November16 by whereabouts

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Volume III Issue III NOVEMBER 2016

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Visit for All Reasons & All Seasons

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

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MoT

Tourist traffic from Japan to India can be increased five folds says Suman Billa

Technical & Web Support 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

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Visit for 20 All Reasons & All Seasons

EDITOR’S NOTE Whereabouts

Philip Island Top Eight Reasons to Visit

24 Check-in

Dear Readers, Being proactive in world’s most potential markets such as the US, UK, Russia, Germany and France etc. is excellent but we should not ignore our neighbouring countries and today we are talking about Japan, which is again a very potential market from India’s perspective. Despite having a strong business relationship, we are lacking in attracting the deserving number of travellers from this country. As per the expert opinion the inbound traffic from Japan can be increased five folds from its current level. That’s very interesting!

ORCHARD

Luxury Tented Resort in Pushkar

However, the saddest part of the story is that apart from the golden triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur), the Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) could not promote any other destination in Japan, which is a big question mark on our marketing and promotional activities. This is very unfortunate for a country like India which is the home of world popular Buddhist sites along with a host of rich culture, wellness, adventure and leisure destinations. And we cannot ignore this feedback as it comes from the President of Japan Association of Travel Agents. He reveals that people in Japan don’t know anything beyond the Golden Triangle. Since the government is very aggressive nowadays, we hope it will concentrate on several issues that hindering the growth, and make its presence felt in Japan once again. On the Cover : Charminar, Hyderbad,Telangana

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NTO

PATA appoints Young Tourism Professional Ambassador

he Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has appointed Jie Cheng Wong as Young Tourism Professional Ambassador effective January 1, 2017. This new role has been created as part of the association’s continuing commitment to the development of young tourism professionals. In her new role Wong reports to PATA’s Director – Human Capital Development Parita Niemwongse. “The development of human capital is one of our industry’s biggest challenges and it is vitally important that we engage and inspire the next generation of leaders,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “JC joined our organisation as an Associate Intern before accepting a full-time position as Communications and Marketing Assistant. She is the perfect candidate to connect with dynamic young industry professionals and I am sure that she will revel in this new role as our Young Tourism Professional Ambassador.” PATA has established a new membership category exclusively for young tourism

professionals and Miss Wong’s activities will centre upon the launch and development of a programme of youth-centric activities throughout the year. She will also manage and further develop the network of PATA student chapters, working closely with the Association’s events team to ensure that students and young professionals are given the opportunity to attend and participate at PATA events.

OTA

Explore the Scotland of East ‘Meghalaya’ with Travelyaari

ravelyaari, an online bus booking platform, announces an enthralling journey to Meghalaya this winter. Meghalaya the hidden treasure trove with waterfalls, mountains, trekking trails is a perfect gateway to experience and explore the nature’s beauty. The Travelyaari trip hosts various adventure trails, treks, kayaking and cliff jumping for those looking for an extra bit of adventure. This seven days trip will give a chance to travellers to explore the hidden treasures like Umiam Lake,TyrnaVillage, Living Root Bridge, Rainbow Falls, Shongpdeng, Langkawat, Laitlum, Kshaid Lwai waterfall to name a few. The adventure junkies can enjoy activities like kayaking and cliff jumping. Reaching Guwahati, the journey would start to Shillong with an optional stopover

6 November 2016

en-route at a photography point where one can capture pictures of Umiam Lake. The next day the traveller can trek to Living Root Bridges with the local guide. Moving ahead from Nongriat the journey would lead to Rainbow falls and Shnongpdeng. Enroute to Smit, one can take a detour to popular viewpoint called Laitlum and Kshaid Lwai waterfall. The tour ends at Langkawet.

Oman ranked among top ten travel destinations

man has been ranked eighth in the world among top countries to visit in 2017 by the Lonely Planet travel guide. The ‘Best in Travel 2017’ list by the travel guide features Oman in the annual list for the first time since 2009 and is the only country from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that made it to the list. It also ranks Oman third after Nepal and Mongolia, among the four Asian countries featured in the list. The ‘Best in Travel 2017’ also features top cities, regions and valued destinations. Oman has been the ace in Arabia’s pack for a while, but with more flights than ever before and several high-end hotels opening soon, the country looks ready to give its GCC counterparts a tough competition. Luxury accommodation including the award-winning duo of Six Senses on the Musandam Peninsula and Alila in the Hajar Mountains has long had a foothold here, but glitzy properties from Anantara, Kempinski and other high-end names are also slated to open soon.

NEWS IN BRIEF MoT

PM Modi set to be mascot of ‘Incredible India’ campaign

where he has talked about tourism in India and abroad, will be used for the campaign.The ministry is planning to use for radio and audio release two types of videos of different durations where Modi had talked about the uniqueness and diversity of the various places in the country, the official said.

ccording to the PTI the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to be the mascot of ‘Incredible India’ campaign with the tourism ministry finally deciding to do away with plans to rope in any Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, for the role which was lying vacant after ouster of Aamir Khan earlier this year. No Bollywood actor will be engaged for the campaign aimed at attracting foreign travellers and video footages of Modi during the last two-and-a-half years

At present, the ministry is working on selecting the footages, the official said, adding that the campaign would be released in the next 40-45 days as the Indian ‘tourism season’ starts by November-end due to favourable weather as also the Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations. The official said the process of selecting the agency, which will carry out the task of running the campaign, is also under the process. Earlier, tourism minister Mahesh Sharma had endorsed Modi’s persona for the role, saying he is the “best face” to promote Incredible India campaign. He had asserted that the country has witnessed a jump in the tourists inflow from the countries the Prime Minister had visited. He had said that the ministry need not have any Bollywood face for the campaign to attract tourists from overseas.

ASSOCIATION

OTA

Rajeev Kohli re-elected SITE Board President

leartrip, in association with OML, launches ‘First Cut’ a programme that will feature events under comedy, music and storytelling genres. The first version of First Cut will see 27 events being held across the metros; New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. The cities will witness an enthralling performance by artistes such as Kanan Gill, Zakir Khan, among others. With this, Cleartrip is set to indulge people in a riveting musical and comedy experience, live on stage.

uring its Global Conference in Panama, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) announced a distinguished list of global industry leaders that will serve on the SITE International Board of Directors and SITE Foundation Board of Trustees effective 1st January 2017. Rajeev Kohli, CIS, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, India, has been elected as SITE Board President for a second term. Reacting on this historical achievement Rajeev Kohli said,“It is an honor to be re-elected to lead such a strong and diverse group of global incentive travel leaders and passionate advocates of SITE’s vision.” “I am excited to continue working with the board, chapter leaders and members around the world to build on the progress achieved in 2016, continue to expand our membership and advance our strategic goals,” he added.

Cleartrip launches new programme First Cut

Rajeev Kohli, CIS Joint Managing Director Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd

This exclusive content, in association with strategic partner OML, will be available on Cleartrip Local for customers to book instantly. Subramanya Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Cleartrip said, “Cleartrip ‘First Cut’ enhances our ‘Local’ product with original content production. An exclusive platform for artistes, it will give our customers unique content to consume while they are in a particular city. We will further invest in such formats to give customers more reason to interact with Cleartrip Local.”

November 2016 7

ASSOCIATION

The 63rd Annual Convention of TAAI highlights growing travel trends WH Desk

he Indian Travel Congress 2016 organised by Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) from October 14-16, 2016 at Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE showcased the city to its members and built on new opportunities. The Convention & Exhibition of TAAI was held at the famous Emirates Palace Hotel. More than 700 delegates including members of the media fraternity participated at the event. ‘Tomorrow Begins Now’ the theme of the convention highlighted the fast growing travel trends in the industry while laying focus on how agents can tap on new opportunities. The convention showcased the emirate as the cultural hub of the Middle East, blending history with modern experiential offerings. While addressing the gathering, Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI, said, “This year’s, Convention will always be recalled for the most outstanding manner it was presented to the delegates amidst the best of convention venues in the world. Organizing a Convention of this huge magnitude in less

than 40 days strongly reflects the great team effort by our members and invaluable support from our partners in the industry.” The success of the event is a strong attribute of TAAI and its eminence” Abu Dhabi is a great tourism destination and we are happy to introduce it to the world. The aura, glamour and richness of the city makes it an ideal destination in the Middle East and through this event we plan to build more tourism between both the countries.”

Addressing the gathering, Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA, said, “In the first half of this year, we have already received 152,000 tourists which represents a 20 per cent year on year increase from the India market. Indian guests account for seven per cent of hotel stays with an average of 3.4 hotel room nights, which is slightly longer than their average stay in the emirates.”

GDS

Travelport continues its industry leadership in air merchandising

WH Desk

ravelport has continued to build momentum with its industry leading merchandising technology and is celebrating a number of achievements at the CAPA Aviation Summit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Over 180 airlines are now live with and have implemented Travelport Rich Content and Branding, the innovative solution that allows airlines to merchandise their full offering to Travelport-connected travel agencies around the world. This means agents can search and access full information, including visuals, on the airline’s branded fares and ancillaries, empowering them to sell more effectively to their customers and increase revenues. Online travel agencies can also

8 November 2016

make this information available direct to their customers via Travelport’s Universal API and offer airlines’ branded fares and ancillaries direct to its customers.

Derek Sharp, Travelport’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Air Commerce, commented, “Travelport is continuing to demonstrate a real leadership position in both its merchandising and mobile capabilities for airlines. By using our innovative technology, they can better explain their products and services to travel agencies as well as direct to the end traveller.” Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Commercial Officer, ITQ, said, “With our exclusive solutions we are enabling airlines to harness the power of distributing their ancillary services through three main components

Sandeep Dwivedi Chief Commercial Officer ITQ

of Travelport Merchandising Platform i.e. Aggregated Shopping, Rich Content & Branding and Ancillary services which provides distinctive diversification of products, helping travel agents to combine and offer solutions that seem tailor made for their customers.”

ASSOCIATION

SITE Global Conference illuminates Panama as an emerging incentive destination The SITE Global Conference, 5-7 November in Panama City, featured compelling education, dazzling events and vibrant tours that illuminated Panama as an emerging incentive destination. WH Desk

ore than 300 attendees from 31 countries came together to discuss important issues in the incentive travel industry, trade best practices and take a deep dive into Panamanian culture. Notable experiences from the event include an evening reception at the Miraflores Locks

at the Panama Canal (pictured), an Annual General Meeting of Members which featured updates from both SITE and the SITE Foundation and an Incentive Marketplace where buyers and sellers could mingle. Serving a second term as SITE President in 2017, Rajeev Kohli, CIS commented on the event’s success. “SITE Global Conference has come to an end, and what an event it was, with over 300 of the finest incentive travel professionals from across the world, some of the best education, an once-in-a-lifetime experience walking across the locks of the Panama Canal, and amazing evening events.” “I am speechless for words to express my gratitude to our Panamanian hosts, our members, our staff and especially my international board. You just know when a job is well done; you know when you are allowed to swell up with pride. I am so privileged to lead the SITE family into 2017,” he added.

