating site of the wilds. Other than the tigers, one can also spot other wildlife species such as crocodiles, wild boars and axis deer.

Do Ban Ki Watch Tower : This watch tower renders canopy walk that a tourist can carry out to view the riveting flora and fauna. This canopy walk is at an elevation of 20 feet from the ground and is about half a kilometer in length. Apart from tigers, tourists may also encounter Bahmini Kites and Chital Deer. Netidhopani Watch Tower : This watch tower is linked with the famous tale of Lakhindari and Behula. It is said that on the extreme right of the woods, there is a road edified by King Pratap Aditya in order to protect the coastal area. The tower can accommodate 20 people at a time and it also embraces a sweet water lake in close proximity. Bhagatpur Crocodile Project: This area is an abode of the largest estuarine crocodiles. It embraces a famous hatchery and sanctuary making it a well-liked tourist charm in Sundarban.

April 2017 21

NEED TO KNOW Piyali: It is a small area or town on the trail to the Sundarban National Park. It is an extremely scenic place that also offers a doorway to Sundarban. Halliday Island: These isles are positioned on the southern side of Sundarban Tiger Reserve. Halliday Wildlife Sanctuary is also located within the region. The sanctuary has the honor of being the last retreat of the rare barking deer. The Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary situated nearby is no less than a paradise for those who love to relish the sight of exotic birds. Kanak: The crystal clear waters and shores in Kanak are counted among the most preferred basking spot for Olive Ridley Turtles. There are many myths connected with Kanak these turtles. It is said that they travel in upright position to a distance of about 100 kilometers from the mouth of the sea to the Sundarban National Park.

ACCOMODATION Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge, run by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation and forest rest houses available at Sajnekhali are best places to stay. There are some private lodges also. WBTDC also has exciting Tour Packages to the Sundarbans starting from Kolkata. For details log on to www. westbengaltourism.gov.in

MANGROVE: Mangroves are woody plants and shrub that inhabit the upper intertidal zones of saltwater (30 to 90ppt) areas, primarily in tropical and subtropical coastal regions within 30Â° of the equator and form low diversity forests with complex food webs and unique ecosystem dynamics. Mangroves form a characteristic saline woodland or shrub land habitat, called mangrove swamp, mangrove forest, mangrove or mangal, in coastal depositional environments where fine sediments often with high organic content collect in areas protected from high energy wave action.

22 April 2017

Best Season (Sundarban National Park): The best time to visit Sundarbans is during winters between December and February.although the park is open for longer from September to March. This is the period when the maximum migratory birds are also present here.

REACHING HERE The Sundarbans are not easily accessible. To get to the Sundarbans national park in India the nearest airport is Calcutta, the nearest railway station is Canning, and the nearest town is Gosaba. From the park headquarters at Canning take the country motor launch (5 hours) to Sajnekhali. The Sundarbans is only accessible by waterways. The nearest railhead is Port Canning, from where organised group trips start. There are several other entry points, but Port Canning is most popular. The other route is through Basanti that is connected by bus service to Kolkata. From here, one can take boats to Sajnekhali. One can also come via Port Canning and Gosaba or from Sonakhali to Sajnekhali. From Kolkata, there are Sundarban trains to Canning and buses to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali, and Najat, from where motor launch services are available for Sundarbans.

NEED TO KNOW

Explore Rajasthan on Wheels chairs, crèches and an attendant are available for disabled Step Aboard on Luxurious Trains of individuals. Rajasthan to Experience the Regal Lifestyle of Iconic Maharaja’s of Forgone Era. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is one of the world’s most Rajasthan is a magnificent land of numerous kingdoms, majestic forts and palaces, diverse cultures, exciting rail journeys, as the train provided more facilities on varied landscapes and vibrant colours. The best way board, as for the royal destinations, it proceeds to every single With everything taken care of dining accommodation, to experience this royal land is with the luxury trains day. sightseeing as well as organised shopping, there is nothing for Palace on Wheels and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels. the traveller to do but sleep in the history of the land, soak in Whereabouts brings more on this. the colours and experience the royal life of Maharaja.

Palace on Wheels

he train chugs out of Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi on a week-long run through Rajasthan every Wednesday night. Turban-wearing attendants take over from the moment you arrive at the platform, assigning your cars and detailing all the facilities that are on board. The train moves by night and arrives each morning at a new destination where novel experiences await you. The week-long tour also includes special culture shows arranged at some of the cities. If you’re looking for souvenirs, guides will direct you to government-approved shops.

Facilities There are 14 saloons in total, each equipped with four twinbedded chambers with attached baths that have running hot and cold water and showers. All modern amenities have been thoughtfully provided; sofas to sink into, strategically placed lights to read by, wonderfully appointed beds with comfortable furnishings, inbuilt wardrobes, and massive plain glass windows to watch the countryside roll by. Each coach also has a common seating lounge where passengers can get together to enjoy a quiet cup of tea and watch cities as they pass. An attached pantry with each saloon provides refreshments on demand. There is the comfortable bar-cum-lounge where you can relax over your favourite drink, burrow in a book or converse with fellow passengers. Attached to it are two restaurant cars, Maharaja and Maharani. Accompanying chefs can whip up a delicious Indian meal, including Rajasthani food, or Continental and Chinese cuisines.

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is the regal delight where every moment is woven together into an everlasting and immemorial experience to be lived and cherished forever. The makers of the Palace on Wheels have rekindled the charm of luxury with utmost consideration of your comfort and modern amenities at the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels. This tour is extensively planned to take you through the whispering sands of desert.

