to `Documentation Update: April 2005 to

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Documentation
Update
2005-06
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Our Note
• HOW CREDIBLE IS "INCREDIBLE INDIA!"? •
Making a mark on the international tourism map
The final report published in Feb, 06 of the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for India prepared by the National
Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) for the Ministry of Tourism provides insights into the role of
tourism in Indian economy. The report emphasizes that Indian tourism has come of age and is internationally
comparable and credible. Global recognition to Indian tourism has been accorded by the 73rd session of
Executive Council of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) where Secretary General, Francesco Frangialli,
praising the country's tourism policy and the "Incredible India" campaign, said that he hoped the country
would record the highest growth rate in tourist arrivals by the end of this year. India's tourist arrival growth
rate in 04·05 of 13%, matching that of China's, has upgraded India's position as a preferred tourism
destination in Asia. India's status in the world tourism scenario was further enhanced when it was unanimously
elected as a member of the Executive Council of the UNWTO. F inancially too, tourism has become a priority
sector at the central and state levels. The plan allocation for tourism sector at the central government level
has increased from Rs. 786 crores in 2005·06 to Rs.830 crores in 2006-07, out of which 422.5 crores is for
the development of tourism infrastructure alone.
The 'Incredible India' campaign and extensive promotional initiatives of the Iridian Government in tourism has
been attributed as a key reason for India's positioning as an important tourism player. There has been a
significant expansion of the Incredible India campaign and it has come to include several more states and
regions under its focus. The campaign has also resulted in states competing with each other for central
budgetary allocations and hiring national and international consultants to promote tourist destinations more
aggressively, incorporating new rhetoric and concepts such as ecotourism, farm tourism, rural tourism and
other such forms. In the light of the growing success of Indian tourism internationally, even greater emphasis
has been laid on "high value, low volume" tourism in some of the states· the rationale of such assumption
being that high value tourism will induce development of high end infrastructure with added financial gains
through tourism revenues.
'
In its bid to continuously improvise and take new shapes and forms to attract all kinds of clientele - the
latest buzzword is medical tourism. The trend is of promoting different cities such as Hyderabad, Bangalore
and Delhi as hubs for medical tourism to attract international patients into large private·run hospitals that
offer specialized medical services at prices much lower than international standards. The 'greet and treat'
concept is integral to this new idea. The central Tourism Ministry is participating at the Medical Tourism Expo
in the UK in June 2006 to showcase the medical facilities available in India. Although foreigners and NRls
coming to India for treatment is not a recent trend, the last few years have seen the Tourism Department
leveraging this trend to package it as a new tourism product of "Medical Tourism" with simplified visa
procedures for international patients being outlined prominently inthe national tourism website.
Flying high - tourism and the aviation sector boom in India
The tremendous boom in the aviation industry 2005·06 has resulted in better connectivity between tourism
destinations all over the country. There has been a growing trend of low cost private airlines aggressively
entering the market. The sectors, which were considered economically non viable earlier (like North Eastcand
Andaman) are now well connected even by private airlines. Our section C24 - Civil aviation highlights this
trend. It is expected that domestic tourism sector will witness an upward growth with air travel no longer a
privileged mode of transport for the .soCial and economic elite. Entry of new players has not only Jed to
aggressive p'rice wars but the adoption of novel marketing strategies by airlines to attract customers. One
such strategy in particular chooses to highlight its female staff on board as "models in the air". The booming
aviation sector has also brought in additional proposals of the modernization and privatization of airport.) at
major India cities -a move which saw vehement challenge by workers unions but which the central government
is determined to see through ..
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Business as usual
For the l a st 50 yea rs, mini ng, d a m projects a n d indu stries continue to feed voraciously on natural res' o urce
rich a reas a n d be major threats to i nd igenous and loca l communities, a nd the envi ro nment. The threats from
these deve l opments have been visib l e e nough a n d have generated i m m e n se res i st a n ce from a diva s i
com mu n ities across states. Tou rism too, i s grad ua I ly a n d subtly penetrati n g t r i ba I a reas usi ng forests, water
a n d trib a l c u l tu re as potenti a l p roducts. In 2005 the Government of I ndia introdu ced the Forest Rights Bil l,
which for the first t i me recogn i zed the rights of forest dwe l ling commun ities over their resources. However
since its introduction in Pa rlia ment, 9 months a nd three parliam entary sessions l ater, no decision has been
taken yet on its status. Significa nt o pposition to its ta bling has been from a section of 'conservati onists and
wil d life experts' who have contested the bil l on the g rounds that granting more rights to i n di genous and l ocal
com m u n i ties over forest l a n d s woul d res u l t in biodiversity loss and hab itat change. Simultaneously the very
same Government has, in a rather sneaky m a nner, brought back Schedu l e V a n d VI a reas within the a m bit of
the country's commitments u nder WTO agreements like the GATS with 110 stakeholder consu l tation. With the
a l ready ra mpant privatization of common property resources in these a reas, expos u re to the GATS a n d the
foil owi ng investment in service sectors wil l increase the threat being faced by indigenous communities. Tou rism
being a n important service sector will have a free reign, withou t being accou ntable for its adverse impacts.
No l onger a col l ud e r but a key facilitator in the p rocess of non - pa rticipatory d evel opment- is the centra l
gover nment with the sta r rol e being p l ayed by the Ministry of Environment a nd Forests- M oEF. The M inistry
is on a d rive to do away with even the meage r p rotection that c u rrent enviro nmental l aw s offer to suit the
need s a n d d em a n d s of i n d u st ry gia nts_ As p art of I ndia's commi tments to impl ement the Convention on
Biologic al Diversity (CBD), a N a tiona l Biodiversity Strategy a nd Action P l a n ( N BSAP ) was prepa red in 2002
through a consultative process but has not been a pproved to date. The reason quoted is that it i s 'unscientific.'
The Envi ron ment a l I m pact Assessment (EIA) N ot i fication f i rst issued in 1 994 was withd rawn a nd E I A for
tourism has been removed i n the new d raft Notification. The Coastal Regul a tionZone (CRZ) Notification issued
in 1 99 1 , first dil uted by tou rism lobby that wa nted a free entry into coastal stretches has been a mended 20
times to d a te - with each a me n d me nt f u r ther dil uti ng i ts p rovisio ns . B u t now the M oEF has deci d ed to
repl ace the CRZ N otification with a ma n agement p l a n. These wel l orchestrated cha nges at the pol i cy a nd
l ega l spaces has effectively given t o u rism a hol id ay f ro m accou nta bility a nd i s b usiness a s u s u a l with no
pretensions of a tint of g re e n.
As we go i nto press with this issue o f the DocUpdate, pol i cy battlel i nes a re being d rawn on SEZ, on Rehabilitation
a n d Resel lement policies, a n d tryi ng to ensure that the hard fought Right to I nformation i s not dil ute d .
As people continue to fight and struggle...
With a deve l o pment model that is clearly n ot i n favou r of the majority of its people but o riented to suit the
needs of the country's soci a l a nd economic elite, commun ities a n d affected people have come together in
their fight to recl ai m democracy a n d the right to determi ne the i r form and pace of devel opment. The past
yea r has seen m a ny a struggle - by the a divasis of Ka linga N aga r against the min i ng p l a ns of indust ry gia n t
Tata on their la nds; by the people o f Chattisgarh to reclaim the right over their river water which w a s c a l l ou s ly
sold away, by the people of the Northeast against state oppression, m i lita rization and a n i mposed model of
deve lopment fue l l ed by money a nd s upport from international instituti ons l ike the Wor l d Ba n k an d A D B; by
farme rs from across the country protesting in Hong Kong against the WTO-induced trade regi me in agriculture
that threatens the livelihoods of mil l i on s i n I ndia a nd other farming cou ntries; by the villagers of P l a chimada
against Coca Col a to stop the cola g ia nt from u sing a n d conta m i n ating the water of the vil la ge; by the slum
dwel lers of I n dia 's burgeoning metropolises to fight for space and the righ't to l ive with dignity; by the bar gir l s
of M u m ba i to retain their right to w o rk a nd feed their families. A s the poor, u nd er- privileged an d socia l ly
m a rgin a l ized continue to fight, the gove r n ment ha s not o n ly continued to e n d o rse s uch a n a nti-people
development model but ha s u sed its state and military power to sup press voices of o pposition a nd rebe l l ion.
The c u rrent for m of tourism deve lo p ment is a component of this p a ra d i gm that continues to s upport the
priv i leged without tendi ng to the needs a nd aspirations of commu nities which has a nd wil l continue to inspire
c a m pa i gns toward s a more j ust a nd democratic model .
This issue of the DocUpdate covers the period April 2005 to March 2006. The information included i s indicative,
tracing tourism, development and other broader issues, with the focus being l a rgely on I ndia. The i nformation
is orga nised and presented b ased a ccording to the sections a nd s ub-sections of EQUAT IONS documentation
centres c l assification code. T he data at the end of each item indicates the source. Please refer to the sou rce
index for a bbreviations used.
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We wou ld like to a cknow l edge the contribl 6A bvr.is Nfn a Rao{Oel hi), Baila n cho S a ad (Goa) and Citizen,
Consumer a nd Civic Action G roup (Chennai) for providing us with c l i p pings a nd reports.
Notwithstanding the delay in bringing this issue to you, we hope you find it useful a nd informative. We wou l d
a ppreciate receiving feedbac k a bo�H9�};>��Upp�t�j:> I���write t o us attnfo@equitab�!wris,fl,l!urg �:'
EQUAT,IQN S Team
N ovemb!;r 2006
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.CONTENTS.
A - TOURISM AND TOURISM ALTERNATIVES
5
B - TOURISM POLICY AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
8
C- TOURISM ECONOMY, INDIAN ECONOMY
14
o - TOURISM PROMOTION AND TYPES OF TOURISM
45
E- TOURISM, S OCIETY AND IMPACTS
61
G. - COAS TAL REGIONS
75
H - HILL AND MOUNTAIN REGIONS
77
K- KARNATAKA
79
L - KERAL A
93
M - TAMIL NADU
105
N - ANDHRA PRA DESH
109
P-GOA
113
Q-NORTH EAS T
120
S-OTHER S TATES
121
T - FOREIGN COUNTRIES
145
U - INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
150
x - CULTURE AND S OCIE TY
156
Z - MISCELL ANEOUS
162
TSR - TSUNAMI
163
Source Index
167
• A - TOURI S M AN D TOURI S M ALTERNATIV ES .
AOO Tourism, Travel
Destination tourism is a c ra shing bore. To the gl obetrotter, Paris, New York, Dubai, Si nga pore, even the Al ps,
is so 'common' . For the do mestic tourist, travel hotspots a re where you b u m p into the ver-y people you a re
ta king a b reak from: Pesky col l ea gues a nd neighbou rs . Trekking, snorkeiling, even bird watching a re victims
of mass tourism a n d brochure p romotions.
For the bored vacationer, the Lonely P l a net Guide to Experiment a l Travel offers refreshing departures. " Fo rget
package hol idays a nd clas sic routes", it says. Rewrite travel rules.
Experience. Rel ate. Look a t travel through a l a teral filter. There a re a l ternative ways to be a tourist, Vis i t the
wor l d in c reative, exciting a nd u n u s u a l ways. The trick is to "discover p l aces that have no rea so n to exist".
Earlie r, hol iday-travel w a s for p l easu re i t was escape from rea lity today it is escape from comfort-ind u ced
boredom.
Disaster tourism or trave l l ing to a scene of d i s a ster - to tSun ami-ravaged beach desti nations like Phu ket
a n d the Andam a n I s l a nds; terrorist-ta rgets like Egypt's Luxor a n d Shei k- a l -Sharif, N ew York's Ground Z e ro
a n d the B a l i I sl a n d s a nd vi s i ts to battl e-sites l ike Ka rgil - a re being described more as voye u r's choice, a
hin d ra n ce to rel ief a nd rehabilitation work. P ro moters say it sensitises peo p l e to the p l i ght of the a ffected
a n d hel ps kick-start the l oc a l economy.
S u rrealists an d p sycho-geographers, modern a lternative thinkers, espouse a philosophy that seems to say:
Let chance be you r g u i de. A p a ra l l e l i s d rawn between experimen t a l t ravel a n d su r real i st phi losophy: ' I t
thrives o n the tension between premeditation a n d sponta neity. The rea lisation that reason a nd a nt i - reason,
sen se and nonse n se, d esign and chance, c o nsciou sness and u nco nscio u sn ess, bel on g to each other as
necessary parts of the whole".
Experimenta l travel involves constant reinvention and c reativity expenments incl ude Blind M an's Bug, Slow­
return a n d Era-tou rism _ Ero·tourism is an experiment for couples, to a rrive sepa rately in an u nknown foreign
city an d then fin d one a n other without havi ng recourse to a ny mea n s of comm u nicati on, a nd without having
decided on a meeting place. Blind M a n's B uff, as the name suggests, is o ne partner blindfolding himself and
' seei ng' and experiencing the j ou rney a nd desti nation through the eyes of his companion. S low-retu rn travel
mea n s j ust that: Get to a destina tion via the fastest mode of trav�1 and then cha l k out you r ret u rn through the
s lowest possible way
A'nachronist i c adventure entai l s t rave l l ing b a c k in time by u si ng, for i nsta n ce, a Pen ny Farthing o r hot-air
bal loon, navigating a town o r vil la ge i n peri od costume, to experience the pace and style of travel of a bygone
age with g reater authenticity Past-travel wou l d include usi ng a n out-of-date gu idebook to explore a city while
n ot i ng the cha nges that have occu rred over time. The Lonely P l anet c a l l s this com pa ra tive a n a chronistic
tourism.
Counter·tourism
a c ritique of c l assica l tou rism - doing the o pposite of what you thi n k a travel l er shoul d
d o, l i ke t aking pict u re s with you r b a c k t o key tourist sites, The res u l t s cou l d b e excitin g a n d reve l atory_
Experimenta l travel is a playful way of travel ling, where the journey's methodology a clear but the destin ation
is u n k nown . Get a dventu rous. H a s n ' t it been said that it is the jou rney n ot the destination that matters?
(Death of the Destination, TOLB, 0 5 . 09.05 , AOO)
Yea r 2005 c a n perhaps a ptly be described as the 'Year of the Trave l l er' . Afte r a l l, when e l se has there been
a time in the I nd i a n t ravel industry when air travel was cheape r than rail, air-tickets were commonly sold for
Rs 1 a n d you bought you r rail ticket on the mobile phone en route to the railway station!
Much has c h a n ged o n the travel l a n d scape a n d then aga i n so much rem a i n s to be done. Whi l e d o mestic
aviation has clearly led the marc h , novel d i st ri bution ideas have made a d ramatic i mp act o n the landscape.
Electro n i c d i stri bution via the I nternet attai ned pop u la r ity i n a relat i vely short ti m e · s p an a s customers
embraced e·commerce for a ll the advantages i t brought to their fi ngertips.
Power to the consumer ( read trave l ler) was the domi n a nt theme across most changes. Customers demanded
m o re c ho i ce i n a l l a s pect s
modes of t ravel , c h o i ce of carriers , hote l s a n d desti n at i on s . A n d s u p p l i ers
rea d i ly p l ayed bal l i n a despe rate race for the ephemera l m a rket l eader status. The i rony rem a i ne d that
supply rarely met demand and yet most a i rl i nes were prepared to bend over backwards to secure a lead i n
the ephemeral market share game.
Adm i ttedly, the hospita l i ty sector p resented q u ite a d ifferen t story. Demand outstri p ped s u p p ly at most
ti mes of the yea r a n d t h i s resulted i n hotel s pricing their rooms at ast ronomical prices a n d actu a l l y getti ng
away with it. Cities l i ke Ba ngalore, Pune and Delh i went i nto a chro n i c 'sold·out' s i tuation, fuel led l a rgely by
busi ness travel that emanated fro m a booming corporate c l i me. It is a pitifu l fact that the sum total of hotel
rooms i n I nd i a i s less than that I d the city of Las Vegas or a s I recently learnt less than one sub·bra n d of the
Marriott c ha i n of hote l s !
W h i l e w e often tend t o l u mp travel a n d tourism i n one compartment, t h e truth i s t hat w h i l e com plementary,
they a re q uite d i fferent i n nature. I ndia i s galloping away to new heights i n the travel category (ai r, hotel, taxis,
etc. , fuelled by a robust economy); much remai n s to be achieved on the tourism side. The only form booming
i s outbou n d tourism a n d a s t h e n a me suggests , its benefits accrue to fore i gn countries that a re c lever
enough to attract I n d i a n s to the i r modest but well · packaged attra ctions. I nbou nd tourism i s actual ly grow i ng
at a mediocre rate. And it's d ue to the i nherent i nfra structural bottlenecks i n the travel ecosystem. (Advantage
trave l l e r, Deep Kal ra , F E.B, 2 5 . 1 2.05 , AOO)
The Acropo l i s i n Athens made i t , as d i d Angkor Wat tem pl e in Cambodi a , Chi na's Great Wal l , the Colosseum
in Rome, the I nca temple of Machu Picchu in Peru , Stonehenge i n England and the Moai - the Easter I sland
statues. Less i mmediately obvious choices i n a final short l i st of 21 contenders for the N ew Seven Wonders
of t h e Worl d , a n nou nced i n Switzerlan d , i nc l ud ed the Kreml i n i n Moscow, the Eiffel Tower a n d the Statue of
Uberty.
More than 1 9 m i l l i o n voters have so fa r taken part i n what its o rgan i se rs ca l l the "world's fi rst global vot i n g
campaign " , n o m i n at i ng h u n d reds o f s i tes they consider worthy riva l s t o the seven wonders o f the a ncient
worl d named by Anti pater of S idon a n d P h i l o n of Byzantiu m i n 200 BC. (Globa l vote for new seven wonders,
Jon Henley, BL.B, 0 3. 0 1 .06, AOO)
AlO Tourism and Development
G i v i n g a further boost to the aggressive ' I n cred i bl e I n d i a ' ca m pa i gn of I n d i a tou ri s m , the p restigious U K
magazine Conde N ast Traveller has rated the country 5th a mong the top 1 0 travel dest i nations i n the world.
"Conde Nast's recognition confirms I ndia's growing stature as a fastest growing tourism desti nation," Minister
of State for Tou ri s m Ren ukha Chowdhury sa id. The ra n k ings are an i ndex of satisfaction with travel faci l ities
a nd servi ce s , score d out of a maxim u m of 1 00 . I n the readers' travel awa rd s q uestionna i re , readers were
a sked to choose the best that the travel world has to offer· everyt h i ng from hote l s a n d spas to a i r l i nes a n d
ai rports. ( i nd i a a mong t o p 1 0 tourist d esti nations, I E. C, 1 1 . 1 0.05, A 1 0)
ABO Tourism Research / Education
F l u stered by the growi ng poa c h i n g of its a i r crew i nc l u d i ng co· p i lots a n d e ngi neers by the competitors, A i r
Deccan , has decided t o meet the problem head on by setting up an i nternational standard school for tra i ni n g
p i l ots, engi neers a n d a i r crew. The world class i nstitution woul d not only meet t h e capt ive requ i rements o f Air
Deccan but even p rovide tra i n i ng fac i l ities to other a i rl i nes in I ndia a n d abroad . The overa l l i nvestment o n the
new p roject, schedu led to sta rt soon, would be over a ro u n d $25 m n . (Ai r Deccan to sta rt tra i n i ng school ,
T S . D, 1 3.05.05, A80)
The Federation of H otel & Resta u ra nt Associations of I nd i a ( FH RA I ) h a s s i gned a n agreement with Ecole
Hote l i e r de Lausa n n e ( E H L) of Switze r l a n d for consulta n cy and its acade m i c affil iation for the new F H RA I
I n stitute of Hospita l i ty Management bei ng esta b l i s hed i n Greater N o i d a . The i n st i tute w i l l begi n operation
from August 05. The federation's Vice· President, Mr S . K . Khullar, said that t h i s was fi rst t i me i n the country
that a man agement i n stitute of i n ternational standards for t he hos p itality i nd u stry was bei n g set u p by the
a pex body, which has a bout 2 ,700 members i n 300 cities. ( H otels federation i n pact with Swiss co to set u p
i n stitute, Badal Sanya l , B L. B , 20.05.05, A80)
The travel i n d u stry is facing a manpower crisis with agencies not attracti ng the right kind of talent any more.
The opportun i ty to travel and have a good soc i a l l ife, o nce the perks of the travel busi ness, a re no longer the
preserve of t hose who work i n t h i s field.
M s Shobana Laza rius, Managing D i rector, Sky Routes I nd i a Pvt Ltd, said that agencies are u nable to attract
ta l e n t m a i n l y beca u se of t he i r i n a b i l i ty to match the sa l a r i e s p a i d by t h e b u s i ness p rocess outso u rc i ng
(BPO) compan ies.
In t he smal ler age ncies, the e ntry-l evel sal a ry for a fresh graduate in Chen nai w i l l be Rs 2 , 500 to Rs 3 , 000,
while salaries at the l arger ones may go up to Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. A fresher with a s i m i la r q ua li fi cation w i l l
get a bout Rs 1 0,000 i n a BPO_
U ntra i ned m a n power i s the b iggest d rawback for t he i nd u st ry. Travel companies do not want to spend on
tra i n i ng thei r manpower and moreover, there is no such i n frastruct u re ava i l a b l e with them, sai d M r Kan i a l
H i ngora n i , Head & Vice President, Kuo n i Academy of Trave l .
Accord i ng to the World Travel a n d Tou ri s m Cou n c i l report, the d e ma n d for tra i n ed m a n power i n the travel
i n d u stry i s 1 0 lakh persons a year. Mr Ki ngaran i said t hat only a fraction of t h i s demand is met. There a re a
few i n stitutes a nd col l eges , which now offer travel a n d tourism cou rses.
Travel agencies are adding a cal l centre model to the traditional busi ness model . The best part of it i s that a
you n g recrui t ca n a l so l oo k at ru n n i ng h i s own bus i ness aft e r ga i ni ng the relevant experie n c e i n a t ra ve l
age ncy, h e sai d . (Travel agencies face shortage o f manpower, N i na Varghese, B L . B, 06.09.05, A80)
The Kol ka ta - ba sed I nter natio n a l G ro u p, w h i c h runs t h ree h ofel m a n a gement i nstitutes i n I nd i a u n d e r the
I n ternational I n st itute of H otel M a nagement ba n n e r, has fi r med up p l a n s to set up a hotel manage m e nt
i nstitute i n D u ba i . The proposed i n st itute, fi rst of its k i n d i n t h e E m i rates, i s set to become operati o n a l by
A p ri l t h i s yea r.
It wil l offer a three·year, ful l ·time u ndergraduate degree course i n I nternational H os pita l i ty Management. I t wil l
be l ocated i n D u ba i 's Knowledge Vil lage.