SITE Italy Excellence Award

SITE Scotland Excellence Award

At the final night gala, SITE Members and Chapters were recognized for their excellence and service to the SITE community in 2016. SITE Chapter of the Year and Chapter Excellence Awards: Chapter of the Year: SITE Canada (pictured)

SITE GC Final Nite

Excellence in Education: SITE Italy Excellence in Special Event: SITE Southern California Excellence in Membership: SITE Scotland SITE Member Awards: Member of the Year: Brian Mordecai, Director of Group Sales, Viceroy Hotel Group and Co-Chair of SITE Incentive Summit Americas Kevin Forde Spirit Award: Wichita Villacres, Owner/Director, ECO Destination Management Services and past president of the SITE Florida & Caribbean Chapter Richard Ross Past President’s Award: Martin Lewis, Managing DIrector, CAT Publications

SITE GC Final Nite Host Committee

David Riddell Memorial Scholarship: Stephanie Dhima, Sales Manager, Event Partners Ireland

November 2016 9

AVIATION

Air Seychelles announces major expansion in Europe & Indian Ocean in 2017 WH Desk

ir Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has announced a major fleet and network expansion that will see the airline introduce a second Airbus A330 aircraft, commence non-stop services to Düsseldorf (Germany) and Durban (South Africa), and significantly strengthen its existing regional network in early 2017. The airline plans to establish the air bridge between Seychelles and Germany on 30 March, 2017, by launching a twice-per-week service to Düsseldorf, in western Germany. To further strengthen its European network, Air Seychelles will also upgrade its Paris service from three to four flights per week, with effect from 28 March 2017, giving more travel options to holidaymakers visiting Seychelles from France.

enhancing air access to our archipelago and bringing more holiday makers and business people to our shores.” “Both stakeholders, the Government of Seychelles and Etihad Airways fully support the airline’s plan to develop its European network by establishing a non-stop connection to Germany, a strategicallyimportant market that is currently the second-largest source of inbound tourism after France.

Effective 30 March 2017, the Seychelles flag carrier will also commence a twice-weekly service to South Africa’s port city of Durban, an important trade hub that is home to over three million people, complementing its existing five-a-week service to Johannesburg.

More than 29,200 people from Germany have visited Seychelles so far this year, representing an increase of nine per cent over 2015, demonstrating the importance of opening up air links to this part of the world. Together with the new service to Durban, additional flights to Paris and increased regional capacity, these developments will lay the foundations for solid long-term growth of the Seychelles national airline and country’s economy.

Roy Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, said, “Air Seychelles has grown extensively and robustly in 2016 and is now ready to embark on the next exciting chapter of its evolution, further

The airline’s second Airbus A330 aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in the last week of March 2017 and will have a two cabin configuration with 18 Business Class and 236 Economy Class seats.

WH Desk

Turkish launches an SWISS reports CHF 194m innovative in-flight EBIT for the third-quarter safety video

n order to enhance security and passenger protection during air transport operations Turkish Airlines, Europe’s best airline for six consecutive years according to Skytrax, produced a new in-flight safety video featuring filmmaker and social media phenomenon Zach King. With the significant growth in the number of first time or irregular travellers over the recent years, Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other airline, chose to leverage illusions to improve the safety level on-board. The main purpose of the video is to keep passengers’ attention high during the explanation of important safety procedures using the power of magic. “With safety being the number one priority at all levels of our airline, creating concise and engaging safety communications has become extremely important”, said M. İlkerAycı, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines. “Here at Turkish Airlines we constantly strive to find the most effective and innovative ways to deliver excellent service and overachiever passenger expectations ensuring the highest level of security during all of our operations.”

10 November 2016

WH Desk

wiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has reported earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of CHF 194 million for the third quarter of 2016, a 4.0% increase on the same period last year. EBIT for the first nine months of the year amounted to CHF 348 million. The 13.2% decline on January-to-September 2015 is due primarily to non-recurring items which boosted the prior-year earnings; the beneficial effects of new collective labour agreements for cockpit and cabin personnel and a more favourable currency hedging result. Total income from operating activities amounted to CHF 3,571 million for the first nine months of 2016, a 2.6% decline from the CHF 3,666 million of the same period last year. Third-quarter operating income stood at CHF 1,293 million, a 1.3% decline (Q3 2015: CHF 1,310 million). The lower revenues are largely the result of a strong Swiss franc, which enables competitors to lower their prices and thus put pressure on SWISS’s revenue flows. Elaborating more on this Thomas Klühr, CEO, SWISS said, “2016 has always been a year of implementation for us. In introducing the new Boeing 777-300ER on our long-haul network, putting our first Bombardier C Series aircraft into service on our short- and medium-haul routes and migrating to a new central reservation and departure control system, we have given ourselves several sizeable challenges.

AVIATION

Mega Maldives launches direct nonstop flights from Delhi to Male WH Desk

ega Maldives Airlines, the largest international airline of the Maldives will be opening a new chapter in Indian aviation with launch of non-stop flights between Indian and Maldives. Starting, November 15, 2016 Mega Maldives will connect passengers from New Delhi and Male’ three times a week. The airline offers Rs 40, 000 for business and 26, 800 for economy class return airfare from Delhi to Male.

“We are thrilled with the positive response both in India and in Maldives to our new services to India. The resort and hospitality community of Maldives is clearly throwing open their doors to an excited and dynamic Indian market,” said George Weinmann, Founder & Chief Executive Office, Mega Maldives Airline. “The Maldives is consistently ranked among the world’s best tourist destinations. It is also increasingly popular with Indian tourists with over 52,000 guests arriving in 2015, and growing at almost 20% per year in recent years, ” he added.

As the first non-stop service between the two capital cities, Mega Maldives Airlines provides significant advantages to what is available in the market. At a journey time of just 3Hrs 40Min (outbound) and 4Hrs and 20Min (Inbound), this is the fastest and only non-stop connection between the two cities, cutting journey times on other existing flight options by between 2-8 hours. Mega Maldives will provide world class services on this route on board the ‘Queen of Skies’ - Boeing 737-800 as per the schedule. For leisure travellers and business travellers, the flight schedule provides significant benefits. Configured with 12 business class and 156 economy class seats, passengers will be able to enjoy premium onboard services with the latest Boeing Sky Interior. It departs from Delhi at the convenient time of 8:50am (Tue, Sun) and 10am (Fri) and arrives into the Maldives just after mid-day to make the best use of hotel check-in times and sea-plane transfers. Similarly, the flight departs Maldives at 3:15pm, allowing guests to enjoy their hotels in the morning before

George Weinmann Founder & CEO Mega Maldives Airline

transferring to the airport conveniently right after check-out. For business travellers, the schedule allows a convenient the option of arriving into the Male on Sunday (the first working day in the Maldives) and departing either the next day, or an option to arrive on Tuesday for a 2 night option before departing on Thursday (the last working day of the week in Maldives). For more information, please visit www.flymega.aero

Air China resumes non- stop Beijing-Mumbai-Beijing flight strengthening our relations,” said Xia Baohui, General Manager, China Airlines. “In our continuous endeavor to build our brand and increase loyalty among travellers, we have launched an offer of 30% discount on base fare,” he added.

WH Desk

ir China announced the resumption of non-stop service between Beijing and Mumbai from 30th October 2016. Air China remains one of the leading airlines with worldwide operations and it has taken this strategic move to strengthen its existing services by introducing brand new Airbus A330-300 to its operation for India. Air China offers its guests 3 comfortable cabins i.e. Business, Premium Economy & Economy. There has been a significant increase in people travelling to China from Mumbai in the last couple of years. Air China is extremely proud to have their network reach Mumbai, an important destination in India. Mumbai is the financial capital of India and home to several affluent business families and Bollywood – the world’s 3rd largest film industry. “India is one of the top emerging countries in the world with fast economic growth.

The flight Mumbai, India to Beijing, P.R. China will operate four times in a week i.e., Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. Passengers will also have return flight services from Beijing, P.R. China to Mumbai, India four times a week i.e., Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday. Xia Baohui General Manager China Airlines

India as a country also offers significant opportunities for air travel growth. Adding strategic destinations to our network over the next few years will play a crucial role in helping us to achieve our targets and

Airbus A330-300 has a seating capacity of 301 passengers which offers 30 seats in Business class, 16 seats in Premium Economy and 255 seats in Economy Class. The outbound flight will depart from Mumbai at 02:30 IST and arrive in Beijing at 11:30 CST. The return flight will depart from Beijing at 19:40 CST and will arrive next day in Mumbai at 01:00 IST.

November 2016 11

AVIATION

Emirates customer can apply for UAE visa using their mobile device WH Desk

ustomers of Emirates Airline flying to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can now apply for a visa using their mobile devices. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in visa application, applicants anywhere in the world can use the mobile app, launched by Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC), to complete the entire visa application process for an UAE visa using mobile devices. Smartphone and tablet users can download the free DVPC Mobile App from Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store. Customised versions of the app are available for iOS and Android devices. Through the app, passengers can apply for the 96-hours, 30-days or 90-days single entry visas, based on their Emirates itinerary. Customers may apply up to 4 international working days in advance of their Emirates flight departure date. For last-minute applications, customers may apply using the Express visa service as late as two international working days prior to flight departure. Speaking about the innovation, Essa Sulaiman Ahmad - VP (India & Nepal), Emirates, said, “The launch of the Mobile App will allow our customers in India an even more convenient way to apply and complete their entire visa process through their phones. At Emirates, we are always looking for initiatives to enhance our customers’ experience online.”

Essa Sulaiman Ahmad VP (India & Nepal) Emirates

Vinay Malhotra COO – South Asia and DVPC VFS Global

Commented Vinay Malhotra, COO – South Asia and DVPC, VFS Global, “We are in a constantly evolving environment in terms of developing best-in-class technologies, and with this app, we aim to deliver exceptional levels of service and enhanced convenience for travellers. The DVPC Mobile App will serve as a one-stop shop for UAE visa applicants, offering users an end-to-end platform for UAE visa applications.”

Air India to resume Delhi-Tehran flights

Etihad Airways goes double daily to Dublin year-round WH Desk

tihad Airways announced the introduction of an additional daily year-round service between Abu Dhabi and Dublin which increases frequency on the route to 14 flights a week, effective 1 April 2017. The second daily operation, from the beginning of the Summer 2017 season, reflects Etihad Airways’ long-term commitment to the route, and coincides with the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s 10thanniversary of flying to the Irish capital. Operating with a two-class Airbus A330-200 offering 22 Business and 240 Economy Class seats, the extra daily service will give guests more travel options at convenient timings, and greater connectivity to key markets across the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent, Asia and Australia. Business and leisure travellers will be able to enjoy double daily connections via Abu Dhabi to several key destinations, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, and daily connections to markets such as Brisbane, Perth, Beijing, Tokyo and Phuket. The extra capacity will provide a boost to tourism in Ireland, with visitors from around the world benefitting from a greater choice of flights for a short or long break in a country known for its warmth and hospitality. More frequencies will also double cargo capacity each week to facilitate greater movement of international freight to and from Dublin.