Journey The luxurious Royal Rajasthan on Wheels takes you through a seven day exploration of the vibrant Rajasthan. The magic of the splendid journey begins at New Delhi and prepares you to weave the fabric of delightful imagination becoming reality over the next seven days. Your royal journey begins from Delhi and takes you through various erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan like Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittor, Swai-madhopur, and Jaipur. After experiencing multifaced Rajasthan you will visit Khajuraho Temples unique gift to the world and then Varanasi, The holy city and city of temples and ghats. In the end The Taj Mahal at Agra. The entire expedition has been thoroughly planned like The Palace on wheels to take you back into the history. Most enjoyable journeys are short lived but long remembered. This journey will come to an end at Delhi. Which will, the onset of your reliving these cherished memories for a life time come get captivated. Compiled by WH Desk

Indulge your sense in the well-equipped royal spa that offers various massages, therapies and revitalising solutions amidst a majestic ambience. Special assistance, in the form of wheel

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WHEREABOUTS

Kid-Friendly Fun Begins in

Florida

lorida is home to The Happiest Place on Earth, also known as the largest Walt Disney World resort on the globe. This summer, make dreams come true by planning a trip to the Sunshine State. Meet Mickey, Minnie and the gang, but the fun doesn’t end in Orlando. Plenty of kid-friendly activities abound all around the state. Dine with an astronaut at the Kennedy Space Center, stroll through a tropical jungle filled with Florida wildlife. Relax along Florida’s 825 miles of pristine beachfront property. The time of your life is waiting to be had in Florida.

Miami Start your Florida adventure in the iconic city of Miami. With good air connectivity, plenty of hotel options and an excellent cuisine scene, this pulsing city offers fun for the young and old alike. Jungle Island, an interactive zoological park, which covers 864 acres in downtown Miami, was one of the original tourist attractions in Florida. Originally named Parrot Jungle, the park was established in 1936 by Franz and Louise Scherr, who dreamed of creating a safe place for birds to fly free. Over the years, more than a million visitors have come to enjoy the park’s various attractions. Cloak yourself in a rainbow of colorful parrots for a photo opportunity that you are sure to never forget. Enjoy an interactive experience with squirrel monkeys or take a hike through the Everglades habitat to discover Florida’s diverse wildlife.

Space Coast At the Space Coast, best known for the Kennedy Space Center you can take a tour of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which includes the Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, Journey to Mars and the Apollo/Saturn V Center. With advanced planning, you can even witness a live Shuttle Launch Experience.

24 April 2017

Another out-of-this-world experience that you can gift your child is ‘Lunch with an Astronaut’. Children are well known for their curious questions. Leave it up to the expert! A real, live astronaut, who answers everything from how do you brush your hair to how do you use the loo, and everything in between.

Orlando Your itinerary is incomplete without a trip to Orlando, the theme park capital of the USA. Orlando is Florida’s doorway to fantasyland; here children and grown-ups alike can enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. Escape to the wizarding world of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Dive into SeaWorld Orlando and emerge as happy as the ever-smiling dolphins. The cherry on top, of course, is Walt Disney World Resort. This pristine park leaves no detail overlooked. While the children are taking note of the characters in the daily Festival of Fantasy Parade, take a look around to appreciate the cleanliness of the park, the perfection of the tree-lined streets and the smiles on every cast-members’ face. These added touches are what make the park magical at any age.

Compiled by WH Desk

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WHEREABOUTS

Casa Vicens set to open in October 2017

Casa Vicens, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Antonio Gaudí’s first building in the Catalonian capital will be opened to public after remaining as a private residence for more than 130 years. A complete rehabilitation and restoration project sponsored by Andorran bank MoraBanc has recovered Gaudi’s structure and transformed a residential building into a museum and cultural site.

asa Vicens, the first house designed by Antoni Gaudí on his own, was built as a summer home between 1883 and 1885 for Manel Vicens i Montaner, a wealthy Catalonian broker. This house exhibits the architectural concept of Gaudí that is repeated in his other buildings, the materials with their own texture and color, the passionate colors and fauna. The exterior of the house is an excess of brick and pottery (green and white tiles) because the owner had a quarry that produced these materials and imposed Gaudí to use them in its construction. The building is an evocation of Mudejar architectural style as well as the forms which are Indian and Japanese in inspiration. This orientalised exoticism was greeted with enthusiasm by the elite classes at the time in Barcelona. Inside is where you really appreciate Gaudí’s style. This one, located at the Gracia neighbourghood, completes the list of his eight buildings in Barcelona that UNESCO has declared to be of cultural interest along with Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Park Güell, Palau Güell, Palau de la Música and Hospital Sant Pau. During more than 130 years as a private residence the house has overcome different restructurings and reforms that are immediate reflection of transformations and changes in family life as well as urban changes in the city. The most significant one took place in 1925, when the structure of this single-family house was transformed into three independent apartments by Gaudi’s friend Joan Baptista Serra Martinez. Therefore, the current restoration aims to recover Gaudi’s original design and to adapt the structure to its new museological project. The Andorran family bank, MoraBanc, current owner of the property has enlisted an independent cultural management team of professionals (Joan Abellà, Mercedes Mora and Marta Antuñano) who are working to offer top-quality service to future visitors. The rehabilitation and restoration project has been assigned to the architecture studios Martinez Lapeña-Torres Arquitectes S.L.P. and Daw Offive S.L.P., and the project is being executed by joint venture Calaf AMC5. The first phase got underway in April 2015, and full execution began in September 2016, and it is scheduled to finish in autumn of 2017. The main goal of the museology proposal for Casa Vicens is to recover and showcase the original house as designed by Antoni Gaudí between 1883 and 1885 while adapting the facilities to its new use as a museum and a cultural site.

First of all, the spaces designed by Serra de Martínez will be used to serve visitors and will complement the tour of the entire house. The ground floor will house the visitor welcome area, while the spaces on the first and second floors will be set up to house the permanent exhibition halls displaying information about the building, along with temporary exhibitions and activities related to the museological project. Secondly, this 1925 enlargement allows resolving the building’s accessibility. The circulation through the building will be organized with the construction of a new staircase which restores the original one from the single-family home which disappeared with the enlargement. A lift up to the roof has also been installed to connect all the floors in the building. Finally, the basement of both the original building and the enlargement – spaces that have been transformed over time will house the bookshop and shop. The different facilities (electricity, heating and air conditioning, data) that is required for the new facility to operate, as well as restrooms and other areas for internal use will also be located in the basement.