The D u ba i venture w i l l enta i l an i nvestment of Rs 20·25 c rore that w i l l be generated from i nternal accrual s
a n d other sou rces o f f i n ance. W h i l e t h e hospita l ity i nd u st ry there gen e rates a huge d e m a n d f o r tra i ned
professionals, the ava ilabil ity of those tra i ned l oca l ly i s scarce. ( I nternational Group plans hotel mgmt i n stitute
i n D u ba i , Ambar Si ngh Roy, B L . B, 09. 0 1 .06, A80)
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TOUR I SM POLICY AN D TO URISM D EV ELOPM ENT .
BOO Tourism Policy and Plans
Giving a major push to t h e Atithi D evo Bhava campai g n , U n i o n M i n i stry of Tou r i s m i s conve n i ng a national
meet of nodal officers f ro m d i fferent U ni o n M i n i stries and State Gover nments. "The bas i c i dea i s to a ssign
def i n i t ive roles to all m i n i stries, departments a n d State Governments a n d gea r them u p for the cam paign."
The Del h i meeting was a imed at achieving coord ination between various Government departments that d irectly
d e a l t with i ssues related to tour is m . (Centre cal l s meet to rev up t o u r i s m d r i ve, K V Kurma n a t h , BloB;
1 2.5. 0 5 , BOO)
To attract more tourists, the h ome m i n i st ry i s con sideri ng two c rucia l proposals. Fir st, is the v i sa on a r riva l
scheme for tourists from 1 6 countri e s , i nc l u d i ng A u stral i a , New Zea l a n d . Switze r l a n d , Norway a n d some
Lat i n American countries. Second, the M i n i stry is considering eas i ng the Restricted Area Permit and P rotected
A rea Per m i t for foreigners goi ng to the N ortheast. This w i l l help boost tour i s m in t he region . (Govt. p l a n s to
repackage Desti nation I nd i a , Rajn i s h Sha rm a , HT.D, 3 1 .05.05, BOO)
A reu nificatio n of t h e m i n i stries of culture a n d tou r i s m i s l i kely to come a bout when t h e U nion C a b i n et i s
reshuff l e d i n J uly. Both the culture a n d tou r i s m m i n istries h ave been i n the eye of a stor m ever since t h e
formation of t h e UPA government last year. The Tourism M i n ister, M rs Renuka Chaudhary, has been a l ittle too
outspoke n , much to t h e d iscomfort of her sen io rs. A sen i o r c u l tu re m i n i st ry offici a l s a i d there h a d been
p ractical difficu l ties in executi ng projects as tourism and culture could not rea l ly be looked upon as separate
entities. ( M i n i stry mel d i ng l i kely for culture, tourism, Sanjay S i ngh, TS.D, 03.06.05, BOO)
The M i n i stry of Tourism recently annou nced plan s to restart the tourist guide exam after n ine years. Last held
i n 1 996, the exam w i l l now be conducted on December 2 9 , 2005.
Language experts had a pproached the court with a petition to hold the exa m so that they too coul d qual ify
as t ou r i st g uid es . The exa m wil l be h e l d every two years i n a b i d to stre a m l i ne t h e need for p rofessional
guides in the country. Two t ra i ni ng program mes w il l a l so sta rt from August 29, a fou r month fre shers course
a n d a one-month refreshers course. These prog ra m me s w i l l i nculcate in the ta kers knowledge a bout Indian
c u l t u re and p re pa re a s pi ra n ts for t h e exa m . The m i n i st ry a l so p l a n s to have a s pecia l quota for wives of
defence person n e l . (Tourist guide exam to be started a ga i n after 9 years, S hveta Bhagat, TOI . D, 06.09.05,
BOO)
Among the new projects of the U n i on M i n i st ry of Tour is m i nclude:
+ Air India to d is p l ay ' Incre di b l e I nd i a ' o n ta i l of sel ected a i rcraft
+Tourism themes music to be made avai l a ble at M icrosoft Window
+ Tou ri st taxis to run with ' I ncred i bl e I nd i a ' graffiti
+ Sight see i ng package for u nderpri v i l eged c h i l d re n from orpha nages
+ Exc l u s i ve website on rura l desti nations
( N ew i nitiatives l a unched o n World Tour i s m D ay, I E.C. 28.09.05, BOO)
U ni o n Tourism M i n i ster Renuka Chowdh u ry sai d t hat the M i n i stry has ea rma rked Rs. 488 c rore for tourism
projects in various states for the current f i n a ncial yea r without a ny pre-condition of matc h i ng grant.
At a meet i n g to revi ew tourism p rojects i n the states , s h e said that states h ave to e n s u re o n ly t i m e l y
completion of these projects a n d regul a r submission o f reports t o t h e Centre for future plann i ng. Expressing
cor. cern over slow i m p le mentation in some of the cases, she said that the con dition of matchi n g grant from
the state h a s been waived-off a n d n ow the states have to e n s u re o n l y t h e a vail a b i l i ty of l a n d for gett i ng
. h u n d re d percent f i n a n c i a l s up po rts from the Cen t re. S he a s ked the s tates to actively con s i d e r redef i n i ng
land use norms to facilitate construction of budget accommodation, rationa l i sation of various taxes i n touris m
i ndu stry a n d si ngle·win dow cleara nce f o r tourism p rojects. The M i n i ster suggested t h e states to adopt eco-
2005
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friendly p ra ctices at tourism desti n ations a n d to keep its role l i mi ted up to i nfrast ructure developments. (Rs
488 cr to reva m p tourism i n states, I E . B, 28. 1 0. 0 5 , BOO)
Even as tour operators and agencies plead with the Central Government for easier visa regu lations for tourists,
the Tourism M i n istry has recommended outsourci ng visas to pri vate com pa n i es, to loosen the strangleho l d
o f t h e "visa bureaucracy" regi me.
M i n i st ry off i c i a ls be l i eve t h e o n l y way to cash i n on the growi ng I n d i a · boom worldwide is to m a k e visas
accessible to maximum people, in maximum cities, in maxi mum countries.
The outsourci ng of visas he l p hel p reckon offi c ials i n two ways. "Fi rst, it is chea per to outsource rather than
set up 20 consu lates to p rocess visas. Two, i t ma kes it safer a n d easier to p rocess a visa t h rough a p rivate
fir m tha n risk the loss of passport through a travel a gent.
The US has outsourced its visas through TI Services, a subsidiary of TT K I ndustries, which services requests
from northe r n a n d southern regions. (Tourism M i n istry pushes to outsource visas, Vri nda Gopi nath, I E. D,
28. 1 0.05, BOO)
I n a n i ni t i ative a i med at givi n g a boost to the tourism sector, the M i n istry of Tourism has a pp roached the
P l a n n i ng Com miss i on to m a n date every M i n i stry to make tourism a sub-pl a n under w hich, at l east 5 - 1 0%
funds should be a l located towards tourism i nfrastructure development. T he proposal was made by the M i nister
of Tourism Renuka Chowdhury.
The govern ment i n i ts Budget 2005-06 ha d a l l ocated Rs 786 c rore for tourism as aga i nst Rs 500 c rore i n
2004-0 5 . It has a lso proposed Rs 4 1 5 c rore for tourism i nfrastructure.
Tal ki n g a bout the other new i nitiatives ta ken by MOT, Ms Chowdhury said the m i nistry was a lso looki ng at the
via b i l ity of sign i ng MoUs with 'sma l le r a i rl i nes'. (,M a ke tourism a sub-pla n in a l l m i nistries', FE.C, 20. 1 2 .05,
BOO)
After long bei ng at sea over cruise tourism's huge potential
evident through its fast-growing global popu l a rity
- the gover n ment is f i n a l l y for mulati n g a n el a bo rate pol i cy to m a ke Ind i a a n a ttractive c ruise tourism
desti n ation. This i ncludes deve lopment of i nfrastructure a n d other faci l ities at various ports, in a bid to d rift
the flow of such foreign tourists i n to I nd i a n shores.
A si ngle c ruise sh i p, usu a l l y hav i n g 1 0 decks, c a n eas i l y a ccom modate 8 , 000-9,000 touri sts, who need to
book themselves for such package tours to visit pre·speci f ied desti nations.
Whi le a h igh· power steerin g group has been constituted to formulate pol i cy in the matter, a working group has
i dentified Mum bai , Mormugao, New M a nga lore, Coch i n ports on the west coast and Chenn a i , Tuticori n ports
on the east coast for i nfrastructural development. S pec i a l theme ci r9uits a re bei ng p repared by the Tourism
M i n istry keepi ng in view loc a l cultura l and geographical deta i ls.
Poli cy components:
I m mi gration: Ava i l a bi l ity of proper visa . In the a bsence of p roper visa, each port may h ave tempora ry
•
l a n d i n g p e r m i t for one month for c ru i se passengers a nd c rew. C ruise t ravel a gents a re regi stered .
Nomi nation and tra i n i ng of i mmigration officers at each port.
Custom C lea ra nce: Custom off i ce rs a re a l ready ava i l a bl e at each port. T hey may e nsure hassle free
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movement of passengers a n d goods.
Quarantine
Restrictions: The M i n istry of Hea lth may nomi nate a n offi cer for each selected port to tackle
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quara ntine issue rel ated with yel low fever.
I nfrastructure: N ecessary i nf rastructure l i ke dedi cated terminals, rest rooms, lounges, publi c conveniences,
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bui l t up space for duty
restaura nts, p roper ga ngway for easy e m ba rkation a n d d isembarkation,
baggage h a n d l i ng thrc,,,c. '1 conveyor belts, baggage storage cloak rooms to be c reated.
Con nectivity: Besirles creating i nfrastructure for smooth a nd hassle free c al l i ng of cruise s h i ps i n Ind i a n
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ports, connectl v t y ':1 rough ra i l, roa d a n d a i r have been sought.
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Taxation I s sues: A favourable taxation reg i me to be put i n p l a ce i n con sultation with the R B I a nd C BO:r
u nder the f i na nce m i n istry, bes ides consultation with state govern me nts with rega rd to local taxes l i ke
service tax, luxury tax, octroi o n supply of servi ces, enterta i n ment tax.
(Centre to fra me policy to attract tourists, A bhigya n Ha ns, AA. B, 15.0 1 . 06, BOO)
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The CAG has pul led up the Tourism M in istry for incurring irregular expenditure of over RS.80 lakh on engagement
of staff i n I ndia tourism offi ces a b road. Noting that enga gement of staff was 'in disrega rd ' of i n structions,
CAG, i n its report tabled i n Pa rl i a ment s a id "the I nd i a tourism offices i n London, M i l a n a nd Pa ri s had been
engagi ng contin gency·paid staff from Jul y 2001 to Ma rch 2005 for work of regu l a r nature or against vaca nt
posts a nd i n curred i rregul a r.expenditure of Rs 83. 1 7 Ia kh." CAG a l so described the response of the m i ni stry
a s "not ten a bl e". It said w h i l e M i l a n was a p pointing the temporary staff only during pea k sea son to cope with
heavy workload, the Pa ris office was fi nding i t difficult to a ppoi nt a candidate to the post of secretary a s the
benefits offered were not attra cti ve enough . (CAG pul l s up tou rism ministry for i rregu l a r expenditure,
22 .03 .06, BOO)
820 Tou r i sm Legi s l ation
A N ationa l Tourism Adv i so ry Council, cha i red by the M i n i ster o f State for Tou ris m, h a s been constituted with
members from m i nistries, experts i n travel a nd tou ri s m m a n a gement a nd presidents of travel a nd trade
a ssoci a tions . T he secreta ry tourism would be the member secreta ry. (Tou ri s m Cou n c i l Constituted, T S.O,
04.05.05 , B20)
The M a h a ra s htra cabi net a pproved the controvers i a l ord i n ance ba n n i ng over 1 ,300 da nce b ars in the face of
opposition from sections within the government a wel l as f rom outside. T itled the Bombay Pol i ce (Amendment)
O rdi na nce 2005, i t b a n s da n ce perfo r m a n ces i n side bars a n d eateries. I t i n cludes a stri ngent p rovision to
p rovide for pun i s hment u pto t h ree yea rs a nd pen a l ty upto Rs. 2 l a kh for viol ations, a nd ma kes the offence
non · ba i l a ble. C lubs, five·star hotel s a nd touris m·related performances have been exempted from the ban.
(Ord i n a n ce ba n s da n ce ba rs but keeps 5·sta rs out of it, ILO, 1 9 . 05.05, B20)
830 ITDC
In what i s bei n g seen by the Tou rism M i n i stry a s a vi ndication of thei r sta nd, l i quor major UOV O i ageo has
offered additio n a l 1 ,700 cases·20,400 bottl e s worth R s 2.6 c ro re, free to I T O C for its 2004 sup p l y. The
compa ny's most wel l·known product Black Label i s the best·sel li ng brand at ITOC's duty·free shops, accounti ng
for nea rly ha lf the turnover.
T his effectively mea ns that the company has pushed dow n the purchase p ri ce of the best-sel l i ng b ra nd a nd
a l so has set a be nchmark for future purchases a nd may now be i n a position to compete with a new private
player i n New Del h i 's duty·free busi ness.
T he rights a nd w rongs of how ITO C procures i ts l iquor have been t he subject of a war between bureaucrats
a nd pol i ticians for over s i x months. (Liquor gia nt's bounty for ITOC, TOL D, 20. 04.05, B30)
The Leel a G roup is a cqui ring the e rstwhi l e [TO C five-star resort i n Koval a m, its ma iden operating hotel , for
a bout Rs 120 crore f ro m a Gul f·ba sed non-resident busi nessma n w ho currently ru ns it under the Meridien
brand n ame. A nother Rs 15·20 cr is l i ke ly to be i nvested i n upgrading the 192·room property. T he acquisition
p rocess, wh i ch i s expected to be completed with i n t he next 8·9 weeks, w i l l expa nd the s ize of the Lee l a 's i n
the south to four hotel s by 2008. In the past, the cha i n has always built the hotel from a scratch. The Koval a m
resort w a s a cqui red by the Muscat N R I during the ITOC disinvestment progra mme. A 5th hote l , a 65 a l l·suite
bouti que property in Uda i pur, wil l be ready by October 2006. Lee l a 's expa ns ion p l an i ncludes l a nd a cqui red
i n Chen n a i nea r the beachfront to bui l d a 360·room lUXUry hotel complimented by commerc i a l development
for a tech park To sup po rt its recent drive to a gg ress ively expand its footpri nt, it is ra i s i ng a round Rs 350
crore (th rough a m i x of option s i nc ludi ng foreign currency converti ble bonds, AO R, equity). (Leel a in Rs 1 20·
c r dea l for former ITOC resort; A l so P l a ns Rs 15·20 C r U pg radation of the Kova l a m P roperty, G i rish Rao,
ET.B, 24.05.05, B30)
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B32 Tou rism Facilities
In a major d i rective which has far-reac h i ng i mp l ications, P ri me Mi nister M an mohan Si ngh has asked various
m i nistries to treat I n d i a n a nd foreign n ationals a l i ke, doing away with the p resent "discri m i natory" f�es for
various services a n d faci l ities, i nc l ud i ng hotel tariffs, domestic a i r fa re a n d entry fee at hi stori ca l monuments
a n d other tou rist sites.
Pri me M i nister M a n mo h a n Si ngh has asked Cabi net Secretary B K Chaturvedi to review with the m i n istries
concerned the discri m i natory c h a rges being l evied for services to foreign passport holders, i nc ludi ng N R ls.
He has suggested that the m i n istries con ce rned should exa m i ne the feas i b i l ity of e n d i ng this a nomaly a n d
treati ng a l l consumers of such services equa l ly i rrespective o f the i r national i ti es. (,Treat foreigners, I ndia ns
a l i ke', D H . B, 1 1 .0 2 .06, B32)
B40 B ilatera l a n d M u lt ilatera l Agreements of Ind i a n Government i n Tou rism
While moving towa rds a Regional Trade Arra n gement (RTA), I nd i a a nd Chi n a entered i nto formal understanding
to e ngage i n a wi de·ra ngi n g d i a logue over the f i n a n c i a l sector a n d to substa nti a l ly l i bera lise civi l aviation
l i nkages that would result i n a major i ncrease i n f l i ght frequencies between the two cou ntries. The civil aviation
agreement seeks to i nc rease the f l ight freq uencies of designated a i rl i nes of each side to 14 per week on the
l ATA summer season of 2005 that would go up to 28 f l ights during the wi nter season and to 42 f l ights during
the summer season of 2006. At present, each side operates seven f l ights a week. The two sides would a lso
adopt 'open Skies' pol i cy for cargo with unlimited capacity entitlement for dedi cated cargo services. Agreement
has a l so been reached to sim p l i fy visa procedures for operating a nd c a b i n c rew a nd e mployment of foreign
pi lots by the designated a i rl i nes of either side. T he a i rl i nes wou l d a lso be a l lowed to d ry l ease a i rcraft for both
com b i n ation services a n d ca rgo sha ri ng services. (I n d i a , C h i n a sign pact to rel a x aviation l i n kages; J o i nt
group moots region a l trade a rra ngement, B L . B, 1 2 .04.05, B40)
I nd i a a nd Aust ra l ia have agreed to jointly promote the Commonwealth Ga mes i n Mel bourne i n 2006 a n d i n
D e l h i i n 20 1 0 to significa ntly i nc rease the tourist f l ow. T h is was a g reed a t t h e fi rst Joi n t Worki ng G ro u p
meeti ng o n tou rism between the two countries.
Agree i ng to adopt an a ction p l a n to have effective b i latera l cooperation in various a reas of tourism and travel,
both the M i nisters a lso a greed to esta b l ish a b i l a teral eco·tourism work i n g group to identify joint resea rc h
a n d tra i n i ng projects, a n off ic ial release sai d . T h e Austra l i a n s i d e a greed t o host a n Austra li a- I n d i a Tourism
B usiness Forum to coi ncide with the Mel bourne Com monwealth Ga mes. ( I n d i a , Austra l i a to jointly promote
Commonwealth Ga mes, B L . B, 20.09.05, B40)
As a fol low-up to the i n itiatives taken at the revived joint com mission meeting here, I nd i a a nd Pakistan have
for med a joi nt worki ng group (JWG) to explore opportunities for promoting touri sm between them. The JWG
wou l d workout mod a l i t i es for promot i n g tourism i n a b i g way between the two countri es, Joi nt Sec reta ry,
Tourism Mi nistry A m i ta bh Ka nt, who a ccompa n ied Exte r n a l Affai rs M i n ister K N atwa r Si ngh to h i s visit to
Pakistan .
M r Ka ntand other offic ia ls made video presentations to Pakista n's g roup tour operators a n d tourism offic i a l s
to impress upon them that through l i beral isation o f visa regime a n d promoting group tourism the two countries
coul d tap a huge market i nvolv ing over a m i l l ion touri sts.
I n a n effort to promote tou rism, I nd i a h as p roposed to Pakistan to a mend the existi ng agreement on visa to
i n c rease group tours to rel igious shri nes a n d cultura l excha nge programme. T he two sides agreed to p ursue
these proposa ls under the next round of composite d i alogue process begi n n i ng i n J a n u a ry. ( I n d i a , Pak form
JWG to explore ways to p romote tourism, FE.C, 06. 1 0.05, B40)
"T here is tremendous pote nti a l for I nd i a n i nvestors in Mauriti us, espec i a lly i n tourism, pha r m aceutica ls,
m a n ufactu ri ng, B POs, information tec h nology and the energy sector and i nvestors could m a ke the best use
of them to the benefit of both the countri es," sa i d Mauriti us Deputy P r i m e M i n i ster R a m a S i th a ne n . T he
Mauritius govern ment offered to i nvestors spec i a l ly designed i ncentives, which cou l d be i n the form of lower
corporate tax, exem ption from custom duty on equ i pment a n d raw materi a l s, p referentia l loan rates a n d
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reduced tariff for power a n d water. Divi dend was exempted f rom tax a nd free repatriation of profits, dividends
a n d capita l was a l lowed .
M r. Ra m a Sithanen sai d his country's economy was no more based l a rgely on sugarcane a n d tourism a n d had
over the years shifted to other sectors l i ke m anufacturing, financial services, i nformation tech nology, seafood
i ndustry, hea l t h , energy a nd B POs.
The govern ment wa nted to convert the isla nd i nto a duty·free port l i ke Duba i , Hong Kong a nd S i ngapore and
a p l a ce for host i ng i n te rnati o n a l conve ntions a nd conferences. I t wa nted to attract f lagshi p hotel c h a i ns of
i nter n a tiona l repute through a com p rehensive hotel m a n a gement sche me. S i m i la r l y i t wa nted to deve lop
health tourism through health resorts coupled with golf courses. (Mauritius i nvites I nd i a n i nvestment; P lenty
of scope in both m a nufacturi ng a n d services, says Deputy Prime M i nister, T H. B, 30. 10 .05, B40)
P ri me M i n ister M a n mohan S i ngh's a pprec iation of I ndones i a 's adoption of a visa·on·arriva l poli cy for I nd i a n
nationals dur i ng the visi t o f P resi dent Susi lo Bambang
Yud hoyono set the tone for a whole range of MoUs to be s igned between the two countri es. Both countries
a g reed to wor k togethe r to i m p rove con necti v i ty a n d peopl e·to·peop l e contacts between the i r countries
through enha nced tou rism, civil avia tion a n d shi pp i ng l i n ks. (Visa·o n · a rrival i n I ndones i a ha rbi nger of closer
cooperation, F E . B, 24. 1 1 .05, B40)
I nd i a a n d M auritius a re looking at whether the I n d i a n rupee can be used by I nd i a n tourists visiting the isla nd,
the Deputy Prime M i n ister and M in ister of Tourism, Leisure and External Communications, Mr Charles Gaetan
Xavier Luc Duva l , sa id.
The propos a l i s one of the several measures that a re bei ng exam i ned to f a c i l i tate travel of more I nd i a ns to
M auritius. There h as been a steady i ncrease i n the number of I nd i ans visiti ng Mauritius. Duri ng 2005, more
t h a n 29, 000 I nd i a n s visited the country a n d the number of visitors f ro m I n d i a is l i ke l y to c ross 5 5,000 by
next year, sen ior off i c i a l s sa id . The two countries have a l so decided to further strengthen cooperation i n the
a rea of tourism a nd culture and have agreed to exc h a n ge expertise in the a rea of isl a nd tourism, huma n
resource deve lopment a n d joi nt ma rket i ng of tourism d e,st i na tions. (Tourists may be a b l e to use rupee i n
M auritius, BL.B, 1 5 .02 .06, B40)
I n d i a a n d Fra n ce signed severa l agreements to boost trade a n d push nuclear energy co·operation between
the two countries. Ind i a a n d Fra nce a lso signed a n agreement on d efence co-operation, to bui l d and expa n d
ties i n va rious a reas, i n cl ud i ng procurement, production a n d research and development o f defence materia l .