12 November 2016

s per The Hindu, Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India, plans to fly four times a week from Delhi to Tehran from early next year. It will become the first Indian airline to operate flights to Tehran after lifting of Western sanctions against Iran. Air India used to operate flights to Tehran from Mumbai in 1993-94. Air India Express Chief Executive Officer, K. Shyamsundar said the airline will start flight operations to Iran in March-April next year. “We are very upbeat about it and we do believe the route has a huge potential as Iranians are keen to travel onwards from Delhi to Goa.” He informed that Air India Express will get into a code-share arrangement with Air India to offer seamless connecting flights to Goa from Delhi. “Besides tourists coming in from Iran in chartered planes to Goa, there are Iranian students who travel to Pune for studies.” Air India is expected to write to Exim Bank, U.S., to inform them about its plan to operate the Tehran flight as Air India Express aircraft is financed through a loan from Exim Bank. It required as Iran was under global sanctions until recently.

November 2016 13

MoT

Regular conclave of state tourism ministers is planned to catalyze tourism development Jai Kishan Kaparwan

regular Conclave of State Tourism Ministers is planned to catalyze tourism development it was revealed by Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture while participating in a Panel of Tourism Ministers from the States of Nagaland, Punjab and Telangana at the outset of Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit-2016. Dr. Sharma stated that the Government would shortly come out with a plan for disinvestment of hotels under Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). “The challenge is to raise the share of tourism in India’s GDP from about 7% currently and since tourism is a state subject, the role of state governments is critical. The World Economic Forum in its recent Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index has ranked India 13 places higher at 52 as compared to 65 in the previous edition,” said Dr Mahesh Sharma. Sohan Singh Thandal, Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Government

of Punjab, highlighted Punjab’s potential for religious tourism and sites relating to India’s freedom struggle. He stated that funding is required for completing incomplete tourism projects. He also emphasized the need for a good environment for tourism including safety of women, education of police personnel, and road infrastructure, among others. Punjab’s bhangra and pop music has captured the attention of audiences everywhere, and the state can capitalize on this,” he added. Azmeera Chandulal, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Government of Telengana, spoke about the advantages of Hyderabad as an attractive destination. It offers rich handicrafts and Cybercity as well as festivals and medical facilities. He outlined the target of attracting 1 million tourists by 2020. Hyderabad should emerge as a ‘must-visit’ city, he stressed. C Apok Jamir, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Nagaland, said that the North East is a crucial link in the Central Government’s Act East policy of connecting to South East Asia. He lauded the Central

Dr Mahesh Sharma Minister for Tourism & Culture Government of India

Government’s emphasis on development of the North East, which he felt would help bridge the ‘emotional gap’ and create a sense of oneness and belonging. Nagaland has a rich cultural heritage of 16 major tribes. Its Hornbill Festival showcasing tribal culture has become a big attraction. “For a small state like Nagaland, tourism is the future,” he concluded.

OTA

Cox & Kings introduces money transfer solutions in partnership with UAE Exchange India WH Desk

aking a foray into the money transfer business in India, Cox & Kings Ltd, the leading holidays and education travel group, has partnered with UAE Exchange India, the leading financial institution, to provide inward remittance and domestic money transfer services in India. This strategic venture will enable Indians living abroad to conveniently remit funds to their families in India, with easy and flexible transfer options. This association will expand the current network of collection centres and reach out to a broad category of consumers across the country. Cox & Kings has identified

14 November 2016

select locations within India, from where the customers can avail this service. There are no charges applicable to the recipient in India. Besides foreign inward money, domestic money transfer services will also be available at the designated Cox & Kings’ outlets through this process. Ravi Menon, Head Foreign Exchange, Cox & Kings said, “The strategic partnership will help us enter the money transfer business in India which is the largest recipient of remittance in the world. People who are expecting money from their relatives or friends abroad can now use our wide network of branches across India” The facility of inward remittance will provide a convenient and quick mechanism

for Indians working abroad to send money to their families in India and also benefit foreign tourists visiting India. The money will be received in minutes and all that the recipient has to do is visit one of the designated locations to collect their money. V George Antony, Managing Director, UAE Exchange said, “The strategic partnership with Cox & Kings will cater the rising demands of inward and domestic remittance through the swift and secure money transfer services.’’ Anybody can transfer equivalent of US $ 2,500 to India as per the present Money Transfer guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India. An Indian national can receive 30 such remittances in a financial year.

MoT

Tourist traffic from Japan to India can be increased five folds says Suman Billa Keeping in mind the rich tourism products especially in Buddhist segment that India has to offer the inbound traffic from Japan can be increased five folds from its current level says Suman Billa, Joint Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Government of India while speaking at the outset of maiden Indo Japan Tourism Summit organised in New Delhi recently. Rajesh Tiwari

ndia and Japan have immense opportunities to get a chunk of business from tourism sector. India needs to leverage the potential of tourism to get more from this market. Currently Japan is the 10th largest source market for India in terms of inbound tourist arrivals. Almost 2.07 lakh travellers from Japan visited India during the previous year. If we look at the figures there is a huge scope to increase the tourist arrivals many folds. According to Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, “Given Indian and Japan’s economic ties, the share of tourism between the two nations is miniscule and there is a scope to improve the numbers of travellers to a large extent. With significant steps tourism could increase five-fold between India and Japan from its current level.” While elaborating more on this he said apart from Buddhist segment that alone can attract an unprecedented number of travellers, India has a host of tourism products such as Golf, Ayurveda, Beaches and Hill Stations to attract a huge traffic from Japan. “A marginal rise in the number of tourists visiting the Buddha circuit alone could enable Indian to earn USD 6-8 billion every year. India has several finest golf courses that can attract a large number of golfers from Japan. Similarly there are immense opportunities in Yoga and Holistic system to get more from it,” he added. Speaking on the same lines Rohit Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel said that India needs to attract the real tourist as the visitors we are getting from Japan include a chunk of business travellers. “India has a low reputation in Japan so the Reputation Management is need of the hour. Also showcasing the culture of both countries through Bollywood would be a good idea to improve the tourism ties between these two nations,” added Kohli. “I have seen a lot of interest among Japanese, who wish to come to India, so increasing our share from two lakh to a million is quite possible. We need to promote India more aggressively and this can be done through social media,” said Deepak Deva, Managing Director, Cox and Kings. It’s better to know India from Japan’s perspective. Giving a valuable insight on the popularity of Indian tourist destinations in Japan Tadashi Shimura, President Japan Association of Travel Agents said it’s very unfortunate that despite having amazing tourist destinations in India only few places like Delhi-Jaipur-Agra have been promoted in Japan. “Our people are unaware of many Beaches, Hill Stations and a long list of attractions of India in every segment be it Wildlife, Religious/Historical Places etc.” He added that language was a barrier for Japanese tourists as in India there are not many guides speaking Japanese. Hence there

Suman Billa Joint Secretary Ministry of Tourism

A marginal rise in the number of tourists visiting the Buddha circuit alone could enable Indian to earn USD 6-8 billion every year. India has several finest golf courses that can attract a large number of golfers from Japan. Similarly there are immense opportunities in Yoga and Holistic system to get more from it. Suman Billa was need to have guides speaking Japanese top attract tourists from Japan. According to him the two nations need to open skies for more traffic exchange. Japan welcomed about 100,000 visitors from India in 2015, and about 40,000 tourists among them. But 1.13 million Indians visited the United States during the same period. Therefore there is a tremendous potential of expanding travel and tourism between Japan and India. Elaborating on his plans to get the deserving share from this market Suman Billa said that the Ministry of Tourism has identified several areas that need to be addressed effectively. “The issue of shortage of Japanese speaking guides, less awareness about Indian tourism products among Japanese travellers and aggressive media campaign etc will be taken up immediately for unprecedented growth in Inbound sector from Japan,” concludes Suman Billa.

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MoT

Opportunities galore for Japanese investments in India’s tourism infra-development Jai Kishan Kaparwan

he historical ties between India and Japan can be traced back to the sixth century when Buddhism was introduced in Japan. Since then the Japanese have cherished their sentiments towards India. And now India is striving to make the travel to various destinations in the country a truly magnificent experience for Japanese tourists with a strong focus on infrastructure, experience and information said Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, while inaugurating the first-ever ‘India-Japan Tourism Meet’ organised by FICCI in partnership with the Embassy of Japan. Dr. Sharma said in India the Buddhist circuit has been set up, which are a set of important locations where Lord Buddha had settled in his lifetime. This circuit should find favor with the Japanese as they are keen followers of Buddhism. He added that medical, wellness and Ayurveda were other

areas which Japanese tourists would find endearing. Dr Sharma further said that India lacked 290000 hotel rooms and there was immense scope of investment in infrastructure development for tourism. He urged Japanese business community to explore this area for investment and assured them of Indian government’s unstinted support. Dr. Sharma added that the Indian government was working towards creating appropriate tourism infrastructure, maintaining cleanliness of tourism destinations and making the environment safe and secure for foreign tourists.

both governments and tourism industry to get together under one roof and to discuss the expansion of bilateral travel and tourism relations. The new networks that will be built among the participants today will create new opportunities,” he added.

While interacting with the delegates Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, said that with the framework of ‘Indo-Japan Tourism Council’ and ‘IndoJapan Tourism Summit’ that are set up and organised for the first time in India, the participants should pursue action-oriented outcomes to improve travel and tourism relationship between Japan and India in a visible way. “This is a great opportunity for

Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Immediate Past President-FICCI, Chairperson -FICCI Tourism Committee & CMD - The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, said that India has a very high potential to be one of the favored destinations amongst the Japanese tourists, given the large number of destinations important from Buddhist interest as well as the burgeoning number of business tourists coming to India.

Dr. Mahesh Sharma addresses at ‘World Travel Market 2016 London Jai Kishan Kaparwan

r. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture along with an Indian delegation participated in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2016 in London, United Kingdom, which is one of the largest international events of the travel and tourism industry. India was the official Premier Partner at WTM 2016 with the theme ‘India - The Land of Eternal Heritage’. The Indian delegation comprises of Chief Ministers, State Tourism Ministers, dignitaries from the State Governments & Union Territories, Industry partners and officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Around 42 coexhibitors/ partners including State / Union Territory Tourism departments, tour operators, hoteliers, resort owners, Air India, IRCTC, ITDC, and other stakeholders

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are present at the India Stand, to showcase their diverse tourism products and services. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, in his address, said that the Indian tourism outlook is certainly very promising with an upswing in the growth of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India in the recent years. In 2015, India received 8.03 million Foreign Tourists as compared to 7.68 million in 2014 with a

growth rate of 4.5%. In 2015, the tourist arrival in India from the UK alone was 867601 with a 3.4% growth over the previous year (2014). The Minister said that India has set a target to achieve 1% of international tourist arrivals through a multi-pronged approach, including proactive marketing strategies in partnership with the tourism stakeholders.