Contact

Tourism Office of Spain - Mumbai Ground Floor, Wing A, Peninsula Tower, Peninsula Corporate Park, G K Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013

Compiled by WH Desk

26 April 2017

NTO

Taipei launches special travel packages & campaigns Taipei – The capital city of Taiwan is the venue of prestigious 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade; considering this sporting event as the best opportunity to promote the city the Mayor of Taipei Ko Wen-Je lunched special travel packages and campaign to attract more Indian travellers. WH Desk

nder the leadership of Ko Wen-Je a delegation comprising tour operators, hotels and airlines visited India to interact with the travel partners of the country recently. On the occasion – preferential Taipei-travel incentives were presented to encourage related India enterprises and group travellers to visit Taipei. While addressing the gathering Ko Wen-Je said: “India is a very important market for us. And I am happy to share with you that we have come with the largest ever delegation from Taipei. I believe this visit will strengthen the relationship of these two countries and the tourist flow will go up significantly.”

Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, representing a souvenir painting to Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je

whole world. More than 12000 people are expected to attend the events. The Taipei government is preparing all kinds of facility and tours for them. China Airlines which operates direct flight from New Delhi to Taipei launches 6D5N, 2 to Go, tour package starts from INR 53,499 – including airfare and accommodation to the capital city of Taiwan. The Fun Taipei travel products have launched in the India-edition Taipei package. “The tour package is valid by end of November this year so you have enough time to plan your trip to Taiwan,” said G F Hao, Country General Manager – India, China Airlines.

The Taipei City Government unveiled an incentive travel programme targeted at attracting Indian enterprises. This includes applications for MICE sponsorship supporting China Airlines charter flight for incentive-travel tour to Taipei. Other bonuses include a free ticket for each visitor from India to the Taipei 101 Observatory.

The Mayor announced Taipei as the host city for the 2017 Summer Universiade. The Universaide is an International multi-sport event, organised for University athletes by the International University Sports Federation. The name is a combination of the words University and Olympiad. “This is the very exciting opportunity for Taipei in terms of growth in Tourism and visibility in the sporting arena,” said Mayor of Taipei Ko Wen-je while elaborating on the event.

Measures designed to entice Bollywood directors and crews to visit Taipei for film shoots were also discussed. Elaborating more on this Ko Wen-Je said: “Apart from a huge financial support to the film makers, we do provide all required assistance to make shooting in Taipei a unique experience.”

“We are expecting a large number of tourists and participants from India during the event. We invite tourist from India to come and enjoy the buzzing night-life, cosmopolitan culture, fantastic food, historical sites apart from world class sporting infrastructure, he added.

“We have all kind of resources in Taipei to accommodate the people from India. Since we are promoting Taiwan tourism, China Airlines has come up with exciting incentives and discounts for travellers from India,” said Taipei Mayor. According to him Taipei is the most friendly and safest city in

The Universaide is the largest multi-sporting event in the world apart from the Olympics games. The event is being organised for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation – the name is a combination of the words University and Olympiad.

First pop-up hotel opens in the Lifeguard Tower WH Desk

he first pop-up hotel of its kind in the world opened in a lifeguard tower on Tel Aviv beach. The hotel opening is part of an international campaign by the Tourism Ministry and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality #TAKEME2TELAVIV, which invites tourists to enjoy a unique experience in the city. The lifeguard tower, which is located on Frishman Beach, was inaugurated by the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo Ron Huldai and the Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi. Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo Ron Huldai said: “As with other areas, so it is with tourism in the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo

it was and always will be creative and ground-breaking. This lifeguard tower is an amazing opportunity to come and enjoy the city and our wonderful beach. I am sure that the guests in the lifeguard tower will share their impressions of the city with their friends all over the world.” Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi said: “In recent years, the Tourism Ministry has gone through a transformation in marketing and today we are working in new niche markets and using very creative ideas, out of an understanding that the creativity is the name of the game in the world of marketing. Thanks to Tourism Ministry investment and the optimum weather that Israel has to offer throughout the year, there is significant interest in the lifeguard tower campaign that has received more than 300 million views and more than a million clicks since the campaign began.”

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NTO

Maldives showcases destination experiences at the ITB WH Desk

aldives participates at the World’s leading travel trade show ITB in Berlin, Germany from 8-12 March 2017, showcasing a variety of Maldives experiences at the 405 Sqm two-storey stand. With the participation of 280 representatives from 88 companies having travelled to Berlin, it is the largest event for the Maldives tourism sector as well. Germany is currently the second largest source market to the Maldives. A total of 106,132 Germans chose Maldives for their vacation last year which is a growth of 1.2% compared to 2015. The Maldives contingent was headed by the Minister of Tourism, Moosa Zameer. In addition, a press conference focusing on Maldives developments for the media and a Maldivian Night gala for travel trade and media was organised during their participation.

Korea Tourism hosted Korea MICE Night 2017 in New Delhi WH Desk

orea Tourism Organization in association with regional tourism boards of Seoul, Incheon & Gyeonggi organised its special MICE road show on 29th March 2017 at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. The event was divided into three parts, the Travel Mart, The Media interaction session and the Gala Night. More than 150 trade partners were attended by 17 Korean exhibitors, which included three regional tourism boards from

Incheon, Seoul and Gyeonggi and other service providers such as convention centres, hotel and cruise. Both MICE and Leisure assets of South Korea were discussed in detail with the Indian travel agents, wedding planners and corporate.

Maldives was represented at a 405 square meter, two-storey stand designed to display various aspects of the destination through colourful images. In a contemporary setting, traditional elements such as handicraft items, swing and Maldivian ‘Joali’ seats hand woven with rope and even powder white sand from the Maldives are infused in the design to bring a local touch.

The evening function Korea MICE Night 2017 was full of insights of the new regional destination editions to the Indian travel market, i.e. Seoul, Busan and Gyeonggi. The show was attended by 200 trade partners. The main attraction of the evening was the nonverbal performance by the Korean troop ‘The Original Drawing Show’ that engrossed the audience in Korean style.

ITB is the World’s leading travel trade show with the participation from 187 Countries across 5 Continents. These comprise 10,000 Exhibitors, 1000 Qualified Top Buyers, 26,000 Convention Visitors, 60,000 Private Visitors and 120,000 Trade Visitors within the 160,000 Square meters of the show at Messe Berlin Exhibition grounds.