Seven other pacts i n the field of space, commerce, education, tourism, environment, culture a n d civi l aviation
were a lso signed . ( I n d i a , Fra nce s i gn pacts to boost tra d e, nuc l e a r energy cooperation, B L . B, 2 1 .02.06,
B40)
Looki ng beyond oil, I nd i a a n d the six nation Gulf Cooperation Counci l (GCC) have decided to work together i n
new a reas i nclud i ng i nformation technology, manufacturing and tourism. After two days o f del i berations during
the second GCC·I n d i a busi ness conference, both si des decided to forge a n econom i c partnershi p that would
focus o n joi nt ventures d riven by private i nitiative. In the Muscat Dec l aration, that was unvei led a t the end of
the conference, i t was decided that i nfor mation technology, b iotechnology, tourism, i n dustry, e nergy a n d
petrochemicals would become the core a reas o f col l a boration. ( Muscat Dec l a ration looks beyo n d o i l , Atul
Aneja, T H . B, 27.03. 06, B40)
B61 1 n ternational Tou ri sm Legi s l ation
I nd i a has u rged S a a rc countries t o issue more busi n ess visas t o partner countries a n d rec i proca l ly provide
each other transit fac i l iti es to t h i rd countries.
Pri me M i n ister M a n mohan S i ngh sai d that these would not o n l y l i n k the Saarc n ations, but more i mportantly,
wou l d con nect the region to the ongoi ng economic m i ra c l e i n South East a nd East Asi a . Ta l ki ng a bout the
potenti a l of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta), which he sai d would hopefully be i mpl emented on
Janua ry 1 2006, the PM poi nted out that the current level of i ntra·regiona l trade is expected to rise from $6
2005 0 6
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bil l ion to $ 1 4 bil lion within two years of Satta's existence. Dr Singh said there was a need to expand the a m bit
of S atta to include trade in services in additio n to widening the scope of trade i n good s . ( I ndia as S a a rc
n ations to issue more visas, FE.8, 1 8. 1 1 .05, 86 1 )
B62 U N Wor l d Tou rism O rga n isation· O M T (UNWTO)
The United N ation s World Tourism Orga nisation (UNWTO), an apex body of tourism, having been more than
200 countries a s its member has u n a nimously e lected I ndia as the member of its Executive Council . In view
of its e merging status i n worl d touris m, I n dia was el ected i n the Council to represent South Asia in the
UNWTO meeting at Senegal, Ministry of Tourism said . I ndian official representative at the conference, Amitabh
Ka nt, has been elected member of core working group of the organisation to cha l k out programmes a n d a l lot
specific projects to a particula r country for the promotion of tourism. I n 2005, its mem bership is comprised
of 1 45 countries, seven territories a n d more t h a n 300 Affiliate M e m bers representing the private sector,
educational i nstitutions, tourism associations a n d local tourism authorities. ( I ndia elected executive member
of U N wo r l d t o u r i s m o r g a n i s a t i o n , 0 5 . 1 2 . 05 , h tt p:// n ew s . w e b i n d i a 1 23 . co m/ n e w s /
showdetail s . a sp?id= 182040&cat=8usiness, 862)
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• C - TOUR I S M ECONOMY, IN D I AN ECONOMY .
COO Tou rism Economy a n d Tou rism I nfrastructure
Should i nfrastructure be accorded priority sector status for credit delivery? The Reserve Bank of I ndia Governor,
Dr Y. V. Reddy, raised the question i n the Annua l (Monetary) Pol icy Statement presented on A pril 28. H e said
the issue was debatable for the fol lowi ng reasons:
E n l argi n g the scope of priority sectors may result i n l oss of focus;
•
Credit growth has been sluggish i n a griculture a nd s m a l l·sca le i ndustri es, but that in i nfrastructure
•
has been strong;
On ly sectors that i mpact l arge population, weaker sections a nd are employment-intensive are e l igible
•
for priority status.
T his sta n ce of the central b a n k sign a l l i ng tentativeness on fi n a n c i ng i nfrastructure is surprisi ng, given the
critica l rol e that the sector p l ays in t he economy.
The Prime M i n ister, in h i s Independence Day a ddress (2004) to the nation, identi f i ed Sa at Sutras seven
priority sectors as "pill ars of the development bridge to ensure higher economic growth a nd more equita ble
socia l and economic development". These are agriculture, water, education, hea lthcare, employment, urban
renewal a nd i n frastructure.
The P l a n ning Comm ission has reiterated the need for world-class, cost-effective infrastructure in the context
of a global ising economy. (Monetary Pol i cy 2005·06 · Lendi ng priority to i nfrastructure, Padmalatha Suresh,
B L . B, 1 2 .05.05, COO)
To give a big push to the tourism sector, the Government is for mu l a t i ng a new scheme that coul d see a
qua ntum jump i n the funds bei ng made ava i l a ble for i nfrastructure development at tourism sites. T he new
scheme bei ng drawn up by the M i n i stry of Tourism and P l a n n i ng Commission proposes providing up to Rs 50
crore to every touri st project identified. The M i nistry hopes to fund between 1 0·15 such projects a n nua l ly.
T he scheme wi l l be i n the form of 1 00 % centra l assista nce. The states wi l l set up a noda l body for disbursi ng
the funds. The Ministry has already held one round of discussions with the Archaeologic a l Survey of I ndia to
identify the s ites that s hould be covered u nder the scheme. (Each tourism project to get Rs 50 cr for
developme nt, BL.C, 06.08.05, COO)
I nd i a p l a ns to doub l e i ts foreign exc h a nge earnings from tourism i n the next three years a nd m a ke i t the
number one foreign excha nge earner, tourism m i nister Renuka Chowdhury has said. "We earned $4.8 bil lion
i n foreign excha nge from tourism i n 2004 a nd we expect it to cross $ 1 0 b i l l io n in the next three years."
The un precedented growth a n d a successful ca mpa ign have resulted in the nation a l geogra phica l trave ller
call i ng India "the la n d of mystery a nd majesty," she said. The Lonely P l an et i n a survey of 1 67 countries
selected I ndia as one of the top 5 destinations of the world. "It is a lso a matter of great pride for us that our
efforts are getting i ntern at iona l acknowledgeme nt," she sa id, adding India has won the 2005 PATA gra nd
award in the heritage category for the 'Aja nta El lora conservation a nd tourism development project' a nd the
PATA Gold Award i n the pri n t medi a c ategory for I ndia 's i ncredi bl e· Taj c a m p a i g n . ( I ndia to dou b l e forex
earni ngs from tourism, FE.B. 1 7. 1 1 .05, COO)
T he Tourism Ministry said it favoured allowing 1 00 % FD I in developing tourist i nfrastructure i n the country to
give a major boost to the sector. ' People a nd corporates must come forward a nd work for the development of
tourism sector. Whe n they share their views a nd opin ions with the govern ment a nd work towards a common
goal, the sector would get a major boost," Renuka Chaudhary said. (Renuka for ful l FDI i n tourism i nfrastructure.
I E . B. 30. 1 1 .05, COO)
20 0 5- 06
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Documen t atio/l Update
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A recent F i n a n ce M i n istry paper seeki ng Asi a n Development B a n k (AD B) f unds for tou rism i n frast ructure
projects has proposed a l ign i ng i nvestment pol i cy of the country tou rism pol i cy. It a lso mooted rationa l isation
of tax structure for the tou rism i nd ustry at par with globa l bench m arks.
H i gh l ight i n g the ' pos i t i ve role' of F DI i n the tou rism developme nt, the paper sa i d F D I cou l d resu l t i n a n
'i ncome · m u ltiplyi ng effect' i n the sector. Concessions a n d i n centives ava i l a ble to i nvestors i n other sectors
must be extended to the tou rism sector as wel l . The paper said tou rism i n d ustry should be accorded national
treatment. Accord i n g to t h e paper, tou r i s m activities must be i nc l uded in the provisions of t h e b i l a tera l
i nvestme nt treaties a n d double taxation avo i dance agreements t hat I nd i a enters into.
On tou rism i nfrastructure, the paper sai d government funds coul d flow to projects such as h ighways, a i rports,
u rb a n i nf ra structu re a n d power. P r i vate funds cou l d be used for hotels, t ravel a ge n c i es. tou r operators,
d e a le rs a n d h a n d i c raft stores. P u b l i c· private pa rtnershi ps c a n occ u r i n BOT projects for roads, a i rports,
reports, heritages etc.
Every Rs 10 l a kh i nvestment in tou rism creates 47.5 jobs d i rectly a n d 89 jobs i nd i rectly. Forex i nf lows from
tou ri s m surpass F D I i nflows i n recent years. (Fi n m i n paper for rational isation of tax structure i n tou ri s m
i nd ustry, FE. B, 22. 1 2 . 05, COO)
Tou rism has emerged as a m ajor sou rce of e mployment i n I nd i a , with a share of 8.27 % i n total n u mber of
jobs in the cou ntry. Accord i ng to the f i nd i ngs of a study commissioned by the Tourism department, for every
1 00 jobs c reated d i rectly i n the tourism sector i n I nd i a, 80 i nd i rect jobs a re created. It sai d the tota l d i rect
employment i n the tou r i s m sector for the yea r 2002·03 i n the cou ntry was 2 1 .54 m i l l ion jobs a n d when
i nd i rect jobs were a lso a dded, the e mployment figure came to 38.6 m i l l ion. D i rect contri bution of tourism to
the G D P for the yea r 2002·03 was 2.78 per cent and when i nd i rect effects were considered, the sha re of t h is
sector contributes to the G D P goes u p to 5.83 per cent.
Comparing the d i rect contri bution of tou rism to the G D P of major tourist receivi ng cou ntries in the world,
I nd i a's figure of 2.8 per ce nt is fai rly wel l with developed nations l i ke Canada (2 .4 per cent), the US (2.2 per
ce nt) a n d Japan (2 .2 per cent) however, i t i s less when compa red to cou ntries l i ke Spa i n ( 1 1 .2 per cent),
Austr a l i a (4.5 per cent), Switze rl a nd (3.4 per cent) a nd Sweden (3.2 per cent.
The study was conducted u nder the Tou rism Satel l ite Account (T SA), a new framework recently adopted by
the United N ations Statistical Commission that provide a n i mportant platform for better understan ding of the
role of tou rism i n the economy. ( Tourism a major source of jobs in India: Stu dy, U n i Shankar, 0 1 .03.06, http:/
/news.webindia 123.com/news/showdetai ls.asp?id=265 151&cat=l n d i a , COO)
A l ready on a h igh, the travel a n d tourism i ndustry got a fi l l ip with the Fi n an ce M i n ister a n no u n c i n g several
sops incl u d i ng i ncrease in tou ri s m b ud get f ro m Rs 786 c ro re to Rs 830 c rore; development of 1 5 new
locations a n d red uction in fri nge benefit tax (FB T ) on tou r a n d trave l a nd hotels f rom 20 to 5%.
I nternational a i r travel wi l l a lso become expensive as the government decided to bri ng uppe r class i nternational
a i r travel u n d e r the net of service tax though economy class travel h as been exempted .
At the same ti me, however, the Budget d isappointed the sector by not gra n t i ng the i n d ustry the muc h
d e m a nded i nf rastruct u re status. A l so, i n c re ase i n servi ce tax from 1 0 to 1 2 % c a me as a big l et down
particu l a rly when the i nd ustry had sought 90% a bate ment on service tax i mposed on it s i n ce l ast yea r.
The Bu dget proposa l a lso i nc l udes travel on c ru i se ships i n the a m b i t of service tax. I t has a l so not offered
a ny i n cent ives or spec i a l sops to set up new hotel projects a t a ti me whe n there's a cute shortage of hotel
rooms a n d tariffs a re skyrocketi ng.
Besides tak i ng up 15 tourist desti nations a nd c i rcu its for development, the government w i l l a l so identify 50
v il la ges with core competency in h a n d i c rafts, h a n d looms, a n d cultu re, close to exist i n g d est i n ations a n d
circuits, a n d develop them for enha ncing tou rists' experi ence. T he gove r n ment a lso proposes to esta blish
fou r new i nstitutes of hotel m a nagement i n C hattisga rh, Harya na, J h a rkhand a nd Uttar a nchal. (A mixed bag
for travel a nd tou rism, F E . D, 0 1 .03.06, COO)
I Docllment ation Updat e I 2 0 0 5 - 0 6
The domest i c segment i s ra ki ng i n 7 1 . 1 % of the moo l a h i n tourism, end i ng u p encouraging the growth of
sectors which wou l d otherwise face threat of exti nctio n .
A maze o f sectors - hotels, transport, food a n d beverage, have vi rtual ly become tourism·speci f i c i n dustries,
t h r i v i n g on d o mest i c a n d outbou n d tou rists a l i ke. T he h ot e l i n d ustry essenti a l ly d epends on tou ris m . I t
accou nts for 9 1 .7 % o f tot a l reven ue. The gen erated by 'accommodation services' . As much a s 1 8.4% of
'food a n d beverage serv i n g services' flows out of tou rism.
T he tra nsport sector, too, is celebrati ng big on men a n d women moving with i n I ndian boundaries and flying in
from a broa d . Ai r t ravel has 93.8% mo ney coming from tou rism, whi l e its contri bution to R ai lway reve n ue is
294%. T h e mo ney raked in by ' buses' beca use of tou rists i s 62.6%. T he c h a r m of sma l l p l a ces and the
oriental attracti on - rickshaw rides i s b u i l t o n tourist movement. As much a s 89 .8% money generated by
'non· mech a n ised road transport' comes from tourism.
Entertai n ment busi ness is d rawing 49% of its revenue from tou rism. A l l these figures have emerged from a
study done by Nation a l Counci l of Appl ied Economic Research (NCAER) on the turnover·trends of tou rism i n
2002·03.
The fi rst·of·its·k i n d stu dy, com missioned by M i nistry of Tourism , surveyed eight l akh do mest i c households
and used other stu d ies to bring out the sta rt l i ng figu res.
The tou rism turnover i n 2002·03 was esti mated at Rs. 62,436 c rore. Of t h is figure, the domesti c segment
contri bu ted Rs 44,403 crore w h i l e foreigners tot a l l ed for Rs 1 1 , 6 83 c ro re or 1 8 .7%. ( Home t ruths: Desi
hol idayers key to tourism survival , Su bodh G h i l d i ya l , TOI . D, 04.03.06, COO)
T h e Economic Su rvey reports e a r n i n gs f ro m tou ri s m , once critical to the B O P a n d sti l l g row i n g at 25 %,
before touch i ng on softwa re exports, which were ad mitted ly nea r zero t i l l j ust the other day. We did earn $5
b i l l ion from the 3.6 m i l l io n tourists who visited I nd i a l a st yea r. But softw a re exports, w h i c h grew 35 %,
brought in four t i mes as much.
- (i n Rs c ro re)
198011
199011
2000/ 1
2003/4
2004/5
oreign travel recei pts
964
2,6 1 3
1 6 ,064
23,054
29, 105
orei gn travel payments
90
703
1 2, 7 4 1
1 6,534
24,744
Tourism
Besides, the b i rd 's eye view p rovided i n the S urvey by t h e M i n istry of Tou rism o n l y gives data on tourists
coming i n; leaving it to the R B I to f u rnish a table, quietly relegated to the a ppendices, a bout tourists who a re
on thei r way out. (To u rism: on its way out? Sudha nshu Ranade, B L. B, 1 0. 03.06, COO)
C02 Foreign I nvestment i n Tou rism S ector
A n cient monuments and h istorical objects of I nd ia have ca ught the attention of world comm u n ity a nd m a ny
foreign countries have proposed contri buting to thei r conservation.
U n i on Culture M i n ister S Jaipal Reddy i nformed the Lok Sabha that t he government had received proposals
from Japan, Italy a n d Belgi u m a n d Worl d Monument Fund for Conservation for the m a i ntenance of historica l
monuments. T he government is a lso plan ning to l aunch a national mission to provide a comprehensive l isti ng
of b u i l t he ritage, monuments, s i tes a n d a nt i qu ities . M r Red dy ad d ed that J a p a n was p rovi d i n g f i n a n c i a l
assista nce through U NESCO for the conservation o f B�ddhist sites a t Sanchi a n d Satdha ra in Madhya P ra desh
w h i l e a M o U h a s been signed with I t a l y for the conservation of p a i nti ngs at Aj a nt a a n d E l l ora . ( Fo re ign
cou ntries propose to conserve I nd i a n monu ments, TS. D, 22.04.05, C02 / D20d)
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N ew York hotelier Sa nt S i ngh Chatwa l , founder-presi dent of the $750 m i l l ion M a n h atta n-based Ha m psh i re
Hotels a n d Resorts, is setting up a series of h igh-end boutique hotels i n I nd i a . The hotels, first i n Mumbai , w i l l
b e o pened under t h e brand " Dream".
"We a re n egoti ating to acqu i re l a nd a n d necessary per m issions for the project i n Mumba i . S i m i l a r super­
luxury hotels wi l l be opened i n B a ngal o re, J a i pu r a n d Del h i , " S ant S i ngh Chatw al sa i d . (Chatwa l 's boutique
hotel s to open soon in India, Arvind Pad m a na bhan, AA. D, 24.05.05, C02)
Aitken Spence & Co, Sri Lanka's b iggest hotel operator, sa i d it is l oo k i n g to expand i ts operations to I nd i a ,
ta ki ng advantage o f rising busi ness a nd l e i sure travel t o the .country_
A itken Spence, which runs 1 0 hotels i n the island- nation, three resorts i n the M a l dives a n d owns Sri La n ka 's
biggest travel agency, is looki ng to expand after the December 26 tsunami damaged its beachfront properties.
( La n ka hotel major to foray i nto I n d ia, B L .B, 24 .05.05, C02)
Even as the gove r n ment h as dec i d ed to l aunch med i c a l visas for foreigners visiti ng I n d i a n for hea lthca re
services, Wor l d Hea lthca re N etwork a n US - b ased faci l itator has step ped i n to tap the I nd i a n m a rket. With
the a i m of bringing patients from the US to I nd i a for comprehensive med i ca l services com bi ned with a bit of
tourism, of course - the Americ a n orga n i sation has tied u p with ST I C Care, a new i n itiative of ST I C Travel
group_ The move assumes sign ifica nce since the med ical tourism segment is witnessing brisk growth. Nearly
1 , 1 80,000 patients f ro m var ious parts of the world a r rived in I nd i a for treatment in 2004. (US f i r m to ta p
hea lth tourism i n India, ET. C, 3 1 .07 . 05, C02)
Turner I nternational I nd i a Pvt Ltd, the company in charge of sales and ma rketi ng of entertai n ment cha n nels
Ca rtoon N etwork and Pogo in the country a n n ou n ced that it wou l d soon l aunch two theme parks. Designed
a roun d its k i ds' cha nnels - Ca rtoon Network a n d Pogo - the p arks would requi re an i nvestment of a round Rs
550 c ro re.
To be ca l led P l anet Pogo a n d Ca rtoon N etwork Townsv i l le, the parks wi l l be situated i n Del hi-N CR, i n Rohi n i
a n d N o i d a respectivel y. Both the theme p a rks w i l l have 1 00 % i m po rted theme rides a n d w i l l satisfy g l oba l
safety stan dards. (Turner I nter n ati onal to launch two theme parks, BL.B, 22.02.06, C02 / D20a)
C03 Tou ri s m F i n a nce
State Bank of Travan core (SBT ) has l aunched a 'tou rism spec i a l ' loan scheme for the benefit of hotels, tour
o pe rators, pi lgri mage conductors, a n d eco-tourism operators.
T he loa n is ava i l a bl e for construction a n d modern isation of yatri n ivas, hotels, motels, a n d cottages, a n d to
travel agents for setting up offices a n d purchase of computers a nd equ i pment. a ccord i ng to a bank release.
The loan c a n a lso be uti l i sed for purchase of vehi cles a n d houseboats by tour o perators a n d for those who
i ntend to set up restaura nts, ice-crea m p a rl ours, a musement parks, hea lth c lubs and m assage parlou rs i n
tourism zones. (SBT 'tourism spec i a l ' loa n scheme, B L .C, 2 1 .04.05, C03)
Tourist i nflows to I nd i a have registered a 1 5% growth i n' a r riva ls -forex earni ngs from tourism have a l ready
c rossed the $4· b i l l i on m a r k
i n the fi rst n i ne months of 2005. A bout 2.64 m i l l i o n , foreign tourists h a ve
visited the country i n Ja nua ry·Septem ber, ra ki ng i n over Rs 1 8,000 crore i n foreign exchange.
The figure sta nds tal l as agai nst the 2 .29 m i l l ion visitors duri ng the correspo nd i ng period l ast yea r, a growth
of 1 5 . 2 % . T h i s a l so m a rks 2 0 . 6% jump i n fore i gn excha nge ea r n i ngs i n rupee terms, at Rs 1 8,379 crore,
com pa red to Rs 15,243 crore ea rned l ast yea r i n the sa me period, as per l atest est i mates by M i n i stry of
Tourism . I n dol l a r terms, ea r n i ngs c rossed the $4. 1 b i l l i o n m a r k i n the f irst n i ne months, as aga i nst $3.4
b i l l i o n registered l a st yea r duri ng the sa me pe riod. (Tourists bri ng forex, a rrival s i nc rease 1 5%, e a r n i ngs
c ross the $4-bn m a rk, Sud i pto Dey, ET.C, 08. 1 0 . 05, C03)
T ra ve l i nsura nce is g rowi ng i n terms of volume though i nsura nce compa n ies say thei r p rofits a re under
pressure due to severe com peti tion.
I Documentation Update I 2 0 0 5
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Leading insure rs say the b usin ess has been growing at a n average rate of 25 % per a n n u m, t hough they do
not have a ny a ct u a l figu res to back it up.
Mr Sudhi r Menon, N ational Sal es Ma nager of ICICI Lombard, attri buted the 25% growth ma i nl y to the increasing
n u m be r of people travel l i ng a broad a nd the fact that they rea l ise the need for travel i nsurance, especi a l l y i n
the l i ght of natu ra l disasters such a s tsu nami a n d floods.
I n fa ct, I C I C I Lom b a rd has witnessed a growth of 70% i n travel i nsura nce i n t h e ha [f·yea r period over the
same period l a st fisca l .
However, t he premium has dropped significa ntly i n som e sectors. For i nsta nce, t h e travel cover t hat used to
cost Rs 700 for a six·day trip to E u rope a few yea rs ago, now costs o n l y Rs 400. T he pre m i u m for the US,
E urope a nd South· East Asia, exc l uding J apan, now has different rates.
But travel i n s u ra nce to the US now attracts higher pre m i u m t h a n cou ntries in Asi a as compa red to a few
years ago when the re was a flat rate for a fixed t i m e period.