Third edition of MPTM records 1900 B2B Meetings Around 70 hosted buyers from 28 countries, 175 domestic buyers from 54 Indian cities and a total of 61 Exhibitors, out of which 50 sellers/ exhibitors from Madhya Pradesh, took part in the third edition of Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart (MPTM) organised from October 14-16 in Bhopal. Jai Kishan Kaparwan

he three day long event was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the august presence of Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (I/C) and Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, Surendra Patwa, Chairman of State Tourism Development Corporation, Tapan Bhoumik, Managing Director MPSTDC Hari Ranjan Rao, Additional Managing Director Tanvi Sundriyal, Presidents of major national travel trade associations like IATO, ADTOI, ATOAI, ITTA and industry stakeholders from across the country. A special training and development programme was conducted for the sellers and the sales team of Madhya Pradesh Tourism to prepare them for handling the Hosted Buyer meeting experience and to make the overall engagement with the attendees more effective. A special simultaneous interpretation technology was used for translating the live address of the dignitaries for the sake of international buyers who came in from the various parts of the globe. Deliberations were held on the scope of tourism industry, how to attract more investment in it, how to increase the number of tourists and how to encourage international tourism besides hotels and hospitality in Madhya Pradesh. A presentation focusing on efforts being undertaken for enhancing tourism in Madhya Pradesh was given by the Secretary Tourism and Managing Director of Tourism Development Corporation, Hari Ranjan Rao in the M. P. Travel

Mart. Views were exchanged on the wide scope in tourism sector and how to accelerate tourism development in Madhya Pradesh. Live Webinar For the first time, a live webinar has been organised on the theme of ‘A Chance for Building Partnerships in Madhya Pradesh’. Not only the attendees but also the buyers across the globe, who could not make it to the MP travel mart this time, benefited from the webinar. Several presenters made presentations to showcase Madhya Pradesh’s Wildlife, Culture and Heritage tourism. Heritage Walk An early Morning Heritage Walk which was organised for the first time got a tremendous response. Over 175 hosted buyers attended the Walk and experienced the interesting sights of the city of Bhopal. All in all the MPTM was a huge success and resulted in the creation of many new opportunities in the Madhya Pradesh tourism sector.

Madhya Pradesh organised maiden MP State Tourism Awards On the sidelines of the MPTM concluded recently in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh launched the MP State Tourism Awards for the industry stakeholders. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the awards to the winners. A total of 30 awards were given in 22 categories. These awards were given in order to promote excellence in the Madhya Pradesh Tourism sector. Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (Independent Charge) and Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, Surendra Patwa and Chairman of State Tourism Development Corporation, Tapan Bhoumik, and Managing Director MPSTDC Hari Ranjan Rao were presented on the occasion.

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STATE

North East festival showcases the cultural heritage of the region Neha Sharma

he fourth edition of the North East Festival - Connecting People, Celebrating Life has organized from 4th to 6th at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. The North East Festival aims to showcase to the people of Delhi the rich cultural heritage of the North Eastern part of the country and integrate the Northeast with the rest of India. Over the last three years, lakhs of people have attended the North East Festival, which has gone on to become one of the biggest festivals of Delhi. Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Convener, North East Democratic Front, inaugurating the festival, said, “North East Festival is a successful, national platform to showcase North East and make people understand about the North East. All of us should support this great initiative.”

Every year North East Festival tries to attract tourists to the north eastern region. As a part of the campaign, this year North East Festival promoted Assam under the platform Destination North East. A special presentation on Awesome Assam by Govt of Assam was made in front of tour operators of Delhi, officials from central tourism ministry.

The 3-day festivities showcased the entire Northeast India in all its finest glory and colourful hues via art, crafts and culture, songs, dance and movies, food, sports and fashion and much more. Icons of North East Region such as Papon, Zubeen Garg, rapper Borkung Hrangkhal, DJ Zaeden, rock bands Traffic Jam, Fourth Element, Mo & The Shooting Stars, Reverse Tragedy and many more made their presence felt at the festival. Raas Leela of Manipur, around 20 folk dance forms, along with the famous Ram Vijay Ankia Bhaona of Assam was presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi. Fashion shows comprising of the best North East handlooms showcased by around 20 talented young designers and models of the North East region. For food lovers, an exotic collection of delectable cuisines from the North East with around 30 food stalls were on offer. A large exhibition of products from North East called Make in North East Exhibition, including handloom & handicraft, agro and food products would be on display with around 100 entrepreneurs participating from all across the North East region, who would present their products.

Andhra Pradesh aims to develop the state as the most preferred destination globally WH Desk

he Sunrise state of Andhra Pradesh, blessed with some of the finest tourist destinations in India, beckons international tourists to come and experience the hospitality and create a memory that would be etched ever after. Right from the pristine beaches of Visakhapatnam to the backwaters of Dindi and again from the holy Lord Balaji temple of Tirupati to the beautiful Araku Valley, the state has all the elements making it a world class tourist destination. Dr. Srikant Nagulapalli, IAS, Secretary, Culture & Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said “Our endeavor is to develop Andhra Pradesh as the most preferred destination and under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu we are taking progressive steps in that direction. Our vision is to create an all-round tourist friendly environment in the state which ensures a memorable experience for each and every guest every time they visit Andhra Pradesh.”

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With an aim to attract tourists from far and wide, the state is also organizing multiple mega festivals such as Visakha Utsav, Lepakshi festival, Araku festival and Flamingo festival in the upcoming months. Andhra Pradesh is participating in this prestigious event by sending a four-member delegation led by Srikant Nagulapalli, IAS Secretary Tourism & Culture. Andhra Pradesh Government is working on a Mission approach to promote the state as India’s most preferred tourist destination and position as a global tourism brand by providing world class tourism products and services, while preserving the culture, heritage, environmental balance and natural beauty of the state. In line with this goal, Andhra Pradesh plans to identify and partner groups which will operate as key partners for promoting inbound tourism in the state and act as state partners for national and international tourism road shows, expos and events. With this focused approach the state has in place the APEX scheme – Andhra Pradesh EXperts (APEX) on tourism to promote the state nationally and internationally.

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NEED TO KNOW

TELANGANA

Visit for All Reasons & All Seasons

The region achieved statehood after a prolonged struggle and is known for its unique culture, dialect, cuisines and other aspects. Constituting a major part of Deccan plateau, Telangana has a pleasing climate, with abundant natural and water resources. The state is the gateway to Krishna and Godavari Rivers in South India and is considered the seed capital of India. Whereabouts brings more on this fascinating tourist destination of India. Compiled by WH Desk

elangana, the 29th and youngest state of India, formally recognised on June 2, 2014 is a treasure trove of tourist destinations. One of the largest states in South India, Telangana is known for its hospitality and multicultural and pluralistic society. Hyderabad, the capital city of this state is the fifth largest city in India and home to some of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best educational institutions, public sector and defence companies and a thriving global services sector and film industry. The state hosts of tourist destinations to cater all kind of travellers. HYDERABAD Hyderabad is the capital city of the Indian state of Telangana. The city is a hub for film industry, world-class public and private hospitals, central and state level research institutions, information technology industry, biotech, pharmacy industry and many public sector entities. CHARMINAR: Charminar a monument and a mosque, considered synonymous with the history of Hyderabad. It is a landmark monument of Hyderabad and it is believed that Mohammed Quli Qutub Shahi, the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty had built this monument to commemorate the end of a deadly plague menace that had gripped the city then. It is located near the banks of the river Musi. GOLCONDA FORT: Golconda Fort is located in the western part of Hyderabad city which occupies an area of three square kilometers,

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and is approximately 4.8 kilometers in length. It was initially a mud fort under the reign of the Raja of Warangal that was then fortified between 14th and 17th centuries by the Bahmani Sultans followed by the Qutub Shahi dynasty. HUSSAINSAGAR LAKE: The boulevards of Hussain Sagar with its boulevards on a pleasant evening makes tourist enjoy the cool breeze smoothly caressing their senses welcoming them to this place. The tank bund is dotted with elegant statues of eminent historic personalities, which is the dam/embankment to the Hussain Sagar, serves as the link between the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

NEED TO KNOW KARIMNAGAR Karimnagar is a city and Municipal Corporation of Telangana state located on the banks of the River Manair, a tributary of the Godavari River. Karimnagar is located 165km from the state capital of Hyderabad. The city derives its name from Syed Karimuddin, believed to be one of its founders. It served as an important center for Satavahana dynasty. The district has rich coal deposits in the Godavari valley and borders Maharashtra state.

WARANGAL Warangal, also called Orugallu or Ekasila Nagaram in earlier times is the headquarters of Warangal district in Telangana. Warangal is at a distance of 145km to the northeast of Hyderabad. In historical times, Warangal was the capital of a Shaivaite kingdom that was ruled by the Kakatiya dynasty from 12th to the 14th centuries. Its old name was Orugallu where Oru means one and Kallu means stone. The entire city was reportedly carved in a single rock, hence the name Orukallu that means one rock. THOUSAND PILLAR TEMPLE: Among the most famous monuments of Telangana, the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda, was built by the Kakatiya King Rudra Deva in 1163 AD in Chalukyan style of temple architecture. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Surya boasts of perforated stone screens, meticulously designed pillars, richly carved icons, and rock cut elephants representing the brilliance of Kakatiya architecture. WARANGAL FORT: Built during the reign of Kakatiyas in the 13th Century, this impregnable fort is a combination of geometrical intricacies and beautiful arches. The fort consists of 45 towers and pillars, which are spread over a radius of 19km. The iconic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ekasshilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which is a beautifully carved gateway in the fort now finds place in the official symbol of Telangana state.

Vemulawada is a temple town located 35km from Karimnagar, in famous for its Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple complex for devotees of Lord Shiva. Dharmapuri is shrine dedicated to Lord Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Kondagattu situated a distance of 35km from the district headquarters, is dedicated to Lord Anjaneya Swamy. It is highly popular temple. Kaleshwaram is the site of the famous Shiva temple, Kaleswara Muktheswara Swamy and is considered unique due to the presence of two Shiva Lingas on a single pedestal, one for Lord Shiva and the other for Lord Yama. The district is also home to many heritage destinations such as Nagunur Fort, Dhulikatta, Elgandal fort, Molanguru Fort, Ramagiri Killa etc. KHAMMAM The name Khammam has been derived from the name of a local hill by the name Stambhadri that is home to an ancient temple of Narasimha Swamy and also believed to have been in existence since Treta Yuga. The name of the town, Stambhadri, later reportedly became Kambhadri, Kambham mettu, and finally, Khammam, which is now the district headquarters. The town is located close to the river Munneru a tributary of the Krishna River. Khammam district is of immense historical importance in Telangana. The district shares boundaries with the states of AP and Chattisgarh. Khammam Fort, that was constructed in 950 AD by the Kakatiya rulers stands majestically atop a hill, overlooking the town of Khammam town. Khammam Fort represents a union of both Hindu and Muslim architectural influences. Iy also recently celebrated 1000 years of its construction. Khammam district is rich in coal deposits and forest reserves. There are many places of interests in Khammam such as Nelakondapalli, Bhadrachalam, Kusumanchi etc. MEDAK Medak is a town located in the Medak District of the state, situated at a distance of 104km north of Hyderabad. The original name of Medak was Siddapuram, which was later called Gulshanabad, and now Medak. Locals in Medak celebrate various festivals of Telangana, notably the festival of Bathukamma, a 9-day long worship of patron goddess of womanhood, Maha Gauri. The goddess is worshipped in the form

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NEED TO KNOW of the Bathukamma. Other notable festivals celebrated in Medak include Bonalu and Peerla Panduga, celebrated by both Hindus and Muslims. There are many historical temples in Medak, which attract tourists such as Shri Saraswathi Kshetramu, near Ananthasagar, a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi. Edupayala Durga Bhavani Gudi, located in Telangana close to the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra, is a shrine dedicated to goddess Durga Bhavani that has unique natural stone formations. Methukudurgam fortress or Medak fort depicts the city’s prosperous times during the reign of the Kakatiya dynasty built during the reign of Kakatiya emperor Pratapa Rudra. Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary named after the nearby Pocharam Lake.