Byungsun Lee, Director, Korea Tourism Organization, says “The Korea MICE Night along with the MICE Mart was a very successful event, where our exhibitors received encouraging response from big corporate, wedding planners and event companies. KTO will ensure its support to all the partners willing to promote Korea in India.”

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi officially opens latest rollercoaster Turbo Track WH Desk

he highly-anticipated rollercoaster Turbo Track was officially launched at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi recently. The latest heart-pounding ride burst into life at a high-profile, inaugural event attended by His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral and Luca Fuso, Ferrari’s Chief Brand Officer, along with a host of dignitaries and distinguished guests. “Today, we are celebrating the exceptional story of how a worldclass rollercoaster came to be. We are extremely humbled by the passionate drive that continues to fuel the minds and hearts of our team at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and those who diligently worked behind the scenes to bring this new ride to life,” said Jesse Vargas, General Manager, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

28 April 2017

The official ride opening took place in true Ferrari World Abu Dhabi style, as guests enjoyed a heart-pounding live performance inspired by the story of the ride. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s latest attraction then welcomed its inaugural riders. Turbo Track is another first for the Park, with major structural changes made to the building to accommodate it. The rollercoaster launches guests from inside the park at 102 KMPH through the famous glass funnel, propelling them vertically through the iconic red roof to the highest point on Yas Island at 64 m, before they experience hair-raising zero gravity as they plummet vertically back down. Turbo Track becomes the third ride to be launched at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in the last 12 months. The new heart-pounding ride will add to the full experience at the Park that appeals to thrill-seeking guests and families alike.

NTO

Tourism New Zealand freshens up four-year strategy WH Desk

ourism New Zealand has released its new strategy for the next four years with greater focus on increasing international tourism in the regions and shoulder seasons and working with partners to improve experiences for visitors and Kiwis. Tourism New Zealand’s acting Chief Executive Brighid Kelly said with tourism visitors now at 3.5m a year, spending at $14.5b and the industry the biggest export earner in the country, it is a successful time for the sector. “The new four-year strategy for Tourism New Zealand recognises that success, so makes only slight changes in our direction,” said Kelly.

Brighid Kelly Acting Chief Executive Tourism New Zealand

“Growth brings opportunities and challenges for the industry,” said Kelly. This new strategy is about taking a longer term approach to growing the value of international visitors. The main changes from the previous strategy are a focus on attracting visitors to new regions, encouraging them to arrive during off-peak seasons, and working with the industry and government to improve the tourism experience for visitors and New Zealanders.

“Over the next four years Tourism New Zealand will pursue regional dispersal through region-specific campaigns as well as targeting special interest visitors such as cyclists, golfers and backpackers who visit more regions,” informed Kelly. “We will continue our work on shoulder season marketing with Tourism New Zealand devoting 100% of its marketing to off-peak campaigns. This has

had initial success with shoulder season growing two per cent more than peak season in the last financial year,” she added. “The most important part of tourism is the experience visitors have when here. We will work with industry and government partners and share insights and skills as the ‘Voice of the Visitor’ to make sure tourists keep having world-class experiences and become unofficial brand ambassadors at home. “We will continue to monitor concerns New Zealanders have as tourism grows and take action where we can, such as the work we have done to keep visiting drivers safe on our roads,” said Kelly. Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. In the year ending November 2016, 3.45million international visitors arrived in New Zealand: an increase of 11.7% on the previous year. International tourism is New Zealand’s largest earner of foreign exchange, pumping over $14.5 billion into the economy and directly employing over 188,000 people. The strategy has a mission – to boost New Zealand’s economy by growing the value of international visitors. It is supported by three priorities: Target near and long-term value including shoulder season and regional growth. Strategically manage our markets and sectors. Work with industry to improve experiences for visitors and Kiwis.

India a top market for cruising from Singapore WH Desk

ruising from Singapore is steadily becoming one of the key activities Indian travellers consider when planning their holiday itinerary in the Lion City. In 2016, Singapore reported 1.2 million cruise passengers with a double digit growth of 16% compared to 2015, out of which 100,000 were from India, an increase of 29% over 2015 figures.

Recognising the potential that the segment holds, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) organised the second edition of its India Cruise Forum in Mumbai recently which was attended by 120 people. The day-long forum featured a thought provoking panel that touched on the challenges and opportunities of Growing India’s Cruise Travel Market, led by GB Srithar, Regional Director for South Asia, Middle East & Africa (RD SAMEA), STB with panelists Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, Lotus Destinations (GSA of Costa Cruise India), Naresh Rawal, Vice President Sales, Genting Cruise Lines – Star Cruises, Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises, Suzanne Perreira, Senior Vice President Sales, Trade Relationships and Communications,

Thomas Cook India, Anita Raja, Regional Manager – South India, TIRUN Travel Marketing and Harshali Darpel, Senior Manager – Western India, Cruise Professionals. This was followed by an interactive workshop by Peter Kollar, Head of International Training and Development at Cruise Lines International Association, aimed at educating cruise sellers with the finer techniques of selling Cruise and cruise holidays. “India is a key source market for cruising out of Singapore. STB will continue to work closely with in-market partners to raise awareness of cruising as a great holiday option and sustain the growth of Singapore as a cruising hub in South East Asia,” said G.B Srithar, RD SAMEA, STB.

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NTO

Kuwait to showcase multibillion dollar tourism plan at ATM WH Desk

ith ambitions to welcome 440,000 visitors a year by 2024, the government of Kuwait is pressing ahead with multiple plans that will see billions of dollars invested in projects and a further $1 billion budget earmarked to promote the Gulf state over the same period. Plans are in place to establish a Supreme Commission for Tourism to initiate its tourism strategy as the country prepares to showcase at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre 24-27 April. A number of mega-projects will share the multi-billion dollar development budget, including Madinat Al Hareer and Silk City, a proposed mega-development in the country’s north; the expansion of Kuwait International Airport, reaching 25 million passengers per year capacity by 2025; and cultural attractions such as Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Islamic Centre.