With business trave l lers constituting the bulk of the annual seven m i l l ion outbound travel lers from the country,
i nsura n ce compa n ies a re i n c reasi ngly l ooking at corporate trave l i nsurance. "Corporate travel i nsura n ce i s a
phenom e no n that h a s occ u rred post privatisation of t he i ndustry. We h ave c l i ents such as Infosys, Wipro,
Oracle and i - Fl ex for whom we develop customised travel insurance," (Travel i nsurance going pla'ces, Radhi ka
M enon, B L.C, 1 9 , 1 2. 05, C03)
A 1 0-ye a r tax holiday for new hotel projects, si ngle-wi ndow clearances, infrastruct u re devel opment a nd of
taxes a re a mong the budget expectations of the hotel i ndust ry which has bee n on the growth path for the
past two yea rs. The i ndustry also i s see k i ng per m i ssion to set up rea l estate i nvestment t rusts ( R EITs). M r
R . Ven katacha l a m , Chief Fi n a n cia l Officer, The Leel a Group, said a tax holiday wou ld encou rage more pl ayers
to set up hotels, to bridge the shortage of rooms which according to government esti mates stood at one l a kh
rooms. W i th a v i ew to getti ng t h i s benefit, the Federation of Hotels a nd Resta u ra n ts Association of I ndia
(FH RAI), has i n its pre-budget memora ndum to the Govern ment, sought i nfrastruct u re status for the hotel
i ndustry u nder Section 801 of the IT A ct. ( lO·year tax holiday sought for new hotel projects, BL. B, 1 7.02 .06,
C03)
ell Li beralisation Poli cies
The Lok Sabha passed the Speci a l Economi c Zones Bil l , 2005 after adopting a n offici a l a me ndment to drop
the B i l l 's provision i n gra nting flex i b i l ity in l a bou r l aws by the States i n the proposed Centra l Act. The origi n a l
Act i n a ny case h a d n o di rect Centra l rol e i n l ayi ng down l a bour pol i cy i n the S EZs. The Left parties had bee n
dema nding scrapping of the C l a use !?O of t h e B i l l . T h e Central l egislation proposed that the States may t a ke
suita bl e steps to gra nt exemption from l a bo u r l a ws appl i c a b l e i n t he speci a l econom i c zones. Hence, the
Government moved a n a mendment to the S EZ Act, 2005 by droppi ng this cla use. Now with the apprehensions'
voi ced by the Left pa rties that the c l a use wou ld be m i sused by States wil l i ng to attract foreign i nvestme nt,
the lSovern ment assu aged their appre he nsions by moving a n a mendment to drop this c l a use. ( Lok Sabha
passes S EZ Bil l , B L . B, 1 l . 05 . 05, C l l )
T he Federation of I ndian Cham bers of Commerce a nd I ndustry ca l led forf[exible labour l aws i n special economi c
zones (SEZs) a nd export un its as pa rt o f a three·phase strategy for time·bo u nd i mplementation of reforms.
Under the phase-I of FICCI proposal, it was suggested that a self-certification system by corporates should
be i ntroduced for envi ronmental clea ra nces a nd electron i c ti l i ng of records be a l lowed. [t was a lso suggested
that a com mo n for m a t be developed for computeri sation of deta i ls a nd i ssua n c e of c l e a ra nces for new
i nvestment proposa ls_ As per the phase-I I of F I CC I 's p roposa l , which cou ld he i mplemented with i n 1 2- 1 8
months period, contract l abour should b e a l lowed i n sma l l a n d medium enterprises. Further, val ue-added tax
(VAT) rates should be h a r mon i sed, withdraw i ng a l l state a n d l oca [ l evies l i ke a CST, entry tax, Octroi etc.
U nder the phase - I I [, F I Cel suggested the i mplementation of contract l a bour i n a ll industries a nd t his phase
t a rgeted refor ms where l a rger pol itic a l consensus was required. (FI CC I for fl exib[e l a bour l aws in exporti ng
u n i ts, Vl B, 30.08.05, C 1 1 )
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C20 Tra n s port
With t h e gover n ment a ccept i n g i n pri n c i p l e a p ro posa l t o a l low global luxury t a x i com pa n ies to operate i n
Del h i , this could wel l be the scene i n city ca bs. Hertz a n d Super Cab, two i nternationa l taxi compa n i es, h ave
aske d the gove r n me n t to a l low operations i n Del h i . However, both the com p a n ies won ' t p l unge head·on .
Accordi ng to the propos a l , Hertz w i l l i n it ia l ly sta rt with 100 taxis. I f the concept works, they may i n c rease
the fleet to 750. Super Ca b wi l l sta rt w i l l 50 taxis a n d may go up to 500. Del hi hasn 't had much success with
a n other experi ment i n ca bs - radio taxis. T here a re o n l y a bout 200 r a d i o taxis i n D e l h i , of wh i c h 135 a re
owned by one com pa ny a n d a bout 60 by a nother. ( M N Cs step i n with luxury ca bs, Cheta n Chauhan, H T. D,
18.05.05, C20)
C2l Road Tran s port
Enthused by the success of publ i c - priva te pa rtnersh i p ( P P P) model in the development of h ighways, the
gove rn ment i s plan n i ng to develop an a dd ition a l 30,000 km of h ighways under N H D P I I I at a cost of a bout Rs
1 ,72,000 crore during the next seven yea rs.
Under this scheme, it is proposed to cover an a d ditiona l 30,000 km besides four-Ian i ng of 10,000 km under
N H D P I I I. The com m ittee of I nfrastructure headed by the P ri me M i n iste r was consideri ng six·la n i ng of 5,000
km of nationa l h ighways a n d construction of 1,000 km of expressways under N HD P V a nd N HD P V I
respectively. A length o f 6,000 km h a s a l ready been developed to four· l a ne sta n d a rds i n t h e ea rl ier phases.
P P P would be the major p l a n k of the h ighways development progra mme i n which p ri vate enterprises wou ld
i nvest money for develop i n g these h i ghways a n d woul d get returns th rough fees col l ected from the users.
Developing h ighways th rough P P P enta i led certa i n benefits l i ke generating awa reness a mong the users to
pay for the benefits ensu red to them. (Govt p l a ns to develop 30,000km of h ighways: Baalu, VT.B, 22.07.05,
C2 1)
A super Hi m a l ayan Highway connect i ng all the tourist desti n ations in Uttara nchal a n d l i nki ng the State w ith
H i macha l P ra desh and Utta r P ra desh is reported ly on the a n v i l .
The proposed 660-km long H i m a layan H ighway w i l l spa n two fa r flung outposts i n the State. It w i l l sta rt from
T iyun i i n the outer reaches of Ga rhwa l in the Dehra .Dun d i strict, a butti n g the neigh bouring state of Hi machal
a nd stretch a cross all the major tou rist desti nations in G a rhwa l a n d provide con nectivity i n to Kumaon right
up to Lohaghat. Here it w i l l con nect the State to the foothi l ls of Utta r P radesh.
Additiona l C hief Secretary M R a machandra n sai d the i dea had been derived from the Asia n Highway concept
which proposed to l i n k I nd i a with Ba ngladesh and Pakistan . He said there was a proposal to eventual ly l i n k a l l
the Hi m a l ay a n states vi a a tra nS-Hi m a l ay a n H ighway that woul d stretch from Ja m mu a n d Kas h m i r to the
North east.
In the context of the Himalaya n H i ghway in the state, a deta i l ed P roject report has a l ready been sent to the
Centra l govern ment. A feasi b i l ity report has a l ready been commissioned by the Centra l M i n istry of Surface
Tra nsport for a sum of a rou n d Rs 6 c ro re. T h e p roposed Highway w i l l sta rt fro m T iyun i a n d run a c ross
Deoban, Cha krata, Nagn ath, Lakhwad, Musoorie i n the Dehradun district a n d cut across Dhanolti, Chamba
a n d M a letha i n Teh ri d istrict before reaching Sri N agar (Pauri d istrict), Rudraprayag ( Rud ra p rayag d i strict)
and then goi ng on i nto the Chamoli d istrict via Karn prayag a n d G a rsa i n . From Garsai n the proposed h ighway
w i l l run into Kumaon via Dwarahat and A lmora, a l l the way to Lohaghat in the Pithoragarh district. ( H i malaya n
Hi ghway t o con nect tourist hot spots, N a m i ta Kala, T P. D, 03.09.05, C2 1)
T he govern ment has fi n a l ly a pp roved the construction of an a l te r native route to Leh, via M a n a li. Six yea rs
after the traditional Sri naga r, Leh route IA was h i t by Pa kistan i shel l i ng du ring the Kargil conf l i ct, the Centre
san ctioned Rs 943.32 crore for the project, to be compl eted in n i ne yea rs. "T he a l l·weather 292 km route via
D a rchu, Pad a m and N i mu w i l l be constructed a t a tota l cost of Rs 1,355 c ro re, i n clud i ng an 8.8 km long
tu n nel under the Rohtang Pass," Defence M i n ister P ra nab Mukherjee sai d . (Centre paves way for new Leh
route, via M a n a l i , I E. D, 07.09.05, C2 1)
1
Documenta tion Updat e
1 2005 -0 6
C22 Water Tra nsport
O n ly 40,000 tourists from I ndia opt for cruise hol idays every year as aga i nst over 10 m i l l ion globally, according
to i ndustry esti mates. But, conside ring the 5-m i l l ion outbound tourists from I nd i a , there's room for growth i n
the cruise l i ner segment. Wi.th i nternation a l a i rfa re from I ndia gett i ng slashed, cruise tourism i s l i kely to ga i n
i n popu l a rity. Besides, i ntern ational cruise l i ners are looki ng a t I ndia too - Star Cruise, for i nsta nce, i s plann i ng
a service i n the cou ntry. A l so, t he fi rst I nd i a n li ner, Ocea n Cruises India, is set to begi n operation between
Goa a n d La kshwadeep by the end of this year.
A lt hough i t's the economi c a l ' Sta r Cruise' t hat's much more attract i ve t h a n the h i gh -end luxury l i n ers for
tourists from India, the tota l numbers have a l ready grown. From 8,000 - 1 0,000 I nd i a n tourists taki ng hol iday
cru i ses f i ve yea rs ago, the numbers have gon e u p to 40, 000 n ow, a ccordi ng to M r Chaddha. M a x i mu m
number o f I nd i a n tourists opts for c ruis.e i n the South-East Asi a region. O n the Far-East and South-East.Asia
routes, a two-n ight c ru ise comes for a round $300. Longer c ru ises cater to the high-end ma rket, a nd a re not
typical ly mea nt for tourists from I ndia, a rgues P r i me Travel M anaging D i rector A run Verma. (Short leisu re
cruises a re catchi ng on with Indi a ns, N ivedita Mookerji, T P.D, 1 9_05.05, C22)
Cruisi n g the riverways is now catc h i ng on with the new age tourist who wants to do th i ngs which a re sl i ghtly
different. The trend sta rted w ith Kera l a , with i ts backwaters tou ri s m . However, other states h a ve qui ck l y
i nt roduced different versions of thei r own . Goa 's c ru i ses on t h e M a ndovi a nd other rivers a re very popu l a r
w h i l e t h e B ra hm a putra r i ver c ruise i s a favou rite with eco-tourists s i n ce i t offers a spectacu l a r view o f the
Kaziranga .
And with demand a lso comes supply. The l atest to joi n the bandwagon is Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development
Corporation (APT DC) which has i ntroduced overnight c ruises on Godavari, with a si ngle boat. I n other cities,
var i ations a re bei n g tried out. I n Mum b a i a floati ng restaurant docks out at sea w h i l e a si m i l a r restaura nt
floats o n the river Hooghly in Kol kata. I n Ka rnata ka, Jungle lodges and Resorts (J LR) has started cruises off
the Ka rwar coast, though overn ight stays a re sti l l some way off.
Accord i n g to the i ndustry river cruises i s a fast growing segment. Though it is a n i nsign ifica nt number i n other
states, i n Kera l a , over 1 1 a k h tourists patronised bac kwaters tourism l ast yea r. (They love to go up a nd down
t he river, A n i ta Rao Kashi, TOI . B, 0 1 .07.05, C22)
I n a major boost to c ruise shi ppi ng i n the country, the U nion Govern ment a l lowed operation of cruise services
by a M a l aysia n c ru i se l i ner on two sectors · Mumbai to La kshadweep ( Kadmat isla nd) a nd Mumba i to Goa,
expected to sta rt operations by O ctober t h i s yea r. The S h i ppi n g, Road Transport- a nd Highways M i n istry
conveyed its ' no objection' for c ruise operation, setti ng i nto motion the l aunch of the service. Out of a tot a l
o f n i ne subgroups constituted b y the steeri ng group t o m a ke specific recommendations, four sub·grou ps
have submitted their reports on identification of ports, i m migration issues, taxation issues a nd issues pertai n i ng
to customs clearances for su itab l e i ncorporation i n the draft cruise shippi ng poli cy of the country. (Govt nod
for c ru i se services i n 2 sectors, IE.C, 05.08.05, C22)
A comprehensive national ma ritime development progra mme envisaging a publ i c private i nvestment of over
Rs 1 00,000 c rore i s on the a nv i l . Of t h i s Rs 6 1 ,000 crore w i l l be i nvested i n the port sector. I nvestments i n
the shi p p i ng a n d i n l a nd water tra nsport i s expected to b e Rs 40,000 core. Al l these i nvestme nts, p roposed
to be made i n the nex� 1 0 yea rs, would be part of the Nationa l M ar it i me Pol i cy to be presented before the
U nion C abi net shortl y for a pp rova l , the U n ion M i ni ster for Shipping a nd Road Tra nsport, M r T R Baalu said.
"The pol i cy envisages a compre he nsive strategy for the country's ma riti me sector i nclud i n g ports, shippi ng,
i n l a nd waterways a n d shi p bui lding. It has been fi n a l ised after its draft was discussed at the i nter- m i nisterial
coordination com m ittee meet i ngs.
I n the port sector the p rojects plan ned a re construction of berths ( Rs 33,000 c rore), deepen i ng of a pproac h
c h a n n e l s (25 p rojects - Rs 83 1 0 c ro re), Port e qu i pment (32 p rojec�s - Rs 1 70 0 c rore), ra i l a n d road
connectivity to ports (36 p rojects. Rs 1 2,950 crore) a nd developmenfof spec i a l economic zones (47 p rojects
. Rs 5 1 00 c rore). (Rs 1 00,000 cr i nvestment i n maritime sector on c a rds, FE. B, 22 .08.05, C22)
2005 06
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I
Documenta t ion Update
I
Travellers weary of Kol kata 's congested roads now have a faster option for visiti ng p l a ces l i ke Budge Budge
to the south or t he temple town of Belur i n the north with the launch of a water taxi service by Vivada Inl a nd
Water Tra nsport .
Beati n g t h e state's govern ment t o i t s pl a ns of launching publ i c transport on two c a n a l s i n north a nd south
Kol kata , Vivada has t a ken on the r iver Hoogh ly with sma l l motorboats t h at ca n c a rry 10 passengers.
A crude oil transportation compa ny, Vivada has joi ned ha nds with the West Benga l S urface Transport Cor p
(WBST C) to l au n c h two water ta x is in the f i rst p ha se of a Rs 1 2 .5 c ro re p roject . I t ex pects to h ave t e n of
t hese 'on ca l l ' taxis run n i ng by the end of thi s year.
By January 2006, Vivada wil l a lso start a five·star floating hote l l i nki ng Kol kata with the Sunderbans ma ngrove
forest region. I t expects the f ive·st a r vessel with 34 double ca b i ns to be a cash cow that w i l l keep t he water
taxi servi ce afloat t i ll it ga i ns momentum. It w i l l a lso offer the water taxis for tourism or fu n cruises. ( Ko l kata
gets water taxis ca n a l transport by Jan, F E . D, 04. 1 0 .05, C22/S l O )
T h e govern ment may open u p the cruise shi pping sector for foreign direct i nvestment, a s p a r t of its efforts to
promote tourism. It may a lso a mend the Merchant Shi ppi ng Act to simpl ify registration procedures for foreign
cruise companies.
A n exclus i ve pol i cy for cruise tourism is bei n g evolved, w hi ch is l i kely to prepare detai ls of t he F D I reg i me
and spell out measu res to u pgrade ports a nd other rel ated i nfrastructure. A high·power steeri ng group under
the cha i r ma n sh i p of the M i n ister of S h i p p i n g �l nd the M i n ister of State for Tou rism as its co·cha i r m a n had
a l ready been set up to f i na l ise a c ruise pol i cy. T he s h i pping m i ni stry has a l ready rel axed ca botage to a llow
foreign flag cruise vessels to coastal a reas without hassle in the absence of India n flag vessels in this segment.
The government is a l so contemplati ng to develop seven ports as c ruise shipping stations. These a re Coc h i n
i n Kerala, N e w M anga lore i n Ka rnata ka, M a rmugao i n Goa, M u m ba i i n M a ha rashtra, Kol kata i n West Benga l,
Port B l a i r in the Andam a n & N i cobar Island Tut i corin in Tam i l N adu, the statement has said.
Besides this, smal l berth i ng p laces w i l l a lso be developed a t various sites for sma l l vessels. Spec i a l tou rism
c i rcuits for each port would a l so be p repared keepi n g in view the local cultural herita ge, it said.
S i m i l arly, New M anga lore cou l d be l i n ked with the tourism c i rcuit of Ba ngalore, Bel u r, H a l ebid a nd H a m p i .
(Govt m a y open u p crui se shi pp i ng for FDI to boost tourism , F E . C, 1 3 . 1 0 .05, C22)
I ndia and the Baha mas h ave decided to enter i nto a Memorandum of Understa ndi ng (MoU) for explori ng the
poss i b i l ities of cooperation i n the a re a of cruise shippi ng.
T h i s was decided at a meet i ng between B a ha mas M i n ister of Foreign Affai rs a nd Publ i c Serv i ce Frederick
M i tchell and Shippi ng, Road Transport a nd H ighways M i nister TR Baalu.
B a ha mas is a favoured cru ise shi ppi ng desti nation i n the world a nd its expertise could be used as val ua ble
sign- post i n the devel opment of the I ndia n c ruise shi ppi ng i ndustry. (I ndia to joi n Bahamas, exp lore c ruise
shippi ng, F E . B , 24.0 l .06, C22)
e23 Railways
T he I nd i a n Ra i lways could fi n a l ly be ope n in g i ts doors for i ncreased p rivate parti c i pation_
T h e P r i me M i n i ster's Com m ittee on I nfrastructure h as asked the M i n istry of R ai l ways to sub m i t a pol i cy
paper o n pub l ic - private partnership (PPP) i n various areas, i nc l ud i ng run n i ng goods t ra i ns between specific
poi nts such as coal m i nes a nd power stations a nd runn i ng passenger trai ns betwee n tou ri st dest i n ations.
P P P i n run n i ng passenge r t ra i ns between tourist dest i n ations cou l d be a further exte nsion of Ra i l ways'
Pa l ace on Wheels servi ce that cater to premium tourist segment, w h i ch a re run i n p a rtnersh i p with the
I
Docl/ment atio1l l Tpdate
I 2 c o :;
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respective State tou r i sm d epa rtme nts. ( R ly M i n istry to su b m i t pol i cy paper to C a b i net by Sept, P u bl i c·
private pa rtnership, M a m u n i Das, B L . B, 1 9.05.05, C23)
500 workers a re completi ng the Lhasa R iver Bridge, part of a 1 , 1 42·km project that wi l l l i n k T i bet by r a i l to
the outside world for t he f i rst -t i me. Foreign o bservers have long criticised the ra i l project, begun i n 200 1 , for
favou r i n g mem bers of C h i na's H a n majority over T i beta ns. But t hey a lso fea r that o nce the ra i l roa d has
connected Ti bet with nei ghbou ring Qinghai province in two yea rs' ti me, i t wi l l conti nue to benefit the H a n
Chi nese fi rst a n d l ocal T i betans last.
Offi c i a ls i n Lhasa, by contrast, e mphasise the advantages they say the ra i l l i ne w i l l b r i n g to the T i beta ns,
such as greatly red uced tra nsportation costs for T i beta n products.
But what worries pro-Tibet advocates overseas is that when the rai l l i n k is completed, a tra i n ride from Beiji ng
to L h asa w i l l ta ke just 48 ho urs, a n d T i bet w i l l sudden l y be w i th i n m u c h easier rea c h for m i l l i o ns of job
hunters.
The T i beta ns, who a re a l ready under pressure from massive H a n i mm igration, cou l d end up becoming even
more margi n a lised, said Kate Saunders, the Washington·based spokeswoman for the I nternationa l Campa ign
for Ti bet. Loca l officials acknow ledge that the ra i l w i l l make it easier for H a n Chi nese to go to T i bet, but deny
that T i beta ns have so fa r l ost jobs to m igrant workers. (A ra i l l i n k to ' Roof of the Wo rl d', B L.C, 07.08.05,
C23)
I n a n attempt to counter d ippi ng a i r fa res, the Ra i l ways have d eci d ed to go SO FT- Scheme of Frequent
Trave l l ers_ Ra i l passengers ca n soon earn poi nts fo r frequent travel, wh i ch they c a n use to ava i l a free ticket
or concession of the sa me a mount. Ra i l travel d u r i n g lean periods w i l l get passengers poi nts equ iva l e nt to
10% of the ticket cost- 4% d u r i ng peak seaso n . The scheme wi l l be h a n d l ed by the I RCTC, which is ready
with the software. The scheme wi l l be in place by next month. The Rai l ways had earlier i ntroduced an a utomatic
upgra d a t i o n scheme to ensu re that coaches-especi a l ly AC I a n d II-do not rem a i n empty. As per this
scheme, i f there is heavy rush in the S l eeper category, wait- l isted passengers c a n be u pgra ded to AC I I I , I I
o r even I . ( Rlys to go SOFT o n frequent trave l , Bhavnavij Aurora IE_ D, 03. 1 0 .05, C23)
The Rai l ways has identified five possible routes to Bhuta n. Ra i l I ndia Technica l a nd Economic Services, entrusted
with conducti ng a feasibil ity study of the routes, is expected to su bmit a report by October. Whi l e two of the
routes l i n k north Ben g a l with B h ut a n , the rest origi n ate from Assa m . The l ocations h ave been proposed
considering the i r proxi m ity to the N ation a l H ighway a n d the road con nectivity between the towns on either
side of the border. (Ra i l routes to B h utan i dentified, T H . B , 06_01 . 06 , C23)
The I nd i a n Ra i l ways a re now giving f i n a l touches to a proposal to set op a ra i l l i n k with Burma crossing through
the n o rth·eastern states to boost b i l atera l trade a n d people-to· peop l e contact between the two cou ntries.
The M i n istry of Exter n a l Affa i rs was i n touch with i ts cou nterparts i n Bu rma to fac i l ita te this project. This
i n itiative h a s been ta ken in the l ight of the reso l utions of Bay of Bengal I n i t i a ti ve for Tech n i ca l a nd Mu lti·
Sectora l I n i t i ative ( B I MSTEC). The Ra i l ways have a l rea dy sta rted work to construct a 60 k m l o n g track
con necti n g J i ri ba m , h i therto the l ast rai l-head in the east, to Touple in M a n ipur. (Trai n to Burma via N·E soon,
M a n oj A n a n d , AA. B, 08.0 1 .06, C23)
The U n i on M i n i ster of State for Ra i lways, M r R . Vel u, sa i d as many as 290 projects were pend i ng with the
Ra i lway Board a nd Rs 47, 000 c rore was requ i red for ta k i n g up these projects. H e said these projects had
a l ready been sa n ct i o n ed after co n d u cti ng necessary surveys, but cou l d not be ta ken up due to wa nt of
f u n ds. To a questi on, M r Vel u said the requi red fu n.d s wou l d be ra ised through Budget suppo rt, i nterna l
borrowing, assista n ce from World Bank a nd Asi a n Development Ban k, by creating a 'Spec i a l P urpose Veh i cle'
( S PV) i n whi ch sta ke-ho l ders, state govern ments a n d private sector wou l d be i nvo lved . I t was proposed to
t a ke u p a l l pend i ng"projects i n backw a rd a reas t h rough S PV. ( '290 Ra i l way projects pend i ng d ue l a c k of
funds', B L . B, 08.02.06, C23)
The much·ta l ked a bout budget hotel concept of the Ra i l ways may f i n a l ly take off with the M i n istry reworking
terms of b u i l d , operate, transfer (BOT) a rra ngement that cou l d resu lt in easier reven u e s h a re regi me for
hote l iers.