ADILABAD Adilabad is a town and district headquarters for Adilabad district of Telangana state, India. It is the northernmost district of Telangana and connects the region with Central and North India. It is located at a distance of 290 km from capital city of Hyderabad and records some of the extreme temperatures in South India. Adilabad offers tourists a holistic experience with its historical temples, monuments and breathtaking waterfalls. The highest waterfalls in Telangana, Kuntala Waterfalls is situated close to the Sahyadri mountain ranges. Pochera waterfalls is situated in thick forest where river Godavari descends from a height of 20 m.

NALGONDA Nalgonda District is located in the Telangana state of India. Nalgonda was earlier called Neelagiri by Rajput rulers and the name was finally changed to Nallagonda after its conquest by Bahamani king. There are many places of tourist attractions. Yadagiri Gutta, a revered pilgrimage in Nalgonda is situated near Bhuvanagiri Town. It is located close to the capital city of Hyderabad. The temple draws huge crowds during festivals and weekends and is an abode of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. The district shares Nagarjunasagar dam along with AP. The largest masonry dam in the world, it consists of 26 gates and a Hydroelectric plant. The tourism department of Telangana offers excellent boating facilities in the backwaters of Nagarjunasagar dam. Bhuvanagiri Fort built by Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya gives a bird’s eye view of a vast area. PillalaMarri is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is considered 1000 years old. It is also the birthplace of the famous Telugu poet Pillamarri Pina Virabhadrudu. NIZAMABAD Nizamabad is a city and a municipal corporation located in the Nizamabad District of Telangana, India. It was earlier known as Indur and is the headquarters of the Nizamabad district and one of the major urban centres in Telangana. The city derives its name from Nizam-ul-Mulk, the fourth Nizam of the Hyderabad state. Located just 7 km near Nizamabad, is the forest of Mallaram, a popular eco-tourism spot with many facilities for visitors. Nizam Sagar is a large reservoir, located across the Manjira river, a tributary of the Godavari River. There are facilities here for accommodation and boarding for tourists. Sarangpur, located 8 km from Nizamabad, is known for its Hanuman Temple, the foundation stone of which was laid by saint Samartha Ramadas, the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Alisagar Deer Park, located in Nizamabad that has several species of deer, notably among them, the golden hued deer. The Nizamabad Fort is a heritage spot, built by the Rashtrakutas, and was then taken over by Allaudin Khilji, the Bahamanis, Qutub Shahis and finally ruled by Asaf Jahis. The Archaeological Museum here is home to several antiquities and artefacts that represent the local civilization from the Paleolithic Era to Vijayanagara Empire. The Ashok Sagar Lake located 7 km from Nizamabad is a scenic spot amid dense forest cover enroute Saraswathi temple located at Basar. Alisagar Reservoir is a popular picnic spot in the region. The hillock mosque Bada Pahad Dargah, is thronged by many Muslim devotees each year.

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MAHABUBNAGAR Mahabubnagar town is located at a distance of 96 km from Hyderabad city. Mahabubnagar’s border is marked by River Krishna in the south with Andhra Pradesh. Mahabubnagar is the largest district of Telangana State. It is well connected by road and rail network on Hyderabad-Bangalore section. Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers flow through this district. Dindi River is an important tributary of the river Krishna in this district. Mahabubnagar district is home to famous temples and many religious and heritage sites of historical importance. Umamaheshwaram near Achampet in renowned for Umamaheshwaram temple in the hills of Nallamala forests. Jurala Dam, Alamapur’s Jogulamba temple and Gadwal fort are some of the key destinations. Kollapur is a famous tourist attraction with architectural sites dating back to 2nd century BC. Koilsagar is a key dam, which attracts tourists. Mallela Theertham is a popular waterfall situated in Nallamala forest region. The district has an important Tiger sanctuary located near the Srisailam forest area. RANGAREDDY Rangareddy District, formerly known as K. V. Ranga Reddy District and Hyderabad (Rural) District, is the most populous district in the state of Telangana. The district encircles the city and district and also the city of Hyderabad serving as the administrative center.

NEED TO KNOW memorable. In addition, there are many private resorts and hotels that cater to the tourist flow with quality facilities. CUSINE

Ramoji Film City: Situated at around 25 Kilometers from Hyderabad, the man made beauty, Ramoji Film City is spread over 2000 acres. It is a theme park created for film shootings. The place is a splendor and a popular family getaway.

Telangana is renowned for its delicious desserts and spicy cuisine. Hyderabad, which was once the capital for many dynasties represents a unique blend of cuisines, beverages and culinary habits. Dum Ka Biryani, Qubani Ka Meetha, Hyderabadi special biryani, Sakinaalu, Irani Chai, Sarva Pindi are among those specialities that are popular in Hyderabad. Mughlai cuisine easily blends with Nawabi cuisine and there is delicious Telangana pappu for everyone. Hyderabadi Haleem is not just savored in the region but is also exported by some of the leading brands in Hyderabad. Made exclusively during the Ramzan season to break the fast held for more than 12 hours, people from all religions vie for this non-vegetarian delight.

Osman Sagar Lake: Osmansagar, also called Gandipet, is an excellent picnic spot located on outskirts of Hyderabad. Osmansagar is among the two lakes located on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s periphery region supplying drinking water to the city. Osmansagar is a beautiful lake located 20 km. west of Hyderabad. Vikarabad Adventure: Vikarabad is a charming place where one can derive pleasure in trekking. In fact, it is one of the favourite trekking spots for people who crave for adventure close to Hyderabad city. This place is covered with red soil, containing a mixture of rock and loose soil; therefore, it is a thrilling place for Rappelling and Rock Climbing. WHERE TO STAY Telangana is one of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading destinations in hospitality segment and has an impressive number of rooms across luxury, economy and budget segments in and around Hyderabad. Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) offers luxurious, comfortable and world-class accommodation with its Haritha chain of hotels and resorts all over the state. These resorts are well maintained and reliable with many amenities for the comfort of tourists. The modern ambience and the excellent facilities offered by Telangana Tourism makes the journey of tourists pleasant and

GETTING HERE Telangana is well-connected to other parts of India with extensive rail and road network. Important national highways crisscross the length and breadth of Telangana linking the state with other neighbouring states. Secunderabad railway junctions, also the headquarters of South Central Railways and Kazipet and Warangal Railway junction connect the state to key cities and regions of India, along with numerous other stations. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, located at Shamshabad near Hyderabad is adjudged as one of the best airports in the world. It connects Hyderabad, the heart of Telangana with various other national and international cities and capitals. The airport offers visaon-arrival facility for citizens from more than 140 countries, a boon for overseas tourists.

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Philip Island Top Eight Reasons to Visit

Phillip Island, a popular day trip from Melbourne, lies just off Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southern coast. At Summerland Beach, spectators gather daily at sunset to watch the Penguin Parade, when little penguins come ashore in groups. The Nobbies outcrop is the viewing site for Seal Rocks, home to a large colony of Australian fur seals. The Phillip Island Circuit is a well-known track for motorcycle and car racing. Whereabouts brings more on this exotic destination.

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Compiled by WH Desk Unique Wildlife Phillip Island is home to some of Australia’s most unique and special wildlife. In fact, it has the largest colonies of Little Penguins and Australian Fur Seals in the whole of Australia right here on the island. Seal Rocks is home to approximately 35,000 fur seals and can be seen through the telescopes at the Nobbies Visitor Centre, or up close on a fantastic EcoBoat tour. The Penguin Parade has many different viewing options to see the world’s smallest penguin, including the new Penguins Plus and Underground experiences which offer the closest possible viewing of penguins in Australia. You can see koalas up close from the elevated boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre, and you may even see some wallabies and echidna there as well. Pristine Natural Environment Only 90 minutes from Melbourne, yet Phillip Island feels like a world away. Beautiful blue skies and crisp clean air, pristine sandy beaches and spectacular rugged cliffs, native woodlands and life-giving wetlands all come together to make up this natural escape from city life. You can explore many of Phillip Island’s hidden secrets and natural environments on one of the many easy walking trails. A quick ten minute stroll will take you over the dunes to a

spectacular sandy beach and the beautiful rock formations of Forrest Caves. For those wanting a little longer in this pristine natural environment a walk to the Cape Woolamai Beacon which offers unforgettable views of the whole island would be a brilliant idea. Phillip Island and the surrounding regions also provides some of the most fertile land in Victoria and as a result, many

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WHEREABOUTS

gourmet producers have established their operations here, giving visitors the opportunity to sample some epicurean delights and unique experiences. Gourmet Local Produce On the way to Phillip Island, why not stop in at Bassine Specialty Cheeses for some handmade artisan farmhouse cheeses including feta, brie, haloumi and ricotta, with all milk sourced from their own herd of 180 Holstein cows. Dining Out The Cape Kitchen waterfront restaurant is one of the island’s newest eateries, and offers guests an indulgent menu, sourced from the bountiful harvest of local fresh produce. The location provides sensational views over the scenic and untamed south coast. Wineries The island’s climate is perfect for cool climate wines, so the Purple Hen Vineyard and Phillip Island Winery each grow a variety of grapes suitable to the region. The Purple Hen’s cellar door is open every day of the year while the Phillip Island Winery opens its doors to the public during the warmer months. Breweries Taking its name from the colour of beer, Rusty Water Brewery and Bar is home to a selection of small batch, hand-crafted ales like Koala Pale Ale, Chicory Stout and Shipwreck IPA. There is no better place to be on a cool winter’s day than sitting in front of the log fire with a tasting paddle of their fine creations.