According to figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council, travel and tourism investment in Kuwait is set to rise 1.5% per annum over the next ten years to KWD135.6 million in 2027. The latest Colliers International Kuwait Hospitality Market Snapshot, reports 70% of visitors arrived in Kuwait as corporate

Abu Dhabi expects further growth in hotel guest WH Desk

ccording to figures from Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), 749,650 hotel guests have checked into the emirate’s 170 hotels and hotel apartments in January and February an increase of more than 40,000 guests over the corresponding period last year. More than 4.4 million hotel guests were recorded in the emirate over the course of 2016, which was an 8% increase over 2015. Statistics across guest nights, average length of stay and revenues also offered strong results, with 12,031,628 guest nights recorded. Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “The first two months of this year has seen our key overseas markets continue to perform well, and we remain committed to expanding our outstanding tourism and cultural assets. With our year-round programme of events, we plan to gain further growth across the tourism sector and achieve our target of reaching 4.9 million hotel guests throughout the course of this year.” January saw particularly strong figures, with an 8% increase year-on-year in guest arrivals with the top five visitor source markets - the UAE, India, UK, China and Saudi Arabia continuing to post impressive figures. Al Dhafra Region (formerly known as the Western Region), and Al Ain Region (formerly known as the Eastern Region) continued to post significant length of stay. February witnessed 4% rise in guest arrivals in comparison to February 2016, and an increase of 3% in hotel guest nights with the leading international source markets, China, India, UK and USA. Revenue per available room also rose by 9% while the average room rate rose 10% to AED 451.

30 April 2017

travellers in 2016, with the country’s leisure industry comprising only 6% of total arrivals – hotel performance declined 6% overall for the year as a result. Business spending also suffered losses, falling 2.4% over the course of the year. Key hotel performance indicators showed slight declines in 2016 with ADR down 2.3%, RevPAR down 4.8% and occupancy down 2.6%. Performance is forecast for strong recovery in 2017 with continued growth to 2026, reaching values of KWD501.3 million. Leisure travel spending is expected rise by 4.5% per annum to KWD1,939.1 million in 2026, following an annual growth rate of 8.7% in 2016. This year, ATM will host a number of exhibitors from Kuwait, including the Ministry of Information – Tourism Sector, Holidays Arabia, Kuwait Hotel Owners Association, Kuwait Tourism and Services. ATM – considered by many industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector – witnessed a year-on-year visitor attendance increase of 9% to over 28,500 in 2016, with 2,785 exhibiting companies, signing business deals worth more than US$ 2.5 billion over four days.

HOSPITALITY

Corinthia Hotels appoints Outbound Marketing its representative in India WH Desk

utbound Marketing, one of the leaders in tourism and hospitality representation, has been appointed by Corinthia Hotels as its sales and marketing office in India. The appointment reflects the decision by Corinthia Hotels, a leading hotel company in Europe, to widen and strengthen its brand engagement and awareness as a luxury MICE hotel among Indian travel decision makers and travel industry leaders. Outbound Marketing will be responsible for sales, PR and marketing activities to develop the brand awareness of Corinthia Hotels within India, as well as drive business to its properties. “India is emerging as an important market for the Corinthia group,” said Matthew Dixon, Hotel’s Commercial Director. Outbound Marketing will be able to communicate the benefits and unique experiences that Corinthia properties have to offer to the different segments of Indian travellers. With their excellent network and expertise in the tourism industry, we are confident that we have the right partner on board to help us achieve our goals of growing our Indian market share.” “Corinthia focusses on providing discreet services to their clients, thus being able to service the luxury travellers from India in some of the most exciting destinations in the world, such as London, St Petersburg, Budapest, Prague, Malta and Lisbon to name a few,” said Vasudha Sondhi, Managing Director Outbound Marketing.

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HOSPITALITY

Marriott Hotels launches Resort & Spa in Jaisalmer WH Desk

arriott Hotels continues to expand its portfolio in India with the recent opening of the Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa. The resort, sits in the heart of Jaisalmer, a world heritage city known for its resplendent forts and ornate temples.

The resort is situated just3.3 km away from the Jaisalmer Railway Station, with Jodhpur being the closest airport at a distance of 284 km. The property offers 135 exquisitely designed rooms with 9 suites featuring breathtaking views of the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort and beautiful central oasis. The resort also offers mobile Check-in/Check-out facilities to ensure that guests have a seamless experience at the resort. This application enables Marriott Rewards guests to check-in to their upcoming reservation up to 24 hours in advance, select an estimated arrival time, receive a room-ready alert notification from the hotel, and check out through their mobile device as well. “We want our guests to experience forward-thinking, aesthetically pleasing spaces that help foster their inventive nature,” said Matthew Carroll, Vice President, Marriott Hotels. “Marriott Hotels has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation in travel to create experiences that inspire and encourage our guests’ creativity.”

“Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa reflects the refined sophistication, quiet elegance and exceptional service - attributes that have grown synonymous with the Marriott Hotels brand worldwide. The Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa caters to the entire family with a wide range of entertainment, dining and relaxation options that blend indigenous beauty with the highest standards of hospitality to create truly grand and spectacular memories for our guests” said Rahul Maini, General Manager, Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa. Nestled amongst Jaisalmer’s majestic sand dunes, the resort offers a breathtaking setting for a picture perfect wedding. The resort offers 3251 sq. m of outdoor space surrounded by lush green lawns interspersed with sparkling water bodies which can host up to 1,500 guests, making it the perfect destination for themed weddings & socials events. The resort boasts of a dedicated event planning team quipped with expertise to personalize one’s preferences and needs. The resort has an added 577sq. m of Indoor meeting space that includes three meeting rooms along with the Grand Ballroom.

Marriott to Add 100,000+ Worldwide Travel Experiences WH Desk

arriott International announced it has invested in PlacePass, a pioneering provider of travel technology solutions offering travellers a leading online meta-search platform for in-destination experiences. Global travellers will soon be able to choose from an additional 100,000 plus authentic local experiences in 800 destinations worldwide when they book direct on Marriott.com or SPG.com or their respective apps. Travellers can go to members.marriott.com to learn more about what’s in store and the types of experiences Marriott will offer with PlacePass, as well as the personalised experiences already available to travellers through its loyalty programmes.