2 0 05 - 0 6
I
Documenta tion Update
I
The terms bei ng reworked i n c lude provision of a "letter of comfort" from the Ra i lways for the l a n d on which
the hotel would be bui l t a n d a l i kely i ncrease i n the period for which compan ies wou l d be a l l owed to operate
the hotel. There wou l d be a revenue shari ng arrangement between Ra i l ways, I nd i a n Ra i lways Cater i ng and
Tourism Corporation (I RCTC) a n d the hotel operator, which woul d be dec i ded through a bidding process.
Letter of comfort : One of the reasons why the project wasn't ta k i n g off was whi l e I RCTC was the executi ng
body, the l a nd was bei ng provided by the I nd i a n Ra i lways a n d the i nterested parties wa nted a guara ntee
from the l a nd provider to ensure that the ter ms of l a n d use do not change m i dway.
Tariff f i x i ng: The operator woul d be free to f i x tar i ffs though some a ccom modation shoul d be reserved for
economy segments. Earl ier proposal made it mandatory for operators to provide 50% of rooms for below Rs
1 , 000 per d ay. Thi s cond ition, which compa n i es foun d stri ngent, may be rel axed to some extent .
Sites identified: Mea nwhi l e, the R a i l ways has identified 34 sites to set up budget hotels. The b i ds for these
sites woul d be i nvited a n d there would be a two·tier tender.
P l ay ers with prior experience i n hospita l i ty woul d be chosen, after techn i c a l qua l ifications. F i n a n c i a l b i ds
woul d then be i nvited from these pl ayers. ( R a i lways' budget hotel con cept o n track, M a m u n i D as, B L . B,
1 3.02.06, C23)
With l ow· cost a i r l i nes eat i ng i nto its premium category, the ra i lways has f i n al ly a n nounced steep cuts i n its
first AC a nd secon d AC fares for the first t i m e in m a ny years. The sleeper c l a ss has, however, been spared
from a ny hike. The fare of 200 m a i l ·express tra i ns that would now run as super fast tra i ns may, however, go up
margi n a l ly as it woul d attract a d d itional 'superfast l evy: Presenti ng the Ra i l Budget i n Par l i a me nt, Ra i lway
M i n ister Lalu Prasad pared AC first c l ass fares by 1 8% a n d cut the fares for AC secon d by 1 0%. ( La lu cuts
AC fares to chec k onslaught by a ir l i nes, F E . D, 25. 02 . 06, C23)
A 1 3 · mem ber delegation of c it izens from Pa kista n who came to I nd i a by the ra i l l i n k vi a the Muna bao·
Khokhrapar route revived recently c a l led for easi ng the restrictions o n travel between the two countries a n d
evolving a lenient visa regime to make the historic "unlocking" o f the western border a success. The delegation,
comprising trade u n i on activists, l a bour l e aders, soc i a l workers a n d peace activists, travel led by the Thar
Express. The group i nteracted with a cross·section of society to f i n d that the peopl e i n Rajastha n are jubi l a nt
a bout the tra i n from Pa kista n restarted after four long decades.
The leader of the delegation, A bdul Lateef Mugha l , poi nted out that the "reluctant" govern ments of India a n d
Pa kista n h a d been compe l led to restore the ra i l l i n k b y the popular dem a n d o f people at l arge. (Ca l l t o ease
restri ctions on travel between I nd i a , Pakistan, T H . D, 0 1 . 03.06, C23)
C23a Lu xur.y Tra i ns
I n a b i d to foster stronger relationship, the southern states are working together through the tourism sector
to position South I n d i a as o n e l a rge b l ock to a ttract both domest i c a n d i nternation a l tourists. As a step
towards this, the first luxury tra i n chugg i ng a cross the southern states is l i kely to be i ntroduced i n the next
18 months. A n noun c i ng this at the South I nd i a Tourism M i n isters' conference' hel d in Hyderabad, A ndhra
Pradesh Chief M i n ister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy sai d that a feasi b i li ty report has been prepared for the Rs 40·
crore Southern Splendour South I ndia tourism tra i n by the state tourism department. The report has recei ved
a n i n ·pri nciple approva l from the U n ion govern ment a n d a spec i a l purpose vehicle wi l l soon be registered .
An dhra Pradesh govern ment sai d besides a committee w i l l a lso be formed i nvolving other state govern ments
to look i nto the soc i a l a n d other security issues for the benefit of tourists. (Luxury tra i n for South l i kely, F E . B,
29.04.05, C23a)
Sett i n g aside strong protests, the Vasundhara Raje Gover n ment has deci ded to privat i se the country 's
premium tourist trai n, Palace on Wheels.
Whi l e the opposition Congress and the employees of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation ( RTDC)
the Govern me nt agency which runs the tra i n - are opposi ng the decision, the Govern ment has decided to
hand over the tra i n to a five·star cha i n before the start of the tourist season i n Septe mber.
I
Documentation Update
I 2005-0 6
The Government i nvited a p p lications from leading five-star chains for the m a i nte n a n ce a n d ma nagement of
the tra i n . The hoteliers have been given a fortnight to make their presentations, followlng which the Government
woul d select the successfu l bidder.
Although many a gree that the tra i n , considered a mong the top 1 0 luxury tra i n s i n the wor l d , woul d benefit
from privatisation, the haste with which the Government has decided to go ahead with the process has d rawn
f l a k . ( Pa l ace on Wheels open to p rivate pl ayers, I E .C, 28.07 . 0 5 , C23a)
The Pal ace on Wheels i s m a ki ng news even before it begins its first Journey of the new season on September
7. Rea s o n : the ongo i ng controversy over the outso u rc i ng of s e rvices o n boa rd the l u xu ry tou r i st tra i n . A
seemi ngly desperate Rajasth a n gove rn ment swung i nto action to open the fi n a n c i a l bids for the contract for
the outso u rc i ng. The b i d s were opened in the presence of representatives of the Taj G rou p of H ote l s - the
o n ly bidder. The Rajasth a n HC a s ked the govern ment to continue with the cu rrent manage ment of the trai n
a n d not get its a ctivities outsource d . (Who'll get Pal a ce o n Wheels? Siddhartha B ose, HTD, 03.09.05, C23a)
T h e Ra i lways wi l l i ntrod u ce l ux u ry tou ri st tra i n s for foreign as w e l l as d o mestic tou ri sts. The Ra i l wa ys i s
p l a n n i ng t o r u n stea m engi ne - h a u l ed toy t ra i ns o n h i l l stati o n s . I t i s a l so gea ri n g u p t o woo tou ri sts by
i ntroducing tourist cars which wou l d be attached to the regul a r passe nger tra i ns . All these tourist packages
w i l l be done on the basis of p u b l i c- p rivate partners h i p ( P P P). The tickets for these touri st packages c a n be
made ava i lable through I nd i a n Rai lway Caterin g a n d Tou rism Corporation's (I RCTC) website or through tour
operators .
Fi rst on the anvil i s the l uxury segment t ra i n a i med a t i nterna t i o n a l tou r i sts. For t h i s , a second Pal ace o n
Wheels tra i n has been given t h e pri ncipal a p p roval by t h e government t o t h e rai lways, w h i c h wi l l enta i l a cost
of Rs 24 crore. The tra i n wi l l be made operational by 2007. This second royal t ra i n w i l l beckon you to step
a boa rd for a week of splendour as it offers fac i lities l i ke spa, gym , conferen ce room , beauty sa loon, fax a nd
i nternet.
For domestic tou rists , rai lways a re i ntroducing a l uxury tra i n on the l i nes of Pa l a ce on Whee l s but with less
fri l l s a n d cost. Hotel O be roi has a p p roached rai lways to i nvest o n t h i s tra i n .
A l s o i n l i n e i s a proposa l t o i n trod uce tourist c a rs i n passenger tra i n s w h i ch wou l d b e h i red b y a gro u p of
tourists w i s hi ng to travel to a partic u l a r l ocation. These tourist ca rs would be attached to regula r passenger
tra i n s to be ha u led to destinations booked. Taj G rou p of Hotels is i n tal k s with the ra i lways for i nvest i n g o n
these toy tra i n s .
I n a b i d t o focus more on tourism, t h e ra i lways a re p l a n n i ng t o ea rmark some seats for the tourists i n every
segment of trave l . Ca l l i n g it a Val u e Added Tou r Package (VAT), t h i s w i l l e n a ble rai l ways to f i l l up the vacant
seats during the lea n season and a l so to reta i n the i r market s h a re. Spec i a l food cou l d be part of the val u e
a d d e d package. I t i s p l a n n i ng to keep a ro u nd 1 5-20 seats i n this category i n every class. For these tourism
packages, the ra i lways is p l a n n i ng to rope in private travel agents l i ke Thomas Cook a n d Sita Travels. (Ra i lways
p l a n s l uxury tourist tra i n s , Corporates to chip in with funds a n d ideas on tap p i n g tou ris, Ema Vasudev, ET B,
2 7. 02 . 06, C23a)
C24 C i v i l Avi ation
P l a n s a n d Policies
The new a greement to be s igned between I nd i a a n d the US w i l l p rovi d e for u n restricted a i rl i ne services
between the countries a n d from the re to t h i rd countries. There wi l l a l so be n o restriction o n t a riff, fl ight
frequency o r type of a i rcraft dep l oyed . I nd i a and the U S a re expected to d raw u p a new, more l i beral open
s kies a greement.
At present, a pproximately two mi l lion passengers travel a year between the two countries. The broad contours
of the new agreement were fi na l i sed d urin g the visit of Mr Patel (Civi l Aviation M i n i ster) to the US ea rly 2005.
The new agreement wil l reRlace the existing I nd i a - US aviation agreement, which was negotiated in 1 95 6 and
l i m its the n u m be r of a i rl i nes that ca n fly between the two countries, the cities they can serve, the frequency
of the i r fl i ghts and the i r fares. ( I nd o- U S open skies to a ll ow t h i rd country f l i ghts, S u d h i r Chowdha ry, FE. B,
1 4. 04 . 0 5 , C24)
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The P r i me M i n ister, D r M a n mohan S i ngh, p roposed a South Asian open skies agreement that wou l d remove
restrictions on fl ights operated by State owned and private a i rl i nes from seven countries. I ndia was ready to
offer the open skies fac i l i ty on a reci p roca l basis. I nd i a , w h i c h now has s u c h an a rra ngement o n l y w i t h Sri
La nka. ( I nd i a offers S. Asia open skies pact, T H . B, 1 3 .0 5 . 0 5 , C24)
The Government has no i m mediate pla ns to review the foreign d i rect i nvestment l i mit in the domestic aviation
sector, the M i ni ster for Civi l Aviation, Mr P raful Pate l . "The p resent 49 % cap on foreign d i rect i nvestment i n
the aviation sector i s sufficient. The Government recently h i ked the ca p i n the domestic aviation sector t o 49
% f ro m the e a r l i e r l evel of 40 % . However, foreign a i rl i ne s a re n ot a l l owed to p i c k u p a stake i n domestic
a ir l i nes. ( N o i m med iate p l a n s to review F D I cap i n c ivi l avi ation: M i n i ster, B L . B, 2 5 . 0 5 . 0 5 , C24)
Flights between I nd i a and Germ a ny are set to more than double i n a p hased m a nner i n the nea r future with
t he two countries agreei ng to a llow their designated ca rriers up to 50 f l i ghts a week either way. These a i rl i ne s
h ave a l so been a l l owed t o fly onwa rd s t o a t h i rd country. Moreover, a i rl i nes from Germany have been a l l owed
to operate to Koc h i , Hyderabad and Goa, while specified a i r l i nes from I ndia w i l l be a l l owed to operate to three
more cities i n Germany. I nd i a i s , h owever, yet to s pecify the t h ree German cities to which its a i rl i ne s wou l d
l i ke t o sta rt f l yi ng. T h i s w a s a g reed to a t the conc l u s i o n o f b i l atera l a i r services ta l k s between I nd i a a nd
Germany. ( I nd i a , Germany agree to i n c rease a i r connectivity, B L. B, 26.05 . 0 5 , C24)
I n its s p ree to expand f l ights to a n d from I nd i a , the government has u p da ted the b i latera l a g reements with
Belgiu m a n d the Netherl a nd s , a l l owi ng a total of 42 frequencies per week to a nd from the two countries. With
t h e sign i n g of a i r· services a greements with t he se countries, the tot a l n u m be r of n ations with whom such
a ccords h ave been entered i nto by I nd i a this yea r has risen to 9 . The other countries a re France, UK, US,
Qata r, Germany, C h i n a a n d Oman. Both Belgi u m and the N etherlan d s h ave agreed to a l l ow multiple carrier
designations , t h rough which more tha n one I nd i a n a i rl i ne ca n operate to these two nations and vice·versa .
(42 new fl ights to a nd from Belgium, N etherl a nd s , FE. B, 28.05 .05 , C24)
The Central Gove rn ment is not keen on a llowing State Governments to float their own a i rl i nes for operations on
i nternationa l routes. The Centre ' s l a test t h i n k i ng c o u l d put a s p o ke i n the p ro posed p l a n s of the Kera l a
government to float a n a i rl i ne t o opera te fl ights t o the Gulf region. The Centra l Government would not change
t h e exi s t i ng ru l e s to a l l ow Kera l a or a ny other State Gove r n me n t to f l o a t a n a i r l i ne p u rely for opera t i ng
i n te r n a t i o n a l f l i ghts. The c u rre n t r u l e s a l l ow o n ly those a i rl i ne s that h ave com p l eted at l ea st five yea rs of
domestic operations and have a fleet of 20 a i rc raft to operate i nternati onal fl i ghts. The Keral a Government
recently sent a p roposal to the Centre see k i ng relaxation i n rules a n d a l low i t to start an a i rl i ne t h a t cou l d
opera te between t h e State a nd the Gulf region. The State h a s been kee n t o start t h e a i r l i ne, a s p assengers
trave l l i ng from there to the Gulf have been fac i ng p roblems.
Centra l Government offici a l s poi nt out that accedi ng·to the request of the Keral a Government a t the moment
w i l l go a ga i n st the decision of the U nion Cabinet, which has ba rred even the two p rivate sector a i rl ines Jet
A i rways a n d A i r S a h a ra - from opera t i ng to the G u lf reg i o n for t h ree yea rs. T h i s , the offi c i a l s s a i d , was a
conscious decision of the Government to protect A i r I nd i a a nd I nd i a n A i rl i n es.
To ensure that i nternational a i r trave l l ers do not face a ny problems, the Government has fol l owed a l i beral a i r
services bilateral regime that h a s seen a h uge i nc rease i n t h e a i r seats a l l otted t o a i rl i ne s of various countries
i nc l ud ing the Gulf region. (Centre not to a l l ow States to float a i rl i nes for i nternation a l routes, B L . B, 09. 1 1 .0 5 ,
C24)
I n its bid to step up efforts to a ttract more I nd i a n tourists, a tour operator i n I ta ly i s mul l i ng over a chartered
fl ight from Punjab to cas h in on the recent i n c rease in visitors from I nd i a . This i s part of the concerted effort
made by bot h Government a nd private a gencies to sustai n the 20 % growth of tourist flow from I n d i a . The
I t a l i a n State Tou ri st Boa rd ( l STB) i s a lso exploring the pos s i b i l i ty of a t i e- u p w i t h a l ea d i ng I nd i a n tour
operator for ta ppi ng the potenti a l of operati ng cha rtered f l i ghts to Italy. ( Italy for strategic tie-ups to attract
I nd i a n tourist s , B L . B, 24. 1 1 .0 5 , C24)
Government is actively considering a l lowing 1 00 % foreign d i re ct i nvestment ( F D I ) in a i r ports t h rough the
a utomatic route, doi ng away with the FI P B cleara nces. The Commerce M i nistry has s uggested a s l ew of FDI
pol i cy cha nges a nd the G ro u p of M i n i sters headed by Agriculture M i n i ster S h a rad Paw a r is eva l u a t i n g the
pros and cons before a llowing 1 00 % foreign partici pation in the development of a irports through the a utomatic
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route. Cu rrently 1 00 pc foreign p a rtici pati on i n sector is a l l owed but there i s a sectoral c a p of 74 %. If the
foreign company wa nts to i nvest more t h a n 74 pc it has to a p ply to F I P B a pprova l . The move would give a
boost to the proposed u p gradation a n d modernisation program me a nnounced by the aviation m i nistry for 35
non-metro a irports a n d the g reenfie l d a irports to be set up in consultation with the states. ( 1 00 pc FDI i n
a irports through a u tomatic route, VT_ B , 1 1 . 0 1 .06, C24)
The I n d i a n aviation i n d ustry h a s been ra p i d ly expan d i ng i n the l a st few yea rs with the entry of several new
a i rl i nes espec i a l ly low-cost operators, the openi ng u p of i nternational routes for private domestic ca rriers,
the i ntroduction of open skies regimes: the substanti a l i ncrease in-flight entitlements under bi lateral agreements
a n d i n itiation of p rivate sector pa rtici pation in the development a nd management of a i rports. H owever, a s
the i nd u stry moves away from the state-centric model where the government w a s the only significant p l ayer
i n the e nt i re i nd u stry to the m u l t i - p l ayer model of the post- l i bera l i sation era w h e re there is l a rge s c a l e
partici pation from private players, there is a n u rgent need t o establish a n i ndependent regulator who has the
ma ndate to regulate tech n i c a l and economical a spects i n the sector.
At present, the M i n i stry of Civil Avi ation i s the a pex civi l aviation regu lator i nstitutio n i n I nd i a . I t i s responsible
for formulating a n d i m pl ementi ng the nationa l aviation pol i cy. Ta king key dec i sions on a l l i ssues rel ated to
aviati on , i n itiating major i n itiatives i n aviation. Other reg u l atory bodies l i ke the d irectorate - Genera l of Civi l
Avi ation (DGCA) a n d the B u re a u of Civi l Aviation Security (BCAS) a re under its pu rview.
The need for a regul ator authority to deal with the i mporta nt economic issues in the sector is a cutely, i .e. the
M i n i stry of Civi l Avi a t i o n , a n d substa nti a l i nterest in major i n d u stry p l ayers l i ke I nd i a n A i rl i ne s , A i r- I n d i a ,
Pawan H a n s Corporation a n d the Airport Authority of I nd i a . There is a clear potentia l for confl i ct of i n terest in
this c a se a n d therefore the regul atory functions of the m i n i st ry need to be tra nsfe rred to an i n dependent
regulator.
Second ly, a n i n dependent regul ator with i ntegrated regulatory functions ca n address a l l technica l , economic,
manage ment, operation a l , env i ro nmenta l , l icensi ng, l i a bi l ity, safety a nd secu rity-re l ated issues in a holi stic
m a n ne r and create sta n d a rd s in l i n e with global best practices. The cu rrent p iecemea l a pproach where a
regulator's mandate i s restricted to j u st one a spect leads to a n overal l i neffective regulatory fra mework a nd
severa l key i ssues a re not properly a d d ressed at a l l .
I ndependent ' s u per' regu l a tors have been c reated for oth e r sectors l i ke telecom (the Trai ) a n d i n su ra nce
(the I rda), w h i c h a l so u nderwent a s i m i l a r tra n s i ti o n from a state- mo n opoly model . The N a re s h C h a n d ra
Committee h a s recommended creation of a regulatory mechan i s m consisti ng of a n i n dependent regulatory
a u thority with a m a n d ate to deal o n l y with eco n o m i c fu n ct i o n s w h i l e the DGCA wou l d reta i n its tech n i c a l
regulatory functions. However, regulatory experience i n the civi l aviation sector from other countries indicate
that divorc i n g econo m i c a nd tec h n i c a l i ssues in modern aviati on leads to severa l regul atory problems a n d
h i nder t h e g rowth of t h e sector. Therefore, t h e p ro posed civi l aviation regulatory a u thority needs t o cover
both economic a n d tec h n i c a l i ss u e s so that it c a n effectively d e a l with the complexities of modern civi l
aviation i n I nd i a . ( For a n i n dependent aviation regul a tor, Sud i p Mahapatra . EIB, 2 3 . 0 1 .06, C24)
The Del h i a n d Mumbai a irport modernisation process was disrupted. once aga i n , when the Ai rports Authority
of I n d i a (AAI ) e m ployees d i d not a l l ow the govern ment to open fi n a ncial bids.
The fi n a n ci a l bids of p re· q u a l ified bidders wou l d not be opened a n d the Civi l Avi ation M i n i stry wou ld hold
d iscussions with the e m pl oyees o n the ' a lternate p l a n ' they have s u b m i tted on the matter.
This assura nce was given to the agitati ng employees by the AAI management, fol lowing which the AM Employees
Joi nt Forum s u s pe nded the i r agitation to protest the proposed privatisation move. (AAI workers suspend sti r
aga i n st privatisation, F E - B, 2 8 . 0 1 .06. C24)
The U n ion Budget 2006-07 has provided some rel i ef to the domestic aviation sector whi l e i nter nation a l a i r
travel a nd travel by c r u i s e s h i ps i s set t o become s l ightly more expen sive. The B udget, however, h a s a l so
p roposed l evyi ng a 1 2 % cess on a i r p assengers flyi ng a b road i n b u s i ness or fi rst c l a s s a n d on trave l on
cruise ships.
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H owever, the Fri nge Benefit Tax wou l d be l evied at 5 % i n stead of 20 % for a i rl i n e com pa n ie s a n d s h i p p i n g
i nd u stry to va l ue the benefits i n the form o f ' hospital ity' a n d 'use o f hotel a n d l odgi ng fac i l ities. (Domestic
a i rl i nes get tax exe mption for 1 more yea r, B L. B, 0 1 . 0 3 . 06 , C24)
The boom i n a i r travel a ppears to have encouraged the F i n ance M i n i ster to tap the sector for more revenues
i n the n ext fisca l . M r P. C h i d a m ba ra m h a s deci ded to tax the p redom i n a ntly corporate and h igh net·worth
i nd ivid u a l s who patro n i se the u pper deck (fi rst a n d business cla ss) of i nternati o n a l fl ights from I nd i a with a
service tax, a nd t h a t too, a n e n h a nced one ( 1 2% n ow).