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Uniquely Australian Food Imagine fishing for rainbow trout at a picturesque tree-lined lake, and then having the chef transform your catch into a magnificent meal. At Rhyll Trout and Bush Tucker Farm you can catch your own lunch and wander the 1.2km Bush Tucker trail, showcasing 27 different species of native foods. Authentic Farm Experiences Bimbadeen is a 340 acre farm in the heart of Phillip Island offering authentic experiences like farm tours and paddock to plate barbecues. One can even enjoy a farm retreat and stay in their secluded eco-friendly, self-contained accommodation with peaceful rural views and participate in as much or as little of farm life as you would like. Getting Here From Melbourne by Car: Take the Monash Freeway (M1) to the Cranbourne exit, where you will turn into the South Gippsland Highway (M420). Follow this route to the Bass Highway (A420), through Grantville and Bass, then onto the Phillip Island Road (B420) to San Remo, over the bridge onto Phillip Island. Public Transport Options: V/Line coach to & from Melbourne stops at Grantville, Corinella, Bass, San Remo, Newhaven and Cowes Daily: T: 1800 800 007 W: Public Transport Victoria

NTO

Tourist traffic to Taiwan picking up abruptly; TTB to offer more incentives, says Arthur Hsieh Having registered a 30% growth in 2015 over the previous year, and 9% from January –August 2016 over the same period of 2015, Taiwan Tourism Bureau is promoting the country aggressively to get more from this market; avails more incentives to travel partners in India. Rajesh Tiwari

n an attempt to sustain the growth momentum from India we are promoting Taiwan very aggressively. We have increased our budget to enhance the visibility of our destination, and planned to avail a host of attractive offers to our partners in India said Arthur Hsieh, Director, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Singapore Office while interacting with Whereabouts at the sidelines of an educational workshop organised for the trade fraternity in New Delhi recently. Richard Y.S. Chiu, Deputy Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre, India and Noel Saxena, Country Head, Taiwan Tourism Bureau were present at the occasion. Taiwan has registered a 30% growth in 2015 over the previous year. The country has received almost 2000 travellers by August this year with a 9% growth over the same period in 2015. “The previous year we had started offering host of incentives i.e. availing group visa free of cost, cultural programmes etc. to the groups (MICE or business) coming to Taiwan. We have received a positive response; the business segment is going up followed by leisure and incentive travel. To expedite this growth we are coming up with more incentives this year,” said Arthur. Speaking on the tourism ties with India, Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre, India, Richard Y.S. Chiu said, “Our new outbound policy gives priority to India over other countries. We are a welcoming and a friendly country, especially with Indians.”

Arthur Hsieh Director TTB, Singapore Office

The aim of the workshop was to educate the travel agents and update their knowledge about the products Taiwan has to offer, USP’s of the destination and the how it caters to different segments of the Indian travellers. The event started with a B2B session between the Indian travel agents and the stake holders from the Taiwanese travel industry including its national carrier China Airlines, Princess Cruise, destination management companies Good Time Vacations and hotels like Grand Hyatt Taipei.

The B2B session organised to educate the trade partners was followed by an informative presentation on Taiwan by Noel Saxena, Country Head, Taiwan Tourism Bureau. The presentation had detailed information about Taiwan, educating the travel agents about everything one would need to know before travelling to Taiwan, staring from the easy of getting a visa to the places to visit in Taiwan. The workshop also saw an exciting lucky draw for travel agents and media. Gift hampers included travel accessories from Taiwan Tourism Bureau, hotel stays from the Hyatt Group, Stay at Princess Cruise and much more.

Namaste Thailand: Discovery of Modern Thailand via social media WH Desk

hailand Tourism organised the second edition of ‘Namaste Thailand’ an online quiz campaign about the country, at the Royal Thai Embassy, Vasant Vihar. The award presentation ceremony took place in the gracious presence of Apirat Sugondhabhirom, Deputy Chief of Mission, Isara Stapanaseth, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand New Delhi Office and Kitti Chinprahasta, Station Manager, Thai Airways International. The top 3 winners of Namaste Thailand 2016 contest were given the award during the ceremony. Using Facebook as its platform, the recently concluded second edition of engaging and competitive online daily quiz contest witnessed digital participation by 70,000 Indians across as many as 50 cities, from metropolises namely New Delhi and Mumbai to smaller towns such as Siliguri in the east and Coimbatore in the south and Surat in the west. Over a period of two months from August to September 2016, Namaste Thailand 2016 interacted with thousands of fans who consistently awaited and answered questions every evening (3 questions on weekdays and 5 questions on Sundays).

The well-crafted and visually appealing questions, facts, visuals, trivia, videos, etc., provided in the campaign featured a blend of themes including technological innovation, cultural diversity, traditional and modern architecture, culinary, sports, natural beauty of Thailand. It also highlighted the wide-ranged linkages between Thailand and India. The uniqueness of the Namaste Thailand campaign lies in its intelligent blend of knowledge and curiosity with a sense of achievement as well as gratification for the contestants. Every week, participants from across India would be lauded as Weekly Prize Winner, Lucky Liker and Amazing Answer and would receive a set of special Thai-themed prizes such as laptop bags, office bags, notepads, caps, and luggage tags for their efforts and dedication through the week.

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NTO

Dubai Parks & Resorts opens for the public WH Desk

ubai Parks and Resorts will change the landscape of leisure and entertainment in the region as the destination officially opens to the public yesterday. The opening commences with the region’s first Legoland Dubai theme park and Riverland Dubai, the multi-themed dining and retail destination located at the heart of Dubai Parks and Resorts. Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO of DXB Entertainments PJSC, the owner of Dubai Parks and Resorts said, “Riverland Dubai and Legoland Dubai will be unveiled for the very first time and offer unique experiences and entertainments that I genuinely believe will set the bar in this region. Nothing of this magnitude has ever been done before and after three years of hard work it is a great honour to start to show our guests what we have achieved. As the largest entertainment destination in the region, Dubai Parks and Resorts will support the UAE’s tourism vision and grow the family leisure industry in the region.” Legoland Dubai is the ultimate world of year-round Lego-themed adventures for families with children aged 2-12. Legoland Dubai features over 40 interactive rides, shows, attractions, building experiences and 15,000 Lego model structures made from

WH Desk

U Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO of DXB Entertainments PJSC, the owner of Dubai Parks and Resorts at the opening of Dubai Parks and Resorts

over 60 million Lego bricks. It is designed to provide a full day’s interactive, theme park experience. Legoland features six themed lands, each unique in their experience, entertainment and educational offering, including: Riverland Dubai will connect the three theme parks and water park at Dubai Parks and Resorts, and will be open to everyone with or without a ticket to the adjoining parks, which means it will be experienced by every visitor to the destination. It will feature a wide range of restaurants and retail shops, coupled with planned street theatre and entertainment, making it the perfect place for families and friends to come together, relax and recharge.

Indonesian Economic Potentials Promoted in Indonesia Exposé 2016 WH Desk

he Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia had organised a solo exhibition titled “Indonesia Expose 2016: Seizing Trade, Investment, Tourism, Industry, and Services Opportunity from Indonesia” at Le Meridien Hotel in Delhi recently. The Expose 2016 displayed various typical export-quality commodities from western, central and eastern part of Indonesia namely palm oil, internationally recognised batik cloth and apparels, Rudraksha beads, coffee beans, gold bars and jewellery, food products (Kopiko candies and biscuits), and diapers. The 13 representatives from industrial sector, Regency of Kebumen and Buru Selatan as well as the Embassy had actively

28 November 2016

Jordan to host 8th International Conference of the Royal Medical Services

participated in the exhibition to promote their commodities to the Indian business communities and traders as well as to seek opportunity for business cooperation. Ambassador of Indonesia to India HE Rizali Wilmar Indrakesuma in the inauguration of the Expose stated that the Indonesia Exposé 2016 is part of the Embassy’s economic diplomacy endeavour to promote diversification of Indonesia’s nonoil and gas export products in India, to attract investment from Indian investors, and to enhance tourists visit from India.

nder the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn AlHussein, the 8th International Conference of the Royal Medical Services is to be held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center - Dead Sea - Jordan, during the period 15 -18 November 2016. Esteemed guest speakers from all over the world from different medical specialties and backgrounds will be giving lectures and participating in panel discussions in the conference themed ‘Innovation, Motivation, Integration’. Furthermore, a myriad of workshops will be conducted in both King Hussein Medical Center – Amman and King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center. The RMS Biennial International conference will be attended by more than 40005000 participants; local, regional and international in the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health Professions and Military Medicine. Jordan Health Exhibition (JoHEX) will be held parallel with the conference as the place for presenting the latest advancements in health industry; equipment, machinery and medical supplies to the vast attendance. Beyond the myriad scientific activities, conference guests will enjoy their stay at the Dead Sea, where the weather this time of year is excellent, and also get the chance to explore some of the many other wonders that Jordan offers. A visit to Petra can always give you the opportunity to get to know more about the beautiful Rose City along with its stunning scenery and unique history.

November 2016 29

HOSPITALITY

Wyndham Hotel Group announces key appointments in Eurasia region

APPOINTMENTS

WH Desk

yndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with nearly 8,000 hotels across 16 iconic brands in 73 countries, announces two key appointments in the Eurasia region. Rahool Macarius joins as Director of Global and National Sales, Eurasia and Ruchika Kakar comes on board as Regional Marketing Manager, Eurasia. Both Macarius and Kakar will be based out of Gurgaon, providing further impetus and direction to developing and expanding the brand across Eurasia. “Our development strategy is bold yet simple we engage with local partners to bring quality accommodation to a diverse number of locations, ensuring that our guests can find the hotel brands they know and trust. We are thrilled to have Ruchika and Rahool join us, and look forward to using their expertise to support the existing Wyndham Hotel Group’s franchise partners in Eurasia,” said Deepika Arora, Regional Vice President, Eurasia, Wyndham Hotel Group. Macarius joins Wyndham Hotel Group from the Lemon Tree Hotel Group where he held the position of Assistant Vice President, Sales. Macarius handled corporate business on a national level for Lemon Tree, one of the fastest growing companies in upscale mid-market hotels. With close to 20 years of experience, Macarius has also worked with Intercontinental Hotels Group and ITC Hotels. Armed with the attitude of leading from the front, Macarius will be

responsible for driving sales and revenues through building strategic partnerships in the region. Ruchika brings more than 15 years’ experience in branding and marketing communication. Prior to joining Wyndham, she served as Marketing Services Manager with Fortune Hotels and played a key role in the company’s journey to become a full service business hotel chain in India. Apart from steering branding and marketing for Fortune, Kakar also delved into other tasks, widening her knowledge and understanding of how other departments function. In her role as Regional Marketing Manager, Kakar will oversee development of integrated marketing strategy for the Wyndham Hotel Group’s loyalty program as well as brands. She will also be the marketing interface for the group’s hotels in the region.

Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida hosts The Parsi Food Festival WH Desk

elebrating the tradition of love for rich and authentic cuisines, the iconic hospitality destination of Delhi-NCR, Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida hosted the much-awaited Parsi Food Festival at their fine dining Indian specialty restaurant, Made In India from the 14th October till 23rd October. Introducing the Parsi cuisine to food enthusiasts, an exciting master class by Master Chef Kaizad Patel was held during the special preview at the award-winning restaurant. The menu for this ten day long culinary festival has been specially curated by Master Chef Kaizad Patel, with some of the most authentic and traditional signature dishes from the Parsi kitchen, including a great mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights, like Bhujeli Kaleji, Kid Gosht and Chapat, amongst many others mouth-watering delicacies. Parsi food has its roots in Persian and Gujarati cuisines and much of the food is a meat-lover’s dream come true.