“The addition of PlacePass activities and tours beginning later this year reflects Marriott’s commitment to giving our guests a complete travel experience, whether they are in planning mode, staying in our hotels and even in-between stays when they’re thinking about travel,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Marriott International. “We want our guests to count on Marriott to give them access to more of the destinations and things they love to do when they travel.”

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With an ever-increasing array of travel experiences, 30 diverse global brands, and more than 6,000 hotels and resorts in 122 countries and territories, as well as the world’s largest collection of luxury properties, Marriott is uniquely positioned to offer all its guests unrivaled and memorable experiences when they travel. “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to partner with Marriott, an innovative hospitality leader,” said Emily Bernard, Chief Brand Officer and co-founder of PlacePass. “Together with Marriott, we will connect guests to great experiences so they make the most of their travels, connect with locals, and discover the world in new ways.”

HOSPITALITY

W Hotels announces the Opening of W Goa WH Desk

Hotels Worldwide announced the opening of W Goa, located on the internationally renowned Vagator Beach. Poised to redefine the Indian luxury hotel scene in the way that only W Hotels can, the highly anticipated debut marks the brand’s 50thhotel worldwide, bringing the category disruptor one door closer to reaching 75 hotels by 2020. Situated between the verdant jungle and the stunning coastline of Vagator Beach, W Goa features 160 vibrant guestrooms, including Villas, Chalets, a Marvelous Suite and an Extreme WOW Villa. A one hour flight from Mumbai and a 90-minute drive from Goa International Airport, this W Escape overlooks the Arabian Sea and spans25 acres of exotic sandy beach set against the backdrop of a 500-year old Portuguese Fort. W Goa’s destination restaurant, Spice Traders, offers Pan Asian epicurean flavors amplified with sumptuous ocean views and al fresco dining. The Kitchen Table, an all-day restaurant, serves popular local classics and modern interpretations of international favorites. The WET deck bar refuels guests with healthy snacks and delicious cocktails, while the Living Room and WOOBAR transform from comfortable hangout by day, to buzzing lounge by night. And finally, Rock Pool, poised to become the next big party destination in Goa, set high upon a cliff with the ocean crashing below, blending bohemian vibes with sunset beats for the ultimate in late night revelry.

hotel in India, combining the bold design and dynamic lifestyle programming that W is known for with a uniquely Goan-twist.” “With a rich natural environment intertwined with its strong cultural roots and eclectic scene, Goa remains a favorite destination for the Indian community; while at the same time continuing to garner international spotlight,” said Rajeev Meenon, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), Marriott International. “W Goa is set to inject a fresh vibe into the local hospitality scene with the brand’s game-changing style, modern guestrooms, amplified entertainment, and innovative cocktails– all infused with the irresistible mystique of Goa.”

“It’s hard to imagine a more perfect setting for our newest W Escape than Goa, with its electrifying nightlife, vibrant fashion scene, and colorful culture,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “As our first location in India, this highly anticipated debut from the W brand promises to be unlike any other

“Goa is not just a place - it’s a state of mind,” said TJ Joulak, General Manager, W Goa. “Travellers from around the world are drawn to Goa’s irresistible siren song, to delight in Goa’s spirited scenes and rich fusion of global cultures. This energy comes to life at W Goa, where the brand’s passions for fashion, design and music fuel an intoxicating energy that renders each stay an unpredictable, exhilarating trip.”

OYO amplifies brand visibility with ‘MyOYOCity’ campaign

India’s first Heritage Winery Resort opens its doors

WH Desk

YOrecently launched an outdoor campaign called MyOYOCity. The campaign showcased the charm of Indian metros and how every city in India is an OYO city. The campaign ran across 8 cities in India - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow and Ahmedabad. In just three years, OYO has built a strong network across 200 cities in the country through 70,000 rooms in 7,000 hotels. The campaign featured beautiful cityscapes underscored by local OYO network strength to associate it as an OYO city. The intent is to build a strong local connect by showcasing the timeless charm of these metros. Vishal Jain, VP - Growth & Marketing, OYO, said, “MyOYOCity campaign was created to establish that OYO has a comprehensive network and local expertise across the country, and to convey to the onlookers that wherever your travels may take you, you’ll always find OYO’s hassle-free hotels next door. Our demanding urban lifestyles also make us immune to the charm of our surroundings and the large billboards were odes of appreciation to the cities we live in. The 360-degree campaign also included radio spots in 6 cities and amplification on social channels where we received huge engagement.”

WH Desk

stablished in 1998, Sula Vineyards, India’s leading wine producer paved the way for the emergence of Nashik as India’s Wine Capital, thus pioneering the wine tourism movement in India. Adding another ‘first’ to its accomplishments, Sula Vineyards announced the launch of the country’s first heritage winery resort ‘The Source at Sula’. The resort not only showcases an exquisite Tuscan theme, but also opens up to the stunning views of the vineyards. Surrounded by the Deccan hills and stretching to the beautiful Gangapur Lake, guests staying at The Source at Sula can soak in the allure of the mountains and the scenic surroundings. The Source at Sula has 23 unique rooms, including the gorgeous Tower Suite, with its unparalleled vistas like a Van Gogh painting in the words of Sula Founder Rajeev Samant. There are also four charming ‘closer to nature’ Tree Houses. The Source at Sula comes with facilities like a swimming pool, tennis court, spa, gym, and restaurant, along with Sula’s signature wine tourism activities winery tours and tasting sessions with the winemakers.