In fact, aviation think tank CAPA country head Ka p i l Kau l says there is not much i n the budget to cheer the
aviation sector. For an i n d u stry which is t i p ped to a ttract $50 b i l l io n i nvestm e nt ( a i rcraft a c q u i s i t i o n , new
a i rports in 10 yea rs), there is l ittle to s how - on the part of the government - on how to make the i n d u stry
more viable by a dd ressing its cost structu re. ( H igh f l i ers face a downer, ET. B, 0 1 . 0 3 . 06 , C24)
A sserti ng that passenger rights should be c learly defi ned, A i r Passengers Assoc iatio n of I nd i a (APA I ) s a i d
d raft guidel i ne s , o n the l i n e s o f a n Act i n the Eu ropean U n i o n , w a s expected to be rea dy b y A p ri l . A PA I
president D Sudhaka ra Reddy s a i d such rights were vital bec a u se there were many i nstances when a i rl i ne s
services h a d been d eficient a n d t h e passengers h a d not been compensated a p p ropriately.
C it i ng one i nstance a pa ssenger rece ntly had confi rmed booki ng from B a ngkok to C he n n a i a n d w h e n he
rea ched t h e a i rport he w a s told that t h e f l ight h a d l eft two· h o u rs in a dvan c e as it h a d been reschedu l e d .
W h e n t h e passenger i ns i sted that h e wanted t o f l y t o Chen n a i , despite hol d i ng a f i rst c l a ss reservation, h e
was booked t o f l y b y a nother a i rl ine i n t h e economy class.
M r Reddy said A PAT had received m a ny com pl a i nts that a low cost a i rli n e d i d not a l l ot seat n u m bers a n d
there w a s a m a d rush t o occupy vantage seats c a u s i ng great i nconve n ience t o e ld erly peopl e , women a n d
children.
Even some of the a i rl i nes were demanding payment for providi ng wheel cha ir to physical ly chal lenged persons
a nd some of them were chargi ng exorbitantly for mi neral water.
Reiterating the demand for a n i n dependent flight safety body l i ke the N ational Tra nsportation Safety Boa rd in
the US, he said safety a udits had to be carried out on all the a i rl i nes, espec i a l ly those recruiting foreign pilots.
(Draft guideli nes for passenger rights gett i n g ready, FE. B, 1 6 .03.06, C24)
Government-owned a irl i nes
With an eye o n t h e R s 1 ,000-crore gro u nd h a nd l i ng services m a rket, I nd i a n A i rl i n es h a s decided to ask
private a i rl i nes l i ke J et A i rways to contract such service s to the state-owned carrier i f they wa n te d i t to fly
the mandatory u nvia ble routes for them.
Accord i ng t o the C ivi l Avi a t i o n M i n i stry's route d i spersal gu i d e l i nes (RDG). a l l designated a i rl i nes have to
deploy p a r t of thei r ca pa ci ty to connect cities in the northeast, J a m m u & Kas h m i r, A n d a m a n & N i cobar.
Lakshwadeep, a nd some state capital s to fulfil thei r soci al obl igations_ I nd i a n Airli nes had recently e ntered
i nto a comprehensive agreement with Vijay M a l lya's Kingfisher Airl ines. As part of the Rs 1 20-crore dea l , the
state·owned carrier will fly for Kingfisher on the mandatory loss·making sectors and u ndertake ground handli ng
a n d mai ntenance for the l atter. Soon. after this, Jet Airways N a resh Goyal a pproached I nd i a n A i rl i nes to take
over Jet's obl igatio n s . l A , which i s t ryi ng to d i versify its reve n u e strea m s , c l ea rly l i n ked f lyi ng u neconom i c
routes to contracti ng gro u n d h a n d l i ng opera tio n s . ( I n d i a n A i r l i ne s eyes J e t A i rways' m a ndatory u nvia ble
routes, S u d h i r C howd hary, FE. B, 1 9.05.05, C24)
The Maharaja w i l l now be flying with the Tou rism Ministry's much·touted ' I ncredi ble I nd i a ' logo. The M i nister of
State for Tou ri s m , M s Renu ka Chowdhury, a nd the Civi l Aviation M i ni ster, M r P raful Patel , flagged off the fi rst
Ai r· l nd i a p l a ne with t h e l ogo, symbo l i z i ng the synergy between the two m i n i stries to attract more tou ri sts,
domest i c a n d foreign . (A· I a dopts I nc red i ble I nd ia logo, T S . D, 28.09 . 0 5 , C24)
1 [)o('um c n i u t io l l Updat e 1 2 005 - 0 6
Private a i r li nes
P rivate a i rl i ne s may agree on enforci ng a m a n datory t h ree month n otice to be served by p i l ot s before they
q u it to j o i n a competitor. The Civil Avi a t i o n M i n i ster convened a meet i n g of a l l a i rl i nes · p riva te a n d state­
owned to fac i l itate a ' code of conduct' a n d a 'self· i mposed d i sc ip l i ne' to counter the menace of poachi ng.
With the entry of atlea st fou r new a i rl i ne s
Kingfisher, Spice Jet, Go A i r a n d Magic A i r l i ne s · a scra m bl e i s
expected for tra i ned p i l ots. At present, I nd i a has only 1 ,500 p i l ots a n d accord i ng t o esti mates, the country
woul d need three-ti mes more p i lots i n the next five yea rs. While the m i n i stry i s not l egal ly bound to i ntervene
in the process of free movement of p i l ots, i t is in favour of a i rl i ne compa n ie s form a l i s i ng some grou nd rules
l i ke a three·month n otice period that p i l ots a re req u i red to serve before switc h i ng jobs.
W h i l e h i ri ng foreign p i l ots i s a l ways a n o ptio n , it can prove very expen s i ve. Accord i ng to i ndu stry sources,
foreign p i l ots a re at least thr i ce as expensive a s I nd ia ns . Low·cost as wel l as regu l a r a i rl i nes a re poac hi ng
staff with attractive pay packages. They a re a lso e m pl oying foreign p i l ots with pay packets of a bout Rs f ive
l a k h per month v i s·a-vis Rs 1 .5 - 2 l a k h pa i d to I n d i a n p i l ot s . ( P i l ots may get to hop jobs, but with 3 -month
notice, S u d h i r C howdh ary, FE.B, 1 6.04.0 5 , C24)
The gove r n ment may revi ew the five·year experience condition in the open· sky pol i cy, for flyi n g overse a s .
Spea ki ng on t h e i ssue o f 'discri m i natory' open·a i r poli cy, U B group c h a i r m a n a n d M P Vijay M a llya s a i d , i t ' s a
fu nda mental i ssue, but the Civi l Aviation M i ni ster Praful Patel has a ssured me that the government pol icy i s
not cast i n stone, it's a lways su bject t o review. When I ' m ready, I ' m goi ng t o a p p ly a ga i n . I have the confidence
that the gover n me nt wi l l take a rati o n a l view. ( K i ngfi sher to revive b i d to fly oversea s , ope n to stake s a le,
N ived i ta M ookerj i , FE. B, 26.04.0 5 , C24)
After a l most a decade of l a ngui s h i ng i n the h a nga r, East West A i rl i nes hopes to take w i ngs a ga i n by the end
of t h i s yea r. After bei ng grou nded in the m i d-90s, the a i r l i nes expecti ng a ren ewal of its l i cence soo n . I t i s i n
talks with Boei ng a n d A i rbus for buying a i rc raft, a nd with two i nvestors t o raise $50-60 m i l l i o n i n the next two
yea rs . Senior company sou rces decli ned to name the foreign i nvestors, who, they said, had a track record of
i nvest i n g i n the aviation i nd ustry. A domestic i nvestor was a lso i n the pi pe l i ne, they sa i d . The money rai sed
from these i nvestors will comprise half debt a n d half equity.
If East West takes to the skies aga i n , it w i l l be the second a i rl ine which cl osed shop i n the '90s to recommence
operati o n s . The f i rst i s M od i l uft, w h i ch is n ow rebo r n as S p ic eJet . ( Ea st West to f l y a g a i n by yea r· e n d ,
Neelasri B a r ma n , F E . B, 1 6 .0 5 . 0 5 , C24)
Jet Ai rways p l a ns to expa nd its fleet a nd ta p new desti nations a broa d , revealed Mr N a resh Goya l . "Over the
next 3-4 yea r s , we a re poi sed to ta ke a dva nta ge of pro m i s i n g o p portu n it i e s both d omest i ca l ly a nd
i nternationally. Estimates suggest that the dome stic I ndian aviation ma rket wil l cont i n u e to grow at a bove 20
% each year over the com i ng 3-5 yea rs. A i r travel i s bei ng propel led by rising d i s posable i n comes, i ncreasing
prope n s i ty to travel a nd ava i la b i l i ty of l ower fares. As I nd i a 's l ea d i ng d omestic a i rl i ne, we a re wel l p l a ced to
a c h i eve growth rates that a re broadly i n l i ne with the ma rket " .
Wel comi ng recent i n itiat ives a l l ow i ng private ca rriers t o fly overseas, he s a i d t h a t t h i s w i l l a l l ow J et Airways
to c a pture substa nti a l growth i n i nternationa l traffic to a n d from I nd i a , a m arket which i s a lso expected to
grow i n t he regi o n of 20 % per a n n u m over the comi ng years. (Jet p l a n s to exp a n d , a l l set to ta p new
desti nations, AA. D, 28.09 . 0 5 , C24)
Owner of Ki ngfi sher A i rl i nes Vijay Mal lya said he was one of those studyi ng the prospect of picki ng u p equity
stake i n Air Sahara . The i nformation memora n d u m , Mr Mal lya said, had defi ned a n a mount of $ 1 00 m i l l i o n ,
which A i r Sa h a ra proposed to ra ise f o r i t s expa n s i o n p l a n s . He was, however, n ot s u re w h at percentage of
total equ ity it a mounted to. He sa i d non-b i n d i ng offers would have to be made a ga inst the memora n d u m by
October 30. M r M a l lya s a i d w h i l e he was "cert a i n ly i nterested" i n l ook i n g a t the proposal , he had n ot made
a ny offer to A i r Sa h a ra as yet. ( M a l lya wa nts to board Air Sa h a ra , FE. D, 1 9 . 1 0. 0 5 , C24)
The price w a r in the I nd i a n aviation i ndu stry is l i kely to i ntensify i n the com i n g days with new entrant GoA i r
unve i l i ng a s,:heme t o offer 1 0,000 free t ickets per month on a fi rst-come-first·serve basis, o n a l l i ts routes.
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Documen t a t ion l Tpclate
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G oA i r w i l l i n it i a l ly operate on the M u m ba i , Goa , A h medabad a n d C o i m ba tore route s . Under the scheme,
which w i l l be va l i d for s i x months starting October, passengers who book early woul d get a zero fare. They
wou l d , however, have to pay the taxes a mounting to Rs 22 1 . The a i rl ine c l a imed its fares woul d be 40 % lower
t h a n that of tra d itional a i rl ines a n d on a n average, 1 0 % higher t h a n a i r-conditioned first a nd second-cl a ss
rai l way fa res. (GoA i r to offer 1 0,000 free t i c kets a month, I E. D, 2 1 . 1 0. 0 5 , C24)
Coi mbatore - ba sed sta rt-up Pa ra mount A i rways may be a l ow-prof i l e o perator, but it h a s p l a ns to capture a
l a rge s l i ce of the high-brow c orporate t ravel p i e with i ts s u perior busi ness a n d fi rst c l ass i n ·f l i gh t services.
The a i r l i ne's M a nagi n g Di rector M Thi aga raja n said that it has decided to i ntroduce flat beds a nd s a te l l ite
televi sion on its fleet of n ew generation Embraer a i rcraft by mid 2006. A long with fi rst and b u s iness c l a s s
cabins, a l l aircraft w i l l b e equi pped w i t h modern i n·flight enterta i n ment systems includi ng personal T V screens
o n all seats. The p rogrammes on offer will i nclude music, videos a n d l ive news through a sate l lite u p l i n k.
Meanwh ile, Bennett, Coleman & Co has ta ken a 2% stake i n the a i r l i ne for a n u n d i sclosed sum. The tie·up wil l
be the med i a behemot h 's m a i den e q u i ty exposu re i n the ra p i d ly grow i n g avia t i o n space. A ccord i ng to M r
Thiaga rajan , the a i rl i ne w i l l constantly seek to differe ntiate its on·ground a n d i n ·fl ight services, a n d the cabin
offering was part of t h i s exercise. I ncidental ly, the a ir l i ne, which commenced operations o n October 1 9 , w i l l
conti n ue with i t s focus of l i nk i n g metros with secondary towns of commerc i a l i m portance. ( Pa ra mount A i r to
offe r f l a t beds, satel l ite TV, EI B, 23. 1 1 . 0 5 , C24)
Cha rtered services operator J agson A i r l i ne s i s the l a test a i rl i ne p l a n n i ng to enter the domestis a i r s pace a s
a n a l l · l nd i a scheduled operator. I nd i a a l ready has 1 2 scheduied operators a n d 44 non-sched u l ed operators.
The a i rl i ne, promoted by cha i r m a n Jagd i s h P G u pta , has brought o n boa rd former A i r Sa hara C EO Uttam
Kum a r Bose. It is u nc l e a r whethe r Jagson w i l l position itself as a l ow cost carrier or a ful l ·fledged service
a i rline.
When the gover n me nt opened a i rl i ne business for private sector i n 1 99 1 , Jagson A i rl i nes was a mong the fi rst
priva te a i r l i nes to ava i l the l i cence. It l a u nched its chartered services i n 1 992 a n d is c u r rently operati ng i n
H i machal Pradesh a n d Raj a stha n . The a i rl ine w i l l now have t o convert its non·sched u l ed operator l icence to
that of a sche d uled operator. It w i l l have to i ncrease i ts p a i d up ca p i ta l from the c u rrent Rs 1 .06 crore to Rs
30 crore to q u a lify as a schedu led o perator. It's not clear yet how the a i rl i ne proposes to ra ise funds to meet
with the m a ndatory regulations. (Jagson ta kes off i nto crowded s k ies, P u m my Kau l , F E . B , 04.0 1 .06, C 24)
Liquor house Mohan Meak i n supported I ndus A irways wi l l fi n a l ly ta ke to the w i ngs this Marc h with 1 0 l eased
pla nes u nder i ts belt in the fi rst yea r of operations. The a ir l i ne is bein g cap i ta l i sed with a Rs 250 c rore fund
pool , which incl udes equal contribution of Rs 1 00 crore each from the two promoters. Using Del h i , Cha ndigarh
a n d Amritsa r is its base, I nd u s A i rways p l a n s to con nect town s l i ke J a m m u , S h i m l a , a n d S ri naga r i n the
north. ( I ndus A i r to hit s kies i n M a rc h , G i ri s h Rao & Boby Kuri a n , EIB, 2 5 . 0 1 .06, C24)
J ha rk h a n d is p l a n n i ng to i n t ro d u ce a u n i que model of a i r travel that would hel p i ts peop l e a ccess charte r
fl i ghts a n d state·run scheduled f l i ghts t o different destinations i n the state. I ni ti a l ly there wou l d b e two sma l l
util ity planes, a n d one s m a l l a n d one med i um helicopter. The state i s i n the process of buyi ng a s m a l l f leet of
1 1 ·seater, 5 ·seater a n d 4-seater a i rcraft , a s wel l a s h e l i co pters of pa sse nger capaCity 7 to 1 4 . Depend i ng
on the dema n d of the service, the state government woul d expand the fleet. (Jh a rkhand m u l l s novel a i r trave l
model , Ari nd a m S i n ha , F E . D, 1 6 .02.06, C24)
Forei gn a i r l i nes
'
Tha i la n d · ba sed Nok A i r i s consi deri ng entering the I nd i a n market i n 2006, a nd i s l ooking for a tie u p with a
l ow-cost ca rrier i n I nd i a . N ok A i r i s a l ow·cost a i r l i ne regi stered u nder Sky A s i a Co, a j o i n t vent u re between
p u b l i c a n d private i nvestors. The carrier star ted opera t i o n s i n Tha i l a nd i n J u ly 2004. At p re sent, the only
forei g n l ow cost c a rrier opera t i ng to I nd i a is S h a rj a h - ba sed Air A ra bi a . The ca rrier sta rted opera t i o n s in
M a rch thi s yea r a n d operates seven f l i ghts a week to M umba i . Nok A i r has a l ready a pproached Vijay Mal l ya ­
p romoted Ki ngf i s he r A i r l i nes for a poss i bl e t i e - u p. The domest i c fa re s offered by N o k A i r a re a l most 30%
chea per tha n l egacy carriers opera ti ng in Tha i la nd . (Th a i l ow-cost carrier Nok Air may ente r I nd i a , Neelasri
Ba r m a n , F E . D, 08. 1 0.05, C24)
I Documenta tion Update 1 2005 -06
Jetsta r Asi a , S ingapore's l ea d i ng low·cost a i rl i ne has l au nched its serv i ces to Ba ngal ore a n d w i l l operate five
days a week . B a ngalore w i l l be its second desti nation i n I nd i a after Kol kata. The a i rl ine w i l l ta rget corporate
travelers, more specifically from the IT sector, those from small and medium e nterprises and leisure trave l l ers.
(Jetsta r services to B a ngal ore, T H . B, 24. 0 1 .06, C24)
Ma uritiu s m ay soon open its s ki es for I nd i a n c arriers, both p u b l i c and p rivate. A clea r i n dication of this was
g i ve n by the Deputy P r i m e M i n i ster of Ma u ri t i u s , Mr Xavier Luc Duva l , d u ring h i s v i s i t to M u m ba i . "The
country's strategic geographical location a dvantage for the grow i n g I nd i a n outbound trave l l i ng traffic would
be very soon passed to the I nd i a n Government. Thi s would pave way for I nd i a n public a n d private a i rl i nes to
u se M a u ritius a s a gateway for onward jou r ney." H e a lso reiterated the Mauriti us Govern ment's commitment
o n the early i mplementation of ru pee converti b i l i ty. M a u ritiu s had a s ked its centra l ba n k to work o n this, a s
i t could give a significa n t boost to b i l ateral rel at i o n s between t h e two countries, e s pecia l ly o n t h e tou r i s m
front. ( M a u ritius m a y o p e n s k i e s for I nd i a n carriers, B L . B, 1 7 .02,06, C24)
The European U n i on banned more than 90 foreign a i rl i nes from countries including Tha i land, Afghan i stan a nd
Swaz i l a n d , p u b l i sh i ng the fi rst EU-wide b l a c k l i st of u nsafe carriers after crashes i n the previous two years
k i l l ed h u n d reds of European trave l l ers.
The ba n a c ross the 25 ·nation EU covers passenger a n d cargo o perators. The l i st a l so targets c arriers from
Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equ atorial Gui nea, Liberi a , North Korea , Kazakhsta n , Kyrgyzsta n ,
Rwan d a a n d Sierra Leone. Several p l a ne accidents l a st August prompted E U law m a kers t o seek a u n i fo r m
a p p roach to a i rl i ne safety. The l ist, to be u pdated at lea st every three months, i s based on d eficiencies fou n d
d uring checks at Europea n a i rports, t h e u se of a ntiquated a i rcraft by comp a n i es a n d shortcomi ngs by non­
E U a i rl i ne regu l ators. (EU ba ns more than 90 foreign a i rl i nes from 25· nation bloc, FE. B, 2 3 . 02 .06, C24)
Cha rter Airl i nes
After l ow cost a i rl i ne s the con cept of general avia t i o n (GA) or cha rtered a v i a t i o n is catc h i ng the fa n cy of
corporates a n d N Rl s, Tech nically, it means a l l commercia l aviation operations other than scheduled and non­
sched u led a i r services for h i re. But i n I nd i a , G A is l a rgely perceived a s a l e i s u re a ct ivity i nd u lged in by the
nouve a u rich and corporate houses. But now, even traditi o n a l busi ness houses a re opting for professi o n a l
chartered aviation services, And companies provi d i ng these services are mushroomi ng a s fast as t h e demand.
Saja A i r, a newly- i ncorporated company, for i n stance, is sta rting its operations with a seed capita l of $3-mn.
S i m i l a rly, a n other company p romoted by a group of N R l s cal led Fidel ity Aviation i s worki ng over ti me to tap
the chartered aviation m arket. (Cha rtered aviation t a kes wi ngs, P u m my Ka u l , F E . D, 1 0,09.05, C24)
I nd i a n tour operators have gon e a head a n d done what the government has been proposi n g for a long ti me­
developing small a i rport h u bs for i nternation a l charter arriva l s . The latest to join the charter c l u b, after Goa,
A m ritsar a n d Coch i n , is Agra , i n the hea rt of the north· l nd i a c i rcuit. The touri sm season for 2005·06 has
a l ready been kicked off with the a rrival of the first c ha rter which l anded l a st wee k . The charter, operated by
Sita-Kuoni Travel Ltd , w i l l fly d irect from Gatwick Ai rport, Londo n , to Agra I nternational Ai rport Schedule for
the sea son i n c l udes one flight a wee k , with a week-long stay i n the country. The tour o perator has got fl ights
booked th rough N ovem be r, up to M a rch 2006, w h i c h r u n s i nto 24 weeks of bookings. I t ca n n ot be better
news for tour operators run n i ng the i r busi ness i n this highly-visited circuit, a lso popularly k now a s the Golden
Tria ngle of Del h i ·Agra -J a i p u r. I t w i l l ta ke the pressure off the congested air corri dors to D e l h i I nternational
Ai rport and get ta ke·off a n d l a n d i ng per m issi ons easily i n the l esser- u sed Agra Ai rport. (Agra t a ke s off a s
fi rst cha rter l a nds, I E . D, 1 4 , 1 0. 0 5 , C 24)
Trends a n d Patterns
Low·cost carriers in the country l ike Ki ngfisher Airl i nes a nd SpiceJet a re i ncreasi ngly outsourcing ma intena nce
and overha u l i ng work to keep operati ng expenses down. They a re l ooki ng to save a l most 20· 25% i n costs by
contracting such work to pl ayers such a s Lufthansa , KLM, SAS and Singapore A i rl i nes. Public sector carriers
I nd i a n A i rl i nes and A i r· l nd i a , who have rich expertise in a i rcraft m a i ntena nce with a combi ned m a n power
exceedi ng 9 , 000, a re a l so eyeing a major p i e of the contract ma i ntena nce a n d over· hau l i ng business. ( N o­
fri l l s a i rl i nes see 2 5 % savings by outsourci n g m a i ntenance, Sud h i r Chowdhary, F E . B, 26 .05.05, C24)
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Domestic touri sm i ndust ry i n I ndia a l ready disadva ntaged d ue to high domest i c a i rfares is of late seriously
challenged with the l au n ch of low i nternationa l a i rfares. A Delhi-Trivandrum round trip costs over Rs 34,000,
w h i c h is m o re expen sive t h a n flyi ng to London a n d b a c k . Domestic tou ri sts now p refer to go to low cost
i nternational desti nations l i ke Malaysia , Si ngapore a n d the Middle Ea st i n stead of domestic desti nations l i ke
Kera l a . I nternation al touri sts only a ccount for a bout 8% of the total tourists i n I nd i a . Therefore, if domestic
tourists fi nd it chea per to trave l a broad than with i n the country, it woul d become extremely diffic u l t for the
domestic tou rism i n d u stry to survive.
Conve ntion a l a i rl i nes i n I nd i a a re positioned to target the business segment, which is not so price sensitive.