30 November 2016

Commenting on the Parsi cuisine and the special menu for the Parsi Food Festival, Master Chef Kaizad Patel said, “Parsi cuisine is a mélange of different flavors and has an eclectic mix of hot and sweet, sour and spice. This delectable cuisine is deeply influenced by various parts of the country that the community has travelled to and its soul lies in the ingredients used to make the mouth-watering delicacies. We are delighted to bring back the traditional recipes and recreate the authentic flavors at the Parsi Food Festival at the Made In India restaurant in Radisson Blu MBD Hotel Noida”.

HOSPITALITY

Lemon Tree launches new hotels in Bandhavgarh and Goa WH Desk

he Lemon Tree Hotel Company announced the opening of two new properties, one each in Goa and Bandhavgarh, thereby affirming the groups’ growing focus on resort and leisure destinations. Branded as Lemon Tree Hotel, Candolim, while this midscale hotel becomes the groups’ second property in Goa; Lemon Tree Wildlife Resort, Bandhavgarh debuts as the first wildlife resort of the group.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikramjit Singh- President & Chief Revenue Officer, The Lemon Tree Hotel Company said, “Indian Travellers today have diverse travel mindsets and varied needs. We are thus delighted to offer two distinctly different experiences to them, one by the beach and other in midst of a Jungle. We have been pioneers in the mid-market segment and have had a successful run with business hotels. These new additions not only enhance our leisure portfolio pan India but also bring us a step closer to engaging with new consumers and building more loyalty.”

Envisioned to be in line with the quintessential fresh and fun spirit of Lemon Tree properties, these hotels promise to delight their upbeat guests with their vibrant interiors, sumptuous food, ‘close to home’ comfort and hybrid experiences, clubbed with the distinctive warm and friendly service that Lemon Tree is known for. Lemon Tree Hotel, Candolim is located in North Goa, just walking distance from the Candolim Beach, and about 10 minutes drive from Fort Aguada, the 17th Century Portuguese marvel. Designed to offer an ambience that is refreshing, it is also in close proximity to Calangute beach and other key tourist destinations of the city. Lemon Tree Wildlife Resort, Bandhavgarh is a beautiful nature retreat situated in the heart of the forest, amidst the dense expanse of towering Sal trees, just a few yards away from Tala Gate, the most Tiger inhabited zone of Bandhavgarh National Park. It serves as a perfect destination for wildlife enthusiasts, naturalists, and adventure seekers this quaint resort simply lets you take a walk on your wild side.

Marriott International raises USD 270,000 for Run to Give 2016

Renaissance Lucknow celebrates Punjabi Food Festival

WH Desk

arriott International in Asia Pacific announced that close to USD$270,000 was raised from Run to Give Hotel Charity Runs that took place on 16 October 2016 across Asia Pacific. Run to Give 2016 marks the first associate event where legacy Starwood and Marriott International came together to celebrate a meaningful cause since the announcement of the merger transaction completion in late September 2016. Run to Give is unique in each location and the events were organised by different Marriott International properties in various locations; some collaborating for the first time to organize such a large-scaled event. Funds raised in each location benefited a local charity for maximum local relevance and a broader impact with wider reach.

Run to Give echoes with the mission of Marriott International’s TakeCare movement, which we believe will lead the culture integration in the combined company; and reinforce our core values of putting people first. In January 2016, Marriott launched a ‘TakeCare’ movement in Asia Pacific providing resources and opportunities for associates to stay physically and spiritually healthy with an ultimate goal of improving the wellbeing and happiness of associates, while making a difference in the communities that Marriott International operates in.

inter is on its way. There is a nip in the air and your taste buds are already craving for makkikiroti and sarsonkasaag. Right? Who knows this better than Renaissance, Lucknow. Not one to miss an opportunity to indulge its patrons, the popular five-star property in town, is organizing a 10-day-long Punjabi Food Festival for them. The festival is a culinary bonanza where guests can treat themselves to authentic Punjabi delicacies prepared by Chef Balvinder and his team. But it’s not just a food fest, it’s a complete Punjabi experience with theme décor and accompanying paraphernalia. Tastefully-done live cooking stations showcase famed Punjabi dishes -- makkiki roti and sarsonkasaag, fish Amritsari, Amritsari chhole kulche, hiyarpur ka atta chicken, amritsari wadi ka pulao -- being prepared for you by Renaissance chefs. The grand buffet includes robust tandoori chicken, succulent mutton tikkas, mutton ki chappe, paneer bhurji with kulcha, bheege mathi with chole, amritsari pappad, makhan fish, beere ka chicken and much more. Lassi being an integral part of Punjabi beverage, there is a special counter for it. Patrons can enjoy the iconic drink with their favourite dishes. The dessert counter is no less impressive. On offer are traditional Punjabi sweet meats --mooge da milk cake, dasuya de pinni and moong dal keladdo. The festival is indeed a rare treat for food lovers. Don’t miss the opportunity. Date: 04th-13th November, 2016 Venue: L 14 Renaissance Lucknow Hotel. Price: 1350 + Tax

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HOSPITALITY

Courtyard by Marriott, Agra launches ‘Anise’ WH Desk

ourtyard by Marriott is launching a new fine dining restaurant Anise at its prestigious property in the city of the Taj Mahal. Anise is a specialty restaurant, offering a delectable selection of authentic Awadhi and Northwest frontier dishes like kebabs, curries, biryanis and much more. Apart from the regular menu, Table d’Hôte menu which offers a multi-course meal with select choices will also be available for connoisseurs wanting to savour signatures dishes by Executive Chef Vivek Kalia, head of the Anise culinary team. The open air dining facility is located on the ground floor of the hotel. The ambience is warm and welcoming. Four gigantic mashals hanging from the top of the entry gate of the restaurant regally welcome the patrons. Water fountains at the entrance and fire bodies strategically placed add to the grandeur of the restaurant. The hotel’s expansive lawn provides a beautiful backdrop. Surrounded by lush green landscaping, Anise promises to provide patrons a royal dining experience. “At Courtyard Marriott Agra, it is our constant endeavor to provide our guests with the best services and facilities along with the most vibrant Food & Beverage program in the city. We hope that Anise will completely charm our patrons and bring them a gastronomic experience they have been waiting for,” says Abhishek Sahai, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Agra.

Executive Chef Vivek Kaliaadds, “Now our guests staying at the hotel don’t have to look far for great dining experience. They can enjoy our succulent kebabs, exotic curries and aromatic biryanis in the comfort and luxury of the hotel, at our new restaurant, Anise.” If you are a foodie and happen to be in Agra, you have to a treat yourself to this gastronomical luxury. Relaxed sophistication awaits you here. After a busy day, join up at Anise with friends or family to enjoy an authentic Indian meal served with authentic Indian hospitality.

A spirited evening at Alila Diwa Goa WH Desk

Alila Diwa Goa recently held a get together for key members of the travel trade fraternity in Goa at the Edge Bar. The highlight of the evening was the cake mixing ceremony which ushered in the start of the festive season at the resort. Spirits were high as the management team and the invitees donned aprons and gloves and dunked spiced dried fruits while delicious canapés and cocktails did the rounds.

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CHECK-IN Set in the tranquil rural locale of Ganahera, amidst orchards of Amla (Emblica officinalis) and fields of roses is the exclusive luxury camp aptly named as Orchard. The first luxury tented resort in Pushkar, Rajasthan, Orchard offers a never before experience with highest level of accommodation, dining and entertainment facilities. Apart from Amla, the land is swathed in fields of rose, barley and wheat, intermingled with other flowering and decorative plants, which bestow the air with purity, creating a fresh and relaxing ambience. Whereabouts brings more on this fascinating resort. WH Desk

ORCHARD

Luxury Tented Resort in Pushkar

ushkar located in the heart of Rajasthan, has an old world charm and is built around a sacred lake. Here houses stand shoulder to shoulder with over 400 temples. Its quaint streets are a treasure trove for souvenir hunters and object d’art collector alike, and you can get some lovely jewelry, handicrafts, leather goods and embroidered fabric. Pushkar is the only place in the world which has a temple dedicated to the Creator in Hindu Mythology – Lord Brahma. Every year Pushkar comes alive in the months of Kartik (October-November), to host the world’s largest camel trading fair. ACCOMODATION Eleven, 600 sq. ft. luxuriously appointed tents offer accommodation. Each tent has a living area, dressing area, beautifully appointed bedroom, a large bathroom (which is a permanent structure) and a private Verandah. The interiors are kept contemporary, and the feel of Rajasthan is brought in by beautiful pieces of blue pottery and marble. The bedroom area is outfitted with a large queen size bed that can be converted to a twin. Unique marble lamps provide an option of bright or romantic lighting as may be your mood. DINING A Golghar or circular tent set in the middle of the orchard acts as the dining tent. This tent provides a 360-degree view of the orchard. Light muslin curtains keep in the light and the breeze while adding a festive touch. The dining area is a great place for breakfasts and lunches. Dinners are served al fresco around a bonfire and usually accompanied by entertainment. The emphasis in both the cuisine

and entertainment is authenticity, and the resort serves a lot of scrumptious local delicacies, along with world cuisine. Food is made of fresh garden vegetables, mostly grown on-site. ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment is provided by an internationally renowned Rajasthani troupe, who combines dances and songs from across Rajasthan.

Getting Here Pushkar is literally located at the heart of Rajasthan. It is thus easy to get to by road, air and rail. Air: Nearest airport at Jaipur 138 km. Rail: Nearest railway station –Ajmer. Well connected to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Abu Road and Jodhpur by regular trains. Two of the best trains of the Indian Railways, Pink City Express and Shatabdi Express connect Ajmer to Delhi and Jaipur. Road: The six lane highway to Ajmer connects Delhi. Ajmer is a short eight miles away from Pushkar. Distances from important cities: Jaipur 138 km, Delhi 392 km, Ahmedabad 526 km, Jaisalmer 490 km. Contact for More Information: Contact: Mr. Harpal Singh Phone: +91 93514 07672, E-Mail: harpal@orchard.in Website: www.orchard.in

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HOSPITALITY

The 46% Indians do not wait for a special occasion or holiday to travel: OYO Survey WH Desk

According to a recent survey by OYO, Indians no longer look for a special occasion or holiday to travel. Administered to OYO’s select customer-base, the survey received responses from over 800 customers in 180 cities, making this truly representative of emerging India’s travel aspirations. The 83% of respondents revealed that they do not worry about the distance of the travel destination. This suggests that logistics are no longer seen as a barrier and travellers now just like to go with the flow. The survey coincided with Dussehra holidays and was anchored to the theme of employing travel to defeat modern-day evils, providing a deeper insight as to why people travel. Sharing more on the insights Kavikrut, Chief Growth Officer, OYO, said, “Listening to our guests and engaging with them are critical components of our customer-feedback management process.This has helped us design market-first offerings such as Sunrise check-in from 6 AM, and enabling Relationship Mode on app. This survey has helped us identify key travel drivers for different customersets and their needs. For example, we inferred that people prefer to travel to Kerala and Manali to combat evils of stress, traffic and pollution. Also, without exception all groups surveyed have displayed an overwhelming preference for natural and serene retreats - highlighting that we travel to escape our hyper-connected existence.” Apart from 7% travel to pilgrimage destinations, several people love leisure travel through a convenient transportation option to break away from the monotony of urban life. A third of the respondents wanted to go to spend their next vacation on a hill-station but Goa was the most popular travel destination - 25% respondents had it on the top of their wish list. The online survey conducted with 800 people also revealed that Indians are now getting used to overcome monotony in their life

through short trips using convenient transport options. Couples were most likely to travel on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Respondents replied from destinations as varied and diverse as Asansol, Bhatinda, Haflong, Imphal, Hoshiarpur, Palakkad, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Sahranpur and Warangal - establishing the pan-India reach and engagement of OYO, India’s largest hotel brand.