April 2017 33

HOSPITALITY

Preferred Hotels launches Mobile App and Members-Only rates WH Desk

n response to consumers’ increasing desires to manage travel plans directly from their smartphones – and make sure they are getting the best deal while doing so – Preferred Hotels & Resorts launched a mobile app and member rate program as major enhancements to its points-based hotel rewards program, iPrefer. In celebration of iPrefer and the pursuit of independent travel, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is gifting 25,000 bonus points to iPrefer members who make a booking within the app by April 21, 2017.

iPrefer On the Go – New Mobile App According to a 2016 study conducted by Google in regards to how people use their phones for travel, 60% of smartphone users stated they prefer using a mobile app versus a desktop to manage their loyalty programme activities, and 41% prefer using an app to book their hotel accommodations. Catering directly to this growing preference for on-the-go travel planning, the iPrefer mobile app is designed to provide time-saving, value-rich functionality that will enhance the overall iPrefer experience – before, during, and after every stay. “India is one of the fastest growing travel markets globally, and innovations in technology are significantly influencing the way Indian travellers can explore unique destinations and find independent hotels around the world that offer immersive experiences. The noteworthy benefits of the iPrefer mobile app and member rate program shall further strengthen the rising popularity of the iPrefer program in India, as well as encourage discerning luxury travellers to conveniently book their holidays directly through iPrefer channels for access to competitive rates and valuable benefits upon every stay,” said Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President, Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

Gaggan to open pop-up eatery at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo WH Desk

aggan, the winner of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2017, will open a pop-up eatery at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. Open for three days from 15 to 17 June, Gaggan at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo will present Chef Gaggan Anand’s ‘Progressive Indian Cuisine’ in Japan for the first time. Guests can make the most of the pop-up by booking a special accommodation package at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. Now topping Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for a third year, Bangkok-based Gaggan serves Chef GagganAnand’s widely acclaimed style of cooking that combines local ingredients with traditional Indian spices and modern culinary techniques to create imaginative, flavor some dishes Chef Gaggan will present a 15-course dinner menu at the popup, where space will be limited to 12 diners per sitting (four sittings per day). Table reservations will be taken from 12 April. Seating Times: Four times daily at 18:00, 18:30, 20:30 and 21:00 Location: 37F Signature Restaurant.

ICPB - ICCA Workshop – Bidding for International Conferences WH Desk

CPB - ICCA Workshop on ‘Bidding for International Conferences’ was held on 17-18 March 2017 at Hotel Pullman New Delhi. The workshop was held to update the ICPB members and other Industry stakeholders on how to make a winning bid for bagging International Conferences for India. Chander Mansharamani, Vice Chairman ICPB said: “Bringing an international congress to your country can be a crowning achievement of a professional career’. ‘It not only raises the profile of a national industry but can also make a long-term impact on elevating benchmarks of performance in that industry, help build and maintain relationships with customers and ultimately provides economic boost to the sector.” The program was inaugurated by Suman Billa, Joint Secretary Tourism / Chairman ICPB who emphasised on the importance of the MICE Sector for the economy and how such

34 April 2017

workshops provide the momentum to accelerate the process of bringing India firmly on the global MICE map. The faculty comprised of experts from ICCA and from the Indian Industry - Noor Ahmad Hamid, Regional Director Asia Pacific, ICCA, Jason Yeh, Board of Directors, ICCA GIS Group, Taipei, Arjun Narne, Director, KW Conferences Pvt. Ltd, India, Priti Khanna, Chairperson, MCI Management India Pvt. Ltd, Professor Devendra K Gupta, Professor and Head, Department of Paediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

CRUISE

Tirun offers 30% savings on all Europe sailings

apestries of historic, culture, architecture, museums, breathe taking sceneries and quaint towns with old world charm await you in Europe. Tirun, exclusive India representative of Royal Caribbean International offers the best of Europe experience. Start your amazing journey with Rome, Italy, Corsica and Spain, all popular for archaeological and artistic treasures and exceptional cuisine. A cruise vacation to Europe is definitely a feast for the senses. Indulge in fun-filled festive activities, visit exotic locales and enjoy cruise surrounded by friends and family. Cruisers will be spoilt for choice as there are an astounding number of first at sea activities along with award winning live-entertainment including broadways, ice-skate shows, music, fun games for the whole family, a lavish feast with global cuisine, and an adrenaline-filled holiday, to name just a few items on the itinerary. Tirun Offers 30% savings on all Europe sailings. One can explore over 90 ports in Europe onboard 8 cruise ships.

Package Inclusion: Shipboard accommodation as reserved and paid for Ocean transportation per itinerary All meals Some non-alcoholic beverages available in vending machines (including, tea, coffee, lemonade and iced-tea) 24-hours Room Service*

Voyage: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise

Recreation and entertainment as provided onboard

Sailing Date: 25th June 2017

All guests have unlimited free access to almost all public areas on board the ship

Ship: Jewel of the Seas Departing From: Rome Ports of Call: Rome (civitavecchia), Italy - Cannes, France - Ajaccio, Corsica - Barcelona, Spain - Palma de mallorca, Spain - Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy - Cruising - Rome (civitavecchia), Italy

Price: Starting at USD 982 per person Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Taxes and fees are additional. Conditions apply.

Off-the-Grid in Andheri West

EATING OUT

Off-the-Grid offers a tranquilizing dining experience complemented by sumptuous cuisine, brewed beers and exquisite cocktails

guests forget the hustle bustle of daily life and bask in the relaxing atmosphere. The ethnic cuisine on offer complements the mood by providing a range of exotic delicacies that will entice the taste buds of every guest.

Off-the-Grid aims at changing the dining out culture in Mumbai by offering superlative cuisine from locally sourced ingredients paired with a range of freshly brewed beer and cocktails based on modern mixology in an ambience best suited to unwind, relax and have a good time.

Guests get to enjoy their food and drinks in a rustic ambience that exudes serenity and peace. The restaurant aims at making

Avinash Singh, Owner, Off-the-Gridsaid, “We are excited to launch our brasserie themed restaurant – Off-the-Grid. With this restaurant, guests now have an option to unwind, relax and be transported to the country side in Mumbai itself.”

he much anticipated brasserie themed restaurant, Off-theGrid was launched in Andheri recently. The restaurant offers guests an ideal location to sit back and unwind in the relentless summer heat, while enjoying sumptuous ethnic cuisine with locally sourced ingredients and satiating drinks.