The leisure segment, on the other hand, tends to be extremely price sensitive. If domestic tou ri st desti nations
h ave to reta i n the i r via b i l i ty they have to achieve a high level of l ow-cost a i rl i ne con nectivity.
Steady economi c growth i s generating a n aspirational push a mongst consumers. 1 5 m i l l i o n I nd i a n s travel by
rai l everyday. A i r travel apart from bei ng a s p i rational i s a l so time savi ng espec i a l ly for d ista nt desti nations.
It is o n ly a matter of t i me before a part of these ra i l users moves o n to a i rc raft.
I ndia is today the third fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world posti ng a growth of 23% in the
l a st f i n a n c i a l yea r. The p rojecti o n s a re that it wi l l grow at an ave rage of over 20% for the next five yea rs .
Ai rbus I n dustrie reckons that I n d i a n ca rriers w i I I p roc u re nea rly 400 a i rcraft by the yea r 20 1 7 . One way of
putting this potential i n perspective is to com pa re it with C h i n a , which has 140 m i l l ion domestic a i r travellers
every yea r compa re d to 1 4 m i l l ion i n I nd i a .
Low·cost a i r l i nes h ave t o p a y just a s m u c h for t h e a i rc raft, c rew, fue l , l a nd i n g c h a rges , etc . , a s a ny norma l
a i rl i ne. The model, therefore, works on higher capacity util isation i n terms of fi l l i ng u p the a i rcraft as wel l as by
quicker turn a round.
The state govern ments c a n step in to i n centivise l ow-cost carriers for i nc re as i ng connectivity a s wel l as to
s up port tou r i s m . H i g h ra te of sales tax on a i rc ra ft t u rb i n e fuel by a l most a l l the states is a factor that has
consistently kept a i rfa res high. A nother a rea is i n subsidising the ground ha ndl i ng charges for a l i m i ted period
of a bout two yea rs . The government could possi bly meet, say, a bout 40% of the ground hand l i ng charges a s
a n i n centive. ( Leverage l ow-cost a i rl i nes for tourism, S u m a n B i l l a , ET.C, 1 8. 08.05, C24)
With the aviation indu stry soaring, lack of sufficient i nfrastructu re to cope with i ncreased a i r traffic has led to
a s h a rp rise i n the n u m be r of n e a r-accidents i n the cou ntry. D u ri ng 200 5 , 2 1 a i r m i s s , or near·accident,
cases i nvolvi ng commerc i a l a i rc raft were reporte d , a n i ncrease of a l most 33 % over the p revious yea r. What
is more a l a rm i n g i s that of the 2 1 , two i n ci de nts where a "near- co l l i s i o n was avo i d ed " cou l d have been
d i sa st ro u s , i nvolvi ng a bo u t 500 pa ssengers. I n fact, in the w a ke of t he rise in the n u m be r of a i rcraft, the
m i n i stry " h a s sta rted i m po s i n g a ba n on ge nera l aviation a i rcraft d u ri n g the pea k periods at D e l h i a n d
Mu mbai a i rports," one source said. (Growing a i r traffic lead ing t o near-accidents, TS. D, 1 0.03.06, C24)
General
A i r passengers a rrivi ng at the I G I Ai rport wi l l soon get a safe tra nsport to their hoste l s . The U n ion Tou ri sm
M i ni stry has asked Del hi Tou rism to start a service which wi l l first tra n s port passengers to DTTDC's C P office
i n buses a n d from there ta ke them to their hote l s i n "safe" taxis a n d a utos . The I G I A i rport l a cks space for
provid i ng bus service to the thousands of people who fly in dai ly. The m i n istry w i l l ask severa l other agencies
to i m prove i nfrastructu re and ma ke a tou rist-friendly place. The DDA needs to provide l a nd for h ote l s. About
a dozen five stars need to be bui lt in new and south Del h i . B udget hotels a re a l so needed a l l over the place,'
Rajeev Tal wa r, additional d i rector·ge neral (tourism) said. (Tourism i n top gea r, A i r passengers to be d ropped
at hotels, Sa urabh S i n h a , HT.D, 26.04.05, C24)
Creati ng softwa re solutions for the travel i nd u stry is expected to a grow i n g b u s i ne s s for the foreseea ble
future , especi a l ly in A s i a , beca u se air travel is booming in the region .
"Th i s segment g rew by 1 00 % l a st yea r, a n d is esti mated to grow by at least 7 0 · 80 % t h i s yea r, " says M r
Doshi , C EO o f I n ter-Global Technologies. The rush t o create cost-effective onl i ne sol utions a nd services for
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Docllmcn tation I fpc/u t c
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commercial a i rl i ne users gathered momentu m after 9/1 1 , as a i rl i nes a round the worl d, but particularly i n the
U nited States, went i nto a tai l s p i n and sta rted looki ng for ways to cut costs to keep themselves profita ble.
" I t has been made ma ndatory for a l l I nternational A i r Tra nsport Association membe rs to i ssue e lectro n i c
tickets b y 2007 . A l ot of ai rLi nes a round the world have adopted e·ticketi ng with gusto, because e-tickets cut
down the cost of p rocessi ng a i rl i ne t i c kets dramatical ly, from $ 1 2 per pa ssenge r to a bout $ 1 , says M r
Dos h i . This h a s resu lted i n a lot of the work of c reating softw a re for e-tic keti ng, revenue manage ment a n d
other sundry bits o f the commerc i a l a i rl i nes' software requ i rements gett i ng off- shored. (Software sol utions
for travel flouri s h , AA. D, 28.05 . 0 5 , C24)
Shop with you r c redit c a rds, a n d you woul d actua l ly be ea r n i n g a ticket to fly. Or you woul d be a l lowed extra
baggage the next t i me you fly with more and more a i rl i nes tyi ng up with ba n ks for co-branded c redit cards.
A i r S a h a r a , Jet and A i r Decca n have a l rea dy sta rted the sche me, where a c re d i t c a rd user i s entitled to
poi nts ba sed on thei r s p e n d , which can be redeemed l ater. Others l i ke Emi rates, Sri La n ka n A i rl i nes a n d
Spice J e t a re a l so expected t o fol l ow s u i t . (Flyi ng retu rns for ca rd-ca rry i ng a i r trave le rs , Neelasri Ba rma n ,
FE.C, 0 1 . 0 7 . 0 5 , C24)
The i r vi sit cou l d not have been more ti mely than now- when a g roup of stri ki ng domestic pilots have made
a point on the i r i ndispensa b i l i ty. At tra i n i ng school chiefs from Queensland have flown in to suggest how the
cou ntry's g row i n g nu mber of a i rl i nes can bridge the i r pi lot shortage of 500- 1 ,000 a yea r. The flyi ng schools
are ta l king to Jet Ai rways, Ki ngfisher, Air Decca n , Spicejet and I nd iGo a mong others duri n g thei r four-day tour
of Ba ngalore, Mu mbai and Del h i . Thei r proposals range from pi lot sponsorship contracts from a i rl i nes for flight
tra i n i ng in Austra l i a , to sendi ng in Austra l i a n i n structor for short periods; even partneri ng with I n dian flyi ng
schools a nd lend i ng Austra l i a n i n structors to coach or fly p l a nes. (Queensland aviation tra i n i ng tea m offers
solutions for p i l ots shortage, B L . B, 1 6.02.06, C24)
The potenti a l ly fatal condition, deep vei n thrombosis (DVT), a l so dubbed ' Economy Class Syndrome, can be
c a u sed by poor q u a l ity a i r a n d i n s uffic ient oxygen i n passenger a i rc r.aft, accord i n g to the l a test study by
scienti sts. So far it was bel i eved that sitt i n g c ra mped for eight hours or l onger i nc reased the risk of a fata l
blood clot fourfo l d . But a research from the World Health Orga n i sation , publi shed i n the La ncet, shows that
sitti ng cram med i n economy class for long hours can not a l one expl a i n why air passengers a re at higher risk
of potenti a l ly deadly blood c lots. This was found after studying people sitti ng on a seat on the ground for eight
hours a n d those who spent the same n u m be r of hou rs on a n a i rcraft. The resea rchers fou n d chemica l s
indicating clotti ng i n 7 vol u nteers were higher duri ng the eight hou rs o n a flight than i n the ci nema. It suggested
that low a i r p re s s u re a n d oxygen l evel s on a fl ight might p l a y a rol e. ( Poor a i r i n p l a nes c a n cause deadly
c l ots, Vijay Dutt, H I D, 1 1 .03.06, C24)
C30 Tou rism I n d u stry · H ote l s
I n dia w i l l need 1 .5 l a k h hotel rooms to cater t o the tourist flow from a b road i n t h e next fou r yea rs . Earni ngs
fro m t h i s sector a re a l so expected to rise by 3 5-45% every yea r. Accord i n g to I nd i a n Hotel s Com p a ny
ma nagi ng di rector Raymond Bickson, 1 0- 1 5 m i l l ion is the m i n i m u m number of tourists that will a rrive i n I ndia
in the next five yea rs. A m i ni mum i nvestment of Rs 30,000 core is needed from the private sector to esta blish
1 ,50,000 hotel rooms i n the next four yea rs. The cou ntry cu rre ntly, has 97,000 hotel rooms i n the a pproved
Sector. ( I n dia w i l l need 1 .5 l a kh hotel rooms i n 4 yea rs, FE . C, 08.04 . 0 5 , C30)
B u i lders and developers a ppea r to be d riving the second wave if hotel development in Ba nga lore attracted
by the boom in the hospita l ity sector, u n l i ke the past when i ndustry barons were the prime i nitiators. Ana lysts
say the ma rket is witnessi ng developers trying up with esta blished hotel bra nds for management/ma rketing
arra ngements after fi rming up the blueprint for thei r foray. At least two-th i rds (about 2 , 500 rooms) of the new
i nventory bei ng plan ned for the city in the next two-four years a re p romoted by bui lders , while hotel compa nies
l i ke Oberoi (East I ndia Hotel s), Taj , G ra n d Ashok (Bha rat Hotel s). Leel a etc. a re powering the rest. More than
4,000 rooms a re p roposed to be i nfused i nto the ma rket d u ri n g this s pel l . Ba nga l ore presently has a bout
1 , 600- 1 , 700 five-sta r rooms and experiences an esti mated deficit of some 2 ,000 roo ms. The ma rket has
been grow i n g at the rate of 1 5 -20% for the past five yea rs , and is expected to susta i n this pace in the mid­
ter m . Therefore, room i nfusion may soften room rea l isations but not i m pact dema n d . ( B u i lders d rive the
l atest sta r hotel push i n B'l ore, G i ri s h Rao, EIC, 20.04. 0 5 , C30)
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DOCWHCllta i ion Upda t e
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Bed & B rea kfast (B&B) accommod at i on i s a concept l ong a ssociated with the British . But with De l h i on i t s
w a y t o sett i ng u p B&B services, tou rists w i l l s o o n get c h ea p a n d conve n i e n t a ccommod a t i o n . The U n i on
Tour i sm M i n i stry i s setting up a task force to find out where t h i s service can be offered . It i ntends to lay down
parameters l i ke l ocality, services offered and standards of hygiene and safety in consultation with the i ndustry.
Once t h e ru l e s a re i n p l a ce, Del h i wi l l be the fi rst c ity where a p proved B&Bs wou l d be e ither sta rred or
graded accord i ng to that checklist. The i dea i s to provide easy, safe and hygienic accommodation a t economic
rates to the ste ad i ly i ncrea s i ng n u m be r of forei g n tou ri sts to the Ca p i ta l . S i n ce the n a mes of B&B s
establ i s hments m a y b e put u p on tour i st websites a nd tour i sm off i ces, the gover n ment p l a n s to p u t strict
rules i n place to ensure q u a l ity. If a ny esta bli shment is found to deviate from expected stan d a rd s , its n a m e
cou l d be struck off t h e ava i l a b l e accommodation l i st. ( Bed & b re a kfa st joi nts t o check i n , S a u ra bh S i n h a ,
HT. D, 26.04.05, C30)
The hotel i nd u stry is fac i ng a man power crunch especi a l ly at the entry and j u n i or man agement levels. More
than half of the students, who pass out from catering i n stitutes, a re not i nterested i n getting i nto the hospitality
i n d ustry. Accord i ng to a Federation of Hote l s a n d Restau ra nts Association of I nd i a ( F H RA I ) su rvey i n 200 1 ,
a bout 1 0,000 cateri ng graduates come i nto the job m arket. I nd u stry sou rces sa i d that though there i s no
offic i a l n u mbers ava i l a bl e, these n u m bers wou ld have now gone u p to a bout 1 5, 000. These students a re
opti ng for jobs o n cru i se l i ners, a i r l i nes, which offer attractive remu neration. Both these i n dustries h ave the
added i ncentives of gl a mou r a nd trave l . Lately, cal l centres and business process outsourc i n g centres have
a l so become a n opt i on . Accordi ng to i nformation a va il a b l e on the N et, a n a ssistant house keep i n g m an ager
w i t h two to t h ree yea rs experi e n ce on t he C u n a rd l i ne s m a ke s a bout $ 1 ,900 (Rs 82 , 65 0) a month . A n
a s s i stant purser front desk recepti on i st for t h e same l in er, with some experience, w i l l get a bout $ 1 ,650 (Rs
7 1 , 7 7 5 ) . Recently, I nd i a n A i r l i ne s w a s h i ri ng ca b i n c rew and the m i n i mu m sal a ry offered w a s Rs 2 2 , 000,
including the flying a llowance a n d other benefits such a s gratuity a n d provident fund. (Attrition rate hits hotel
i nd u stry at e ntry, j u n i o r leve l s , N i n a Varghese, B L. B, 1 0 .05.05, C30)
Heritage tour i s m is gai n i ng i m portance in promoti ng I nd i a as a tou ri st desti natio n . R i d i ng t h i s wave is the
n u m be r of h e ritage hote l s , which have grown threefold since 1 99 1 (in the c l assified a n d b ra nd category) .
Accord i ng to I nd i a n Herita ge H ote l s A ssociation ( I H HA), w h i l e there were 5 1 h eritage hote l s i n 1 99 1 , the
n u mber was 1 54 in 2004.
According to I H HA, there a re many more heritage hotels in I nd i a which a re not registered but run i ndependently
a s heritage properties by owners.
A mo n g the h otel s c h a i n s , i t is I TC Welcomgroup l ea di ng t h e pack w i t h 3 5 heritage h otel s u nder the
WelcomHerita ge b a n n e r, fol l owed by H i storic Resort H ote l s (HRH) which has 12 p roperties. In the recent
past, N ee mra n a H otel s too has emerged a s a very successf u l heritage hotel c h a i n w i t h 1 1 hote l s in its
portfolio.
Of the 1 54 herita ge hote l s, a l arge n u m be r of heritage properties (close to 1 00 heritage hote l s) a re spread
across the pri ncely states of Rajastha n , Gujarat and a l l of North I nd i a . There a re very few heritage hote l s from
the southern a n d eastern parts of I nd i a . (Heritage hotels rea dy to m a ke a statement, Mee na N ic h an i , ET.C,
23.05.05, C30)
Oversupply of m a l l s has led , the developers seeki n g new ways to differentiate the i r m a l l s. The shoppi ng ma l l
craze which had p ropel led m a l l rent a l s a c ross the country to i nc redi bly h i gh l eve l s seems t o h ave a bated. A
decl i ne i n demand for shopping ma l l s has d rive n developers i n I nd i a to explore other l uc rative option s. The
new d eve l o p ments a re ba sed on factors such as the s i ze of ma l l s ( m i l l io n sq ft a bove m a l ls) to spec i alty
malls such as Gold Souk, weddi ng mall, seconds outlet mall etc to destination malls (i.e. malls cu m amusement
centre a mong others) a n d m a l l hote l s is the l atest form of diffe rentiation factor to have h it the I n d i a n ret a i l
i n d ustry.
I n S a ket, N e w Del h i , t h ree rea ltors a re l oo k i n g forwa rd to develop ma l l hote l s on 5 1 a cres set a side for
commercial development. The Rs 350 crore 'Select City Wal k' project bein g developed by 'Select I nfrastructure'
w i l l be design ed on the l i ne s of N ew Yor k ' s T i me S q u a re a nd w i l l h o u se a posh shop p i n g m a l l , busi ness
centre, m ultiplex a n d a 1 OO-room hote l .
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Documenta tion Update
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2 0 05 - 0 6
N e a r that comes the D L F Ret a i l Developers p l a n that a re p l a n n i ng two projects cal led South Cou rt a n d The
Cou rtyard that w i l l h ave hote l s with 60 and 1 00 rooms each.
Vipul l nfrastruct u re i s a lso drawing out plans to develop a 6 , 00 ,000 sq ft reta i l a n d service complex on the
Del hi-Gurgaon highway. The com plex wil l a l so have a 200-room hote l .
The pri me adva ntage of deve l op i ng a m a l l hotel i s that i t creates a syne rgetic m i x of components i n terms of
lease rates, occupa ncy l eve l s , a nd c l i e n t prof i l e.
The Omaxe group is a l so p l a n n i ng five sta r hotels i n their wed d i ng m a l l complex at A m ri tsa r a nd Pati a l a , " I t
ma kes busi ness sense t o have a five sta r hotel a ttached t o our wed d i ng m a l l s as hotel s w i l l bolster salea bil i ty
of commerc i a l a nd reta i l space, a dd to the footfa l l s a n d become the a nc hor. " says Ku n a l Ba nerjee, vice
president m arketi ng O maxe.
The G a l a xy Towers in G u rgaon i s com i ng u p with boutique five sta r hote l , w i t h ground floor a nd fi rst f l oor
devoted to s hopping a rcade which houses designer showrooms.
Carlson Hotel is coming up with a 1 22 - room hotel in Sigma Gra n d M a l l a nd Towers, an upcoming shoppi ng
complex in Banga lore. This kind of a rra ngement suits both hote l iers and developers. Hotel iers ca n delegate
their worry a bout a pprova l s on developers and can avai l rea dy spa ce. Above a l l , t hey can e njoy a cost benefit
of up to 25%. (Ma l l -hote l s , N a mrata Koh l i , TOI . D, 1 7 .09.05, C30)
After ba n n i ng jea n s for gi rls in A n n a U n iversity a nd dem a ndi n.g a p u bl i c a pology from actor Khushboo on
i nte rviews o n p rema rital sex, mora l pol i c i ng scoped a nother ta rget. Two of Che n n a i 's Pa rk H otel staff were
arrested after two Ta mil eveni ngers publis hed p hotographs of girls partyi ng in the hotel . The Chenna i Pol i ce
Commissioner withd rew the hotel's ba r l i cence. The cha rges i n c l u ded violating l i ce nce norms a nd "obscene
a cts". The hotel filed a writ petition in the Madras High Cou rt seeking to quash the order of the Commissioner.
The court g ra nted the stay with respect of the 2 1 0 guests stayi ng at the hotel , sayi ng t hey should be a l l owed
to stay u n t i l October 1 . City Pol ice Com mi ssioner, R Nataraj said: " For a ny congregation a hotel should have
a ' pu b l ic resort l i cence. ' Park Hotel d i d n ot have such a l i cence a n d it h a d a l so not kept to the t i m i ngs ( by
violati ng the 1 1 p . m . l i mi t). A n d , accord i ng to conditions, the hotel has to serve l i quor on ly i n one place (the
b a r) , but it has done so in several p l a ces (inside the hotel). A l l t hese a re viol ation s . " (Hotel faces ' mora l i ty'
b a n , I E. D, 30.09 .0 5 , C30)
The Town H a l l , where the M u nicipa l Corporation of Delhi is currently housed, may be conve rted i nto a five-star
heritage hotel if a p roposal made by the Taj group to the M C D i s accepted . The m u n i c i p a l corporation wi l l
move i nto the 28-storey M C D Civi c Centre, work o n which h a s a l ready begu n , i n 2008. Architect Arun Ver m a ,
w h o attended t h e p resentation , t h i nks a h eritage hotel is a "great i d ea " . But 0 P J a i n , Convenor I NTAC H ,
Del h i , does n ot thi n k commerc i a l i si n g the entire bui l d i ng i s a good idea. "probably a part of i t (the Town H a l l )
facing Chandni Chowk can be used for economic activity. . . but t h e northern p a r t of t h e bui l d i ng shou l d remai n
untouched . . . " he sa i d . (Town H a l l may turn heritage hotel , I E, D e l hi , 02. 1 0. 0 5 , C30)
Top govern ment sources said the new policy woul d a l l ow city five·sta r hotels to serve l iquor round·the·clock
a t one of t h e i r resta u ra nts . A t p resent, they can serve l iq u o r o n ly t i l l l a m ; b a rs-c u m - restau ra nts face a
midnight deadl ine.
Sou rces sa i d the p ro posed rel axation comes at a hefty p rice: the new l i cence fee for hotel s wi l l cost 50 %
more tha n the p revious l i cence, which was val i d for only 1 2 hours.
Fina nce M i n i ster A K Wa l i a sai d , "The pol i cy has been approved by the C h i ef M i ni ster ( D i kshit) after briefed
her a bout the deta i l s of the pol icy. N ow it w i l l come up for a pproval from the cou ncil of m i n i sters. The Delhi
government i s a lso l i kely to a ll ow esta b l i s h ments to serve l i quor to 1 8-year-olds. At present, Del hi fol l ows the
P u njab Exci se Act, 1 9 1 4 w h i c h set 21 as the c ut-off age. (Liquor may flow 24x7 i n five sta r hotel s soo n ,
Shubajit Roy, I E. D, 05 . 1 0 .0 5 , C30)
Luxu ry hotel cha i n s have found a new address in G u rgaon. After the runaway success of the Trident H i l to n ,
t h e Oberoi G roup i s p u ll i ng o u t a l l stops to bu i l d a s u per- l ux u ry hotel
The Obe roi - with 1 75 rooms right
2 005
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I
Documen tation Updu te
I
next to i t . T h e p roperty, w h i c h i s sti l l i n t h e design stage , i s j u st one of seve ra l new h ote l s com i ng u p i n
Gurgaon.
P l a n s for at least s i x other hote l s a re bei n g f i n a l i se d , even a s others a re on the a n vi l . W i th G u rgaon h avi n g
become the M N C and cal l centre capital of t h e country, t here i s a n acute dema nd·su p p ly m ismatch. A n d with
an A l i st of Fortune 500 compan i es sett i ng up offices in the towns h i p, the demand for good accommodation
c l ose to workplace is i mperative. This is fuel l i ng the su pply boom.
Vat i ka Hospital ity group has ta ken the lead by bri ngi ng i n Sta rwood's West i n a s its partner to rol l out a 305·
room hotel on a strategic a l ly p l a ced plot on the bust l i ng Mehra u l i ·Gu rgaon Road . Thi s p roperty should be
ready by Ju ly 2008. Simila rly, Carlson Hospitality, which own s the s m a l l boutique hotel Park P l aza in G urgaon,
i s prepa ring to bri ng a 400·room Regent, i nc l us ive of 90 service a pa rtments, reportedly in conjunction with
Ambience I sl a n d . The property i s being developed i n s i de the Ambience I s l a nd complex on the freeway a n d i s
expected to open b y A p ri l 2008. ( R i tzy hotel cha i n s m a ke bee l i ne or bra n d G u rgaon , H T. D, 0 5 . 1 0. 0 5 , C30)
I n a move to give fi l l i p to the hotel i ndust ry, the D e l h i Deve l op ment Authority ( D DA ) is a l l set to a l low huge
com merc i a l s pa ce i nside new hotels for o pe n i ng ret a i l service shops a n d off i ces. The a ge nda pa per of the
DDA meeti ng scheduled has proposed a m ajor change in the Master P l a n for D el h i ( MPD) 2001 a l l owing 20
% of the Floor Area Ratio ( FA R) for such u se. This norm, however, w i l l be a pp l icable for new hotels sites only.
The proposed development control norms for hote l s states, additional 5 % ground coverage s h a l l be a l l owed
for prov i d i n g a t ri u m . I n case, the perm i ss i bl e additional ground coverage for atriu m is uti l i sed, 25 % of the
u t i l i sed g ro u n d coverage s h a l l be cou nted towa rds FAR. ( D DA set to a l l ow 20% of FAR for shops in new
hotel s , Rajesh Ku m a r, T P. D, 1 7. 1 0 . 0 5 , C30)
Pune is fast emerging as the next hotspot for the hotel i ndustry. Accordi ng to recent studies, the i nc rease i n
average room rates (ARRs) a n d RevPAR (revenue per ava i l able room) i n the c ity have outpaced the growth i n
oth e r c i t i e s . W h i l e ARRs a c ross c i t i es i n c reased by 1 9 % t o R s 5 , 326 ( R s 4 , 458), P u n e recorded a 44 %
i ncrease i n ARR a t Rs 5 ,222 (Rs 3 ,626), fol l owed by Ba ngalore w h i c h saw a 36 % i ncrease at Rs 1 1 ,289 (Rs
8 , 32 5), a study done by C R I S l nfac , a whol ly·owned subsidia ry of Crisil Ltd . As for RevPA R , B a ngal ore lead
with a RevPAR of Rs 8,85 1 fol lowed by Hyderabad a n d Pune (both a round Rs 4,500). The demand for rooms
in P u n e , it a d d s , is d riven by b u s i ness t raffic, p a r t i c u l a rly the IT a nd I T ES sectors. Accord i n g to i ndustry
players, a nu mber of i nternational brands such as the Marriott, Ramada, a n d I nterconti nental a re p l a n n i ng to
enter the city. Among the bra nds that have firmed u p plans to set u p properties i n P u ne a re The Leela , Hyatt ,
a n d Rad i sso n . ( H otel cha i n s q ueue u p t o move i nto P une, Tun i a C heria n George, B L . C , 05. 1 1 .0 5 , C30)
It is only the second week of N ovember, the begi n n i ng of the busy season, but hotel s in Del h i , Bangalore, and
M u mbai a re a l ready reporting ful l occupancy on most days of the week. Major hotels in t hese cities have no
room for guests without advance booki ng.
Some hote l s have a l ready revised the rates by 20·25 %. But when contacted, a n offic i a l i n a M u mbai hotel
that has q u oted h i gher rates s a i d t h a t the b a s i c t a r i ff has n ot been h i ke d , the e a r l i e r d i scount has been
d iscont i nued. While the hotel i nd ustry i s not compl a i n i ng, an i ndustry watcher s a i d that with the n um ber of
rooms u n l i kely to i nc rease i mmed i a tely, the i nd u st ry is being forced to t u r n away a l ot of busi nes s , which
could , i n the long term , prove negative. I nd iscriminate tariff h i kes could also ulti mately backfire on the i ndustry,
he added. ( H otels goi ng fu l l even before season w a r m s u p, Tu n i a Che r i a n George, B L . B , 1 2 . 1 1 .0 5 , C30)
Most hotel s in the cou ntry a re seei ng a t l e a s t 1 5· 20% i nc rease i n o n l i n e booki ngs a s c o m p a re d to the
previous yea r. The growth is evident in the metros. I n tertconti nenta l The G ra nd vice· presi dent a nd gen era l
m a nage r H e i n e r Werdel i ng a dds, "There a re more v i sito rs from Eu rope, U K a n d N orth America , a nd from
Hong Kong a nd Si ngapore i n Asia . They normal ly book online for the weekends through the globa l d i stribution
system ( G O S). These a re c u stomers who a re n ot very p r i ce sen s i tive but a re m o re concerned a bout t h e
brand o f t h e hotel a n d t h e q u a lity of service. Onli ne booking, a lthough s l i ghtly more expensive, addresses a l l
the concerns t hey h ave. About 1 5% of our tot a l booki ngs wou l d b e from on l i ne mod u l e s by the next yea r. "
( H otel i nd u stry l ogs 1 5% higher o n l i ne booki ngs, Rou h a n Sharma, FE.C, 2 7 . 1 2 . 0 5 , C30)
I Documenta tion Updat e 1 2005 -0
6
Taking a leaf out of the book of countries l i ke Malaysia , Germany, Brita i n a n d others, the Tourism Department
in I nd i a is popu l a ri s i ng the concept of home-stays. While a round 1 50 a p a rtments from Del h i h ave enro l l ed
with the tou ri s m department for the pu rpose of prov i d i n g home- stays, M u m b a i kers h ave e n rol led a rou n d
1 00 apartments t i l l now. The states where t h e i dea i s gai n i ng acceptance a re Ka rnataka, G o a a n d Keral a . The
state of S i kki m h a s a l so i ntroduced the concept in some of its vil la ges. ( N ow foreigners can feel at home i n
I n d i a , Rouh a n Sharma, F E . B , 05 .03.06, C30)
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of I nd i a (TRAI) has decided to freeze the cable television rates as preva lent
on Marc h 1 , 2006, for hote l s and resta u ra n t s . T RA I said that t h i s h a s .been done to protect the i nterests of
commerc i a l consumers. I ndu stry sources s a i d that the rates c h a rged by broadcasters from commerc i a l
enterprises a re a l most three ti mes the household rates. A coup l e o f Associations of Hotel s a n d Restau ra n ts
fi l ed a batch of petit i o n s a g a i n st leadi ng broadcasters i n the Telecom D i sputes Settlement a nd Appel l ate
Tribunal (TDSAT).
The d ispute basically perta ined to the fact whether the hotel s a nd restaura nts ca n be equated with domestic
con s u m ers for the prov i s i o n of cab l e TV servi ce a n d there were a l so other con nected a n d consequentia l
i ssues u nder a dj ud i ca t i o n . (TRAI freezes cable rates for hote l s , restau ra nts, B L . B, 08.03 .06, C30)
Compan ies
Leela Group
World Ban k private equity arm I FC ( I n ternational Finance Corporation) is bankrol l i ng hospital i ty major Leela
ventu re's n ew five-star d e l uxe hotel p roject in C h e n n a i with l o ng·te r m loa n of $40 m i l l i o n . The 260·room
property i s bei n g proposed at a n i nvestment of Rs 280 -300 crore. The Lee l a project w i l l be a m ong the few
tou ri sm i nfrastructure ventu res i n the I nd i a n private sector where the World B a n k is taking an exposure. ( I FC
bankrol l s Leel a ' s Chen n a i 5 sta r project, G i ri s h Rao, EI B, 0 1 .04. 0 5 , C30)
The Lee l a Pal a ces a nd Resorts, one of I nd i a 's leading hotel groups in the l uxury sector, a n n o u nced its p l a n s
t o bui l d th ree new hote l s i n Uda i pu r, Chennai a n d Hydera bad.
T h e g rou p's Vi ce-Cha i rm a n , Vive k N a i r, said a new p a l a ce hotel at L a ke P i c hc ho l a in U d a i p u r was u nder
construction. The hotel is expected to be completed for the 2007 w i n ter season with a bout 68 guest room s
a n d royal suites. The p a l a ce hotel i s l i kely t o cost Rs. 6 5 crores w i t h a n a rray o f restaura nts, lounges a n d Spa
a nd banquet fac i l ities.
In Chennai , the gro u p has a cq u i red a pro perty at Adyar beach and proposes to b u i l d a 1 5·storey hotel with
360 guest room s a n d suites. I n Hyderabad, the Lee l a group has identified a prime l ocation i n Ba njara h i l l s to
build a hotel with 300 rooms a t a projected cost of Rs. 3 1 0 crores. The hotel i s l i kely to be commi ssioned by
2008. The group i s a l so looki ng at the possi bi l ity of a cq u i ri ng a beach resort at Bekal tourism zone i n North
Kera l a a n d i s h o peful of b a ggi n g a hotel s i te i n Del h i , to be re leased by t h e gove r n ment for the 20 1 0
CommonWealth games. ( Leela Pa l a ces p l a n s 3 new hotels, T H . D, 2 1 .05.05, C 30)
Hospita l i ty and ga rment i nd u stry major Leela Group is pla n n i n g to p u m p in a round Rs 500 c rore to Keral a
across various fields l i ke I T i nfrastructure, hotel s a nd a pparel manufacturi ng. The group reckons Kochi a s one
of the emergi ng destinations for ITES particul arly busi ness process outsourcing. It has ea rmarked a sizeable
porti o n of fu nds for d evel opi ng IT i nfrastructure i n Kochi a n d Thiruva na ntha pura m . The other major a rea of
i nvestment w i l l be the hotel it took over recently at Koval a m . The company i s planning to renovate the build i ng
a t a cost of Rs 1 70 crore. I t i s a l s o l ooki ng a t the poss i b i l i ty of setti ng u p a b u s i n es s h otel i n Koc h i a nd
a nother a t Kum a ra ko m . ( Leel a G roup p l a n s l a rge i nvestments i n Kera l a , I E. B, 1 6. 1 1 . 0 5 , C30/L50)
Taj Group of Hotels
Taj Hote l s Resorts a nd Pa laces has m arked its entry i nto Southeast Asia by signing a management contract
with Rebak I sl a nd M a ri n a Berhad to operate a n d m a n a ge the Rebak M a ri n a Resort, a 1 06· room prem i u m
resort on t h e i s l a nd of Langkawi i n Ma lays i a . Thi s i s pa rt of Taj's global strategy t o esta bl i sh its presence i n
key gateway cities a n d leisure desti nations. This deal comes close o n the heels of the Taj sign i ng a development
and m a n a ge ment contract to operate a resort property in Dubai l a st month. (Taj Hote l s in pact to operate
resort i n M a l ays i a , B L . B, 06 .05.05, C 30)
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Tata Coffee i s p l a n n i ng to foray i nto tour i s m by l e a s i ng out its b u n ga l ows located at its headqua rters a nd
estates at Coorg i n Karnatak a . The company i s seeking a p p rova l from i t s s hareholders to commence the
business of tourism, at the ens u i ng a n nu a l general meeting of the company on August 4. (Tata Coffee to foray
i nto touri sm, Kai la s h Rajwadkar, EtC, 26.07 .05, C30)
The Taj G rou p of Hotels and Apollo Group of Hos pita l s a re looki ng to m a ke h uge i nvestments in Fiji , s a i d M r
Joseph Si ngh, chai r ma n , Fij i I s l a nds Trade a n d I nvestment Burea u . Apo l l o w a s l ooki ng to i nvest 75 m i l l ion Fiji
dol l a rs in a h o s p i t a l in west Fiji and had a l ready held t a l k s with off i c i a l s from Fij i . The I TC Group is a l s o
reported t o b e keen t o start five-star hote l s i n Fij i . (TaL l TC, Apol l o m ay i nvest i n F ij i , AA . D, 1 3 . 1 0. 0 5 , C30)
After US, the Taj Group of Hotel s is chec k i ng i nto Austra l i a . The country's l a rgest hospitality cha i n has bid for
iconic W Sydney Hotel s l ocated i n Wool loomoo l oo. Owned by the Hong Kong- based H a ri l e l a group, the 1 04room hotel is cu rre ntly m a na ged by Starwood Hote l s and Resorts_ It is expected that the h ote l , w h i c h
overlooks t h e Sydney harbour, would fetch a price o f $35 m i l l ion. The Harilela group had a cquired t h e boutique
hotel in 1 999. Jones Lang La Sa l le hotels a re the advisor for the dea l . I f Taj c l in c hes t h e deal , i t wou l d be a
blow to Sta rwood , a s i t was i t s fi rst W hote l outsi d e N orth A me r i c a . Taj's move i s a pa rt of its strategy to
s prea d busi nesses global ly. (Taj Gro u p bids for Austra l i a n hotel , Reeba Zachari a h , TOI . D, 1 7 . 1 0 .0 5 , C30)
A d i stingu i s h i n g feature of t hese l odges is that they wi l l not i nterfere with the exi st i n g ecological habitat of the
w i l d l ife pa rks. Tou ri sts w i l l have a choice of tented tree-houses or cottages. Two l odges a re ready w h i l e the
other t h ree a re bein g d eveloped . Each of the lodges will h ave a d i st i nctive a n d a p posite a rc h i tectural style ,
reflect i n g t h e chara cter o f the region a n d t h e habitat i n which these a re l ocated.
A n I nd i a n head ranger h a s been a ppoi nted to guard a n d control a ctivities a round these centres. The ranger
w i l l be for ma l ly t ra i ned at CC Africa 's Ra n ge r Tra i n i ng School at the P h i nda p rivate g a m e reserve to gai n
expertise, w h i le a n a rchitect wi l l a l so work with C C Africa 's expert.
CC Africa is an Afr i ca n ecotourism orga n i sation provid i ng hoi iday experiences to the d iscer n i ng trave l l e r.
Reg a rd i ng their foray i nto ecoto u ri s m i n I nd i a , Steve F itzgera l d , CEO, CC Afri ca , says, "Wi l d l ife i n I nd i a i s
h i gh ly u n der-rate d . " The five target s pots chosen, he fee l s , a re far too tiger-centric but he i s opti mistic that
the b roader experience wi l l be wonderfu l .
We u n derstood w e would need a local partner t o run the operations, because i t i s cultura l ly too d iffic u lt a n d
n e e d s loca l expertise. The tie- u p with Taj i s logi ca l . I t i s a great b ra n d , h a s good geogra ph i c spread i n t h e
su bconti nent . "
There i s a n eed to i nvolve commun i ties i n t h e tourism processes bec a u se popu lation pressures wi l l strangle
the wildl ife a reas u nless there i s a change in operating models, fears Fitzgeral d . (On tiger tra i l , FE.B, 23. 10.05,
C30)
A joi nt venture between the Taj Group of Hote l s and Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) is proposed .
Five l odges i n the d eep heart of the forest w i l l have guests rest i n g i n five- sta r l ux u ry a nd havi n g c lose
encounters with the wild. The lodges a re located on the borders of the fa mous tiger reserves - Corbett Tiger
Reserve ( Utta ranchal), Bandhargarh T i ger Reserve, Pa n n a Tiger Reserve a n d Pench T i ger Reserve ( M a d hya
Pradesh). By mid October 2006, the l odges wi l l be throw n open to guests .
The Taj group's associate i n its Koval a m beach foray M uthoot Pa ppachan group has decided to i nvest Rs 45
cro re more i n two hotel projects. The Rs 2000·Crore turnover g ro u p s , w i t h core competence i n f i n a n c i a l
services , had recently parked a bout Rs 1 05 crore on hospita l i ty ven tu res. The two hotel expa nsions, slated
for the n ext fisca l a re centred in Thi ruva n a nthapura m . In Koch i , its Rs 40-crore e lectro n i c software park i n
spec i a l economic zone, i s due for open i n g next month.
This woul d be i n addition to a n ew hotel block with 1 50 ,000 sq ft built-up s pa ce. The convention centre a n d
the n e w block a re schedu l ed t o be complete i n 2 0 months.
I Documentation Update I 2 0 0 5
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M uthoot Flight Kitc h e n that went under way i n 2003 caters to A i rl nd i a , Qatar A i rways , S i l k A i r a n d I nd i a n
A i r l i nes. Tra n s i t a i r passengers m a ke the bu l k o f the grou p's c i ty busi ness hote l . (Taj's Koval a m partner to
s p read Rs 45 crore m o re on 2 hotel s , F E . C , 02.02 . 06 , C30)
Taj Hote l s Resorts and Pa l a ce s a nd The S h i l la H otels & Resorts, one of South Kore a 's prestigious hotel
compa nies, have ente red i n to a stra tegic ma rketing a l l i an ce to develop cross-promotio n a l opportun ities for
both com pa n ies to leverage each other's strengths. The Shi l la is affil iated to the Samsung G roup a n d has two
hote l s , name ly, The S h i l l a Seou l a n d The Sh i l l a Jej u . At i ts i nceptio n , The S h i l l a -Taj H otels partnershi p w i l l
provide guests with a total of 1 9 hotel s offeri ng comparable service a n d q u a l i ty. Also, under the a l l ia n ce, Taj
Hote l s a n d S h i l l a wi l l develop reci procal a n d joint market i n g a ctivities that i n c l ude joint pa rtic i pation i n trade
s hows, sales events, c u l i n a ry promotions and n iche ma rket i ng p rogra mmes. The compa n ies wi l l a l so a ssist
e a ch other in exchangi ng sales l ea d s and conducti ng roadshows a c ross I nd i a and South Kore a . (Taj Hote l s
forges a l l ia n ce with Shi l l a o f Kore a , T H . B, 07 . 03 . 06, C30)
Other Hotels
The room sta rved hospita l i ty sector i n Bangalore wi l l receive a shot i n the a r m with 4 new budget hote l s for
the busi ness traveller. ABS Hote l s w i l l be contribu t i ng 640 executive rooms priced between Rs 1 ,500·2500,
a cross Ba nga l ore under the bra nd n a me ' M i c rotel l nn s & Su ites ' . The bran d w i l l see its p resence i n T i e r I I
c ities l i ke Belga u m , Davangere, H u bl i , D h a rw a d , Mysore, H assa n , Kochi , Coimbatore a n d Vishaka patn a m i n
the South t o start with a n d a t R i s h i kesh, Ludh i a n a , Amritsar, Chand igarh a n d Del h i subsequently.
ABS wi l l be givi ng out f ra n c h i ses only to hote l s that w i l l be newly con structed accord i ng to M ic rotel design
specifi cations The fra n c h i sees w i l l rece ive a c o m p re h e n s i ve su pport package from design to tra in i ng to
ma rketi ng a nd m a n a ge ment. ( B udget hotel s a c ross 5 0 l ocations by 20 1 0 , S a n geetha C h e nga ppa , I E. B,
0 5 . 04.05, C30)
P restige Estates P rojects, a property develo p m ent compa ny, a n nou nced a tie- u p with hosp i ta l i ty m ajor
H i lton I nternationa l for developi ng a l uxury hotel in Bangalore.
The hotel , to be promoted by P restige at a cost of Rs 200 crore, w i l l be managed by H i lto n . This is the second
i nternational brand to associate with a domestic player for a hotel project in Bangalore , after M arriot a n nounced
i ts i ntention to p a rtner a M u mbai i nvestor i n m a n a g i ng the property i n the city. ( P restige to develop l uxury
hotel for H i l ton i n Bangalore , B L . B, 28.04.05 , C301 K34)
The Comptroller a nd Audi tor Gene ra l (CAG) has s l a m med the d i si nvestment department for sel l i ng the two
hotels of A i r· l n d i a subs i d i a ry H otel Corporation of I nd i a-Ju h u Centau r a n d Ai rport Centa u r - on the basis
of s i ngle b i d s without the benefit of competition.
In i t s report s u bm itted to Pa rl i a me n t , the CAG stated that i n neither of the two sa l e tra n sa ct i o n s was i t
evi de n t that efforts were made t o b a la n ce the n eed a n d u rgency of sel l i n g the properties a nd obta i n i n g the
best possi bl e price. The report sa i d the val uation of the properties and fixation of reserve pri ce was not
consistent with the practice fol lowed by the m i n i stry in other cases. Relaxations a l l owed to the b i dd e r a n d
interventions by the M i n i stry to faci l itate the sale, indicated i nadequate efforts to mitigate the risk of transaction
in a l im i ted competition scenario, it s a i d . (Centau r hotel s were not sold for best price, says CAG report; Sole
b i d s m arked both dea l s, F E . B, 0 7 . 05 .05 , C30)
M - Fa r Hotel s Private L i mi ted , s u bsi d i a ry of the Oma n · ba sed G a lfar that a c q u i red I T DC ' s Kova l a m Ashok
Beach Resort. t h ree yea rs ago for Rs. 43. 7 c rores, a s part of the d i s i nvestment process, i s c l ose to d is posi n g
o f t h e s p rawl ing beach property. A leading hotel group i n t h e country own ing hotel properties i n M u mbai a n d
G o a , a nd keen on sett i ng u p hotel i n Bekal and fun d i ng t h e proposed a irport at Ka nnur, i s i n the race for taking
over the Koval a m property, sources sa i d . The second h i ghest bidder for the property, when i t was put o n the
block t h ree years a go , is a l so lea rnt to be eye i ng the property a second t i me rou n d . I nd u st ry sources s a i d
t h e dec i sion to sel l off the property was taken b y t h e grout fol l ow i n g the t u s s l e w i t h the State Government
over the H a lcyon Castle a n d the host i l e a ttitude of the p a nc hayat to deve l o pment works. ( M · Fa r H ote l s to
sel l off its property i n Kova l a m , S. An i l Rad hakrishnan, T H . D, 09.05.05, C30)
2a05-a6
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Docum en t a t ion Update
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L a l i t S u r i · p romoted G ra n d gro u p of hote l s a n n ou n ced p l a n s to i nvest a ro u n d Rs 1 ,400 crore to more t h a n
d o u b l e the n um be r o f hotel properties under the g r a n d u mbre l l a brand over the n ext 3 · 5 yea rs to ride t h e
domestic tourism boom. I n addition, t h e group w h i c h currently manages a cha in of 5·star hotels wil l foray i nto
the domestic budget hotel segment besides acqu i ri ng properties i n UK a n d US. The gro u p has a l ready s hort
l isted Ke ra l a , A hmed a b a d , Amritsar, Hyderbad , Bangalore, Ja i pu r a nd Chen n a i as the sites for sett i n g u p
new 5 · sta r hotels. (Gra nd hote l s t o p u m p i n R s 1 ,400 cr, Byas A n a n d , TOL D, 2 1 .05 .05, C30)
Fou r Season s Hote l s I nc " the world's l a rgest mana ger of l uxury hotels, w i l l stop operating the money·l os i n g
P i e r re i n N ew York after i ts negotiations to revi se t h e l ea se fa i led. Taj Hote l s Resorts a n d Pa l aces wi l l take
over Pierre's mana gement. Fou r Seasons wanted better contract terms from Pierre owner 795 Fifth Avenue
Corp. after the hotel had a loss of $4.2 mi l l i o n l ast yea r. Fou r Seasons i s sel l i ng hote l s a n d exiting leases to
focus on its management busi ness. (Taj Hote l s to ma n age Fowr Season's P ie rre, FE.B, 1 1 .06.0 5 , C30)
The d isputing parties in the Sea rock H