APPOINTMENT

Jean takes over as new F&B Manager Sheraton Grand & The St. Regis Macao

ean-Yong Pittionis Executive Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central, reporting directly to Janet McNab, Managing Director of Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao. Pittion oversees all of the restaurants, bars and lounges as well as the banqueting operations for both properties. Pittion joins Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel and The St. Regis Macao most recently from the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong where he served as Director of Food & Beverage. Prior to his return to Asia, he joined the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Laneduring the 2012 Olympic Games as Director of

34 November 2016

Food & Beverage. Between 2007 and 2012, he was based in Paris, where he first worked at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée as Deputy Director of Food & Beverage from 2007 to 2009, and then for Park Hyatt Paris-Vendômeas Director of Food & Beverage from 2009 to 2012. At just five years of age, Pittion moved from his birthplace of Korea to Burgundy, France where French naturally became his mother tongue. After spending more than three decades in Europe – working for prestigious

5-star establishments such as the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, the legendary Hôtel Plaza Athénée and working with world-renowned chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants – he now brings his experience back to Asia. “I chose Asia, because this is the place to be right now. And, more importantly, I decided to work with Sheraton and St. Regis in Macao because I admire the work ethic of Janet McNab, who recently received the ‘Marriott International Women in Leadership Asia Pacific’ 2016 award. The culture of this company combined with a dynamic destination such as Macao, inspired me to join this team,” said Pittion.

November 2016 35

FACT & FIGURES

IATA: Realizing India’s Aviation Potential The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for a renewed look at the results of Indian Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in airport privatization, a reduction in taxation and for India to join international efforts on sustainability for air transport. These will be key enablers of a vitally important industry to India to be an even bigger catalyst for social and economic development. WH Desk “Air transport contributes enormous value to India, stimulating growth and development with increasingly accessible air connectivity. India’s air transport industry has been through tough times. While many Indian airlines are now posting profits, the sector is still in loss territory with many challenges. These include a massive debt burden, onerous regulations, expensive airport infrastructure and high taxes. Addressing these will bring huge social and economic benefits to India,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, who was in India for a visit. India’s air transport sector already supports eight million jobs and contributes $72 billion in GDP. In IATA’s recently released 20-year air passenger forecast, India will displace the UK to be the third largest aviation market with 278 million passengers in 2026. In 2035, the horizon of IATA’s just-published 20-Year Passenger Forecast, IATA expects the Indian market to serve 442 million passengers. “Realizing that growth means, we will need to accommodate the potential of 322 million new passengers in just two decades. That will be a real challenge. Without significant change, the economic and social development potential gains that come with a healthy and growing air transport sector are put at risk,” said Alexandre de Juniac. Policy Framework: De Juniac congratulated India on publishing its first-ever Civil Aviation Policy which contains some encouraging elements, such as developments on open-skies, code-sharing and foreign direct investment (FDI). In fact, allowing FDI of 100% in an Indian airline places India among the most progressive states in this respect. But, de Juniac also noted concerns including the mandating of hybrid till for the regulation of airport charges, and the plans for a levy to cross subsidize regional flights.

Airport Privatization: The awarding of airport concessions has contributed to the development of India’s airport infrastructure. While the passenger experience has improved, the impact for airlines has been far less positive. “IATA does not support the privatization of airports. Nor are we officially opposed to it. But looking at the experience of airport privatization – in India and elsewhere – I am hard pressed to find an example where the results, overall, have been positive. A private sector mindset can add value to airport projects with efficiency, cost effectiveness, entrepreneurial spirit, and so on. But we need a stronger regulatory framework than exists today to ensure that there is a balance struck between commercial and national interests,” said de Juniac. Airlines operating in India have faced huge costs increases. This is in part due to the up to 46% concession fee that the private airport operators have to pay to the government. At the same time, the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has been unable to preserve its independence sufficiently and has not been able to implement its own tariff orders, such as the one to reduce Delhi’s charges by 96%. Taxation: Airlines face an onerous tax burden in India, including the imposition of service tax to services rendered outside of India, including those for overflight charges, global distribution systems, and international tickets. This is in contravention of international principles established by governments through ICAO. IATA has been working closely with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Secretariat in India to address some of the issues that are of concern to airlines. “The GST regime needs to adhere to international standards and principles. We have called for a zerorating for international flights when the GST comes into effect next April. This seems unlikely. To limit its damage to the sector’s competitiveness, we would at least hope for abatement in the rate,” said de Juniac. Sustainability: For India to achieve its aviation potential, the industry needs to be able to grow in a sustainable manner. Earlier this month, governments reached a global agreement to establish a Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). This was a history making achievement that has some 65 states committed to participate in the voluntary period. “It was a huge disappointment not to have India among the initial 65 states. As India had ratified the Paris Agreement in the same week, we were hopeful that the spirit of climate leadership would extend to aviation emissions. We continue to urge the Indian government to come on board with CORSIA and join the voluntary period,” said de Juniac.

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GUEST COLUMN

India Tourism Scene in 2016 We should not be blindly optimistic about the outlook for India’s foreign tourist arrivals. We must talk about weak performance in tourist arrivals from our main source markets like Germany, Italy, France, Japan rather than Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka etc where positive growth is visible.

overnment’s statistical data till August suggest an improving trend but despite so called growth the tour operators have not been benefited at all. The tourists from neighboring countries hardly take the services of the tour operators or use five star properties to stay thus there is no direct business to the travel companies. The priority is to increase more up market traffic from USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Middle East. The consistent support provided by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to enhance investment in tourism sector is truly commendable. The Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit was a very proactive step in this direction. At least investors will visit India round the year and keep tourism growth continued. Integration of all states promoting tourism into the investment policy can bring infrastructure development all over the country. Such initiatives show commitment to promote and develop cooperation among various overseas countries. It arises to encourage investments and sound

economic development, boost exchanges and cooperation in culture, technology and tourism. The contemporary economic climate has varying effects on our main traffic generating markets of BRIC countries including South Africa. Also emerging markets like Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia and Argentina are highly reliant on financial position and not doing well in economic arena. China is a good potential market but latest political developments will not increase demand. Media is usually the first source of information about the destination which encourages travellers to visit the destination; unfortunately media has damaged the image of the country. We need to work on the way an information is being passed to the travellers, i.e. instead of saying the Taj Mahal will have a mud-cover (that gives a wrong signal); we should issue an assurance that Taj will be partially visible and not all covered. Our visa issues remain unsettled especially Multi Entry Visa and that is negatively impacting international tourist arrivals. Government has started global campaign but the peak season is going to be over in December 2016. So this Campaign is for mainly for next year’s arrivals. India was not visible whole year in global markets, neither electronic nor print media. Our competitors took the advantage. Even tax status remained heavy (nearly over 30%). Even GST may not be in operation till September/October 2017. This uncertainty puts our sales team overseas to give firm quotations to clients. We have to give quotations 6 months in advance so we can’t give a competitive price and we lose

business before our neighboring countries. All these do not augur well. We lack professionalism. Even Safety and Cleanliness part people take with a pinch of salt and talk about it at all forums. Our media is mainly responsible for that. Air ticket cost have gone up and this has dampen the spirit for tourists who like to take long haul holiday destinations. Things are not coming the way we want. Natural Calamities, Terror threats, Bird Flu phobia and Dengue all these have put a blow on our image or as a holiday destination. We are keeping our finger crossed. Hope November/December work out well and we end the year with international tourist arrival in double digit. By Gour Kanjilal, Executive Director, IATO and Former, Dy. Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and Freelance Journalist.

CRUISE

TIRUN launches VR app for Royal Caribbean Cruises

IRUN, the exclusive India Representative for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., has launched one of its kind virtual reality application which allows users to virtually travel on a cruise through their smartphones. The app offers tours of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, letting potential guests embark on virtual walkthroughs of staterooms, liner decks and much more- offering them an almostreal idea of the splendours that await them on board. This app perfectly replicates the

on-board experience and further fortifies TIRUN’s leadership stance as the most innovative travel marketing company in India.

Cruising is still considered a niche tourism category by most in India, with a majority of customers not being fully aware of what a cruise vacation really has to offer. TIRUN’s virtual reality app is here to change this scenario, by making the cruise experience familiar to Indian travelers, especially those from tier II and III cities. This app is also aimed at being beneficial in the B2B realm, as trade partners can now market packages more easily, with potential guests being able to get tangible glimpses of the vacation they plan to book.

November 2016 37

APPOINTMENT

Suman Julka Director of Sales & Marketing Hyatt Regency Gurgaon

Suman has been in the hospitality industry for over 17 years. Suman started her career as a pre opening member of Grand Hyatt Delhi in 1999. She later moved on to Hyatt Regency Kathmandu and Hyatt Regency Delhi as Catering Sales Manager. Her last assignment was as again as pre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; opening member with Westin, when she opened The Westin Gurgaon as Complex Director of Catering Sales for The Westin Gurgaon and The Westin Sohna Spa and Resort in 2010.

Anil Goel Chief Technology Officer OYO

Anil joins the leadership team at OYO to provide strategic direction and strengthen the technology infrastructure powering the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business operations. He worked at Amazon.com as the Global Head of Technology for Customer Returns and Reverse Logistics business. Prior to this, Anil was the CTO at Hike Messenger. He has spent 15 years in Seattle, working in various technology development and leadership roles at RealNetworks, Capgemini and HyperQuality.

Chef Piched Paoleng Thai Chef at San:Qi, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

A young, dynamic chef with over 20 years of culinary experience, Chef Piched Paoleng is the new Thai Chef at San:Qi, the popular Pan-Asian restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. A Bangkok native, Chef Piched began his foray into the culinary industry at the age of 20. Chef Piched made his mark at the hotel for a decade, training on various PanAsian cuisines and methods, working his way up the ranks and eventually becoming the Thai Chef de Cuisine.

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