Executive Chef Juliano Rodriguez, Off-the-grid commented “The restaurant offers an irresistible range of cuisine and cocktails. Our endeavour is to promote slow-cooked ethnic cuisine among the people dining at the restaurant and provide a relaxing getaway from the commercial bustle of the city. We intend to provide an unforgettable dining experience to guests, which they will relish for a long time.” In line with the launch, the restaurant is offering week-long steal deals – freshly brewed in-house beers for INR 51 only for a limited period. Guests can choose from a variety of brewed beers like the light Mumbai Blonde to the strong flavours of Bold and the beautiful. Guests can try out Fallen Chocolate Stoute, Honey bee honey and much more.

April 2017 35

FACTS & FIGURES

India remains top source market for GCC countries

Major tourism hotspots in the GCC are experiencing a surge in Indian visitors as the region prepares to showcase its offering to leisure and business travellers at this year’s Arabian Travel Market, at Dubai World Trade Centre, April 24-27. WH Desk

n both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, India was the top performing source market in 2016. In Dubai, 1.8 million nationals arrived last year compared to 1.6 million in 2015 and in Abu Dhabi, which welcomed a record-breaking 4.4 million visitors in total in 2016, 323,388 were Indian. According to the figures from Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, this marks an increase of 15% on 2015. In Oman, three million tourists visited the Sultanate in 2016, of which 299,568 were Indian. Historically, numbers increased 17% in 2015 compared to 2014 and, over the last five years, Oman has seen a 60% increase in the total number of arrivals from India. Earlier this year, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister of Interior, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the topic of visas on arrival for Indian nationals. When the new regulations are introduced, the transit market is also set to benefit, bringing even higher numbers into Qatar and building on the 182,920 who visited in the first half of 2016. Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “The number of visitors to the GCC from India has been strong for a number of years due to the excellent political, trade and business links the region enjoys with its neighbour.

UNWTO (United Nations World Travel Organisation) data shows that 62 million Indians have passports, yet many do not travel. However, the demographic patterns we see currently – an increasing younger population and a growing middle class – provide strong indications that the country is about to see a steep rise in the number of nationals travelling abroad, as well as the number of foreign visitors it welcomes. India has been named the largest growing outbound tourism market in percentage terms, with the UNWTO predicting 50 million Indians will travel overseas annually by 2020.

Although more than 300 flights a week already operate between Abu Dhabi and major Indian cities, in 2016 Etihad Airways announced an expansion of its Indian network through its partner Jet Airways with the two airlines expanding their services by 28 weekly flights and three new destinations. Last year, Air India Express also added three non-stop flights from Sharjah to both Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli; and in Dubai, airport authorities set a target to add 50,000 seats per week to existing Indian routes. Press said: “The GCC has positioned itself as a perfect stopover destination for travellers from India who are going on for business purposes, or to visit family, in countries such as the UK and Canada, both of which boast large Indian populations. Countries in the region are therefore looking to capitalise on this by encouraging them to make stopover visits.” According to figures published by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the number of overnight visitors flocking to the emirate in 2016 rose to 14.9 million from 14.2 million a year earlier, led by visitors from India, Saudi Arabia and the UK. There is expected to be a further increase in Indian visitors in 2017 largely due to the opening of the Bollywood Theme Park at Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR). Inspired by Bollywood blockbusters, the park is part of the wider DPR development, which also includes Legoland Dubai and Motiongate Dubai. Opened at the end of October 2016, the official projection for visitor numbers in 2017 stands at more than six million, with ambitions to welcome 19 million a year by 2020.

ATM Global Stage to open with Expo 2020 legacy debate

he legacy of Expo 2020 is set to come under the spotlight on Arabian Travel Market’s Global Stage, returning for the 2017 show at Dubai World Trade Centre, from April 24 to 27. Expo 2020, between October 2020 and April 2021, will bring together more than 180 nations and is expected to host an international audience of 25 million visitors. Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “Early forecasts are that 70% of visitors will hail from outside of the UAE, representing the largest international visitor contribution in Expo history. While the short-term goal is to deliver an exceptional sixmonth event, we have secured a top panel who will discuss how

36 April 2017

Dubai and the wider UAE can capitalise on its success and ensure there is a lasting legacy.” ‘Expo 2020 Dubai: The Legacy’, chaired by UAE broadcaster Richard Dean, kicks off proceedings at 12.30 on Monday, April 24, the opening day of ATM 2017. Four VIP speakers have been confirmed to participate in the high-level discussion, including: Marjan Faraidooni, Vice President, Legacy Impact & Development, Expo 2020; Issam Kazim, CEO, DTCM; Anita Mehra, SVP Communications & Reputation, Dubai Airports; and Deidre Wells, OBE CEO UKinbound.

April 2017 37

APPOINTMENT

Dennis WU VP Operation at Glocal Junction Foodlink Service India

Harshad Nalawade Food & Beverage Manager JW Marriott Pune

Chef Sudeep Sinha New Executive Alila Diwa Goa

Dennis joins the group with a vision to bring his expertise in operations to the fast growing restaurant chain. Coming with years of experience, he has worked with all the best hospitality companies in the world such as the Grand Hyatt, JW Marriott and Royal Caribbean International. He was the part of pre opening team of an international chain of restaurants Ping Pong and has managed 43 different nationalities as a Windjammer Supervisor as part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Harshad will be responsible to execute key operations and planning across all the F&B outlets such as Alto Vino, Spice Kitchen, Shakahari, Mi-A-Mi, Pune Baking Company, Bar 101& Pasha. He will be instrumental in processes such as Restaurant Operations, Guest Experience Management, Administration, Revenue Forecast, F&B Strategy, Concept Promotions, Cost Control, Beverage Initiatives, HR and Training. While his association with JW Marriott goes back 12 years, Harshad carries with him over 16+ years of cross-functional exposure across Hospitality/ Hotel Industry.

Chef Sudeep comes with more than 14 years of experience in the luxury hotel and restaurant space and is raring to add new dimensions to the offerings at Alila Diwa Goa. He began his culinary career with Trident Jaipur and later joined the Taj Westend Bangalore where he climbed the ranks to become Chef de Partie. After which he relocated to Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur and in 2010 to Vivanta by Taj, Panjim â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Goa, where he was promoted to Executive Sous Chef in 2013.

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In – Conversation with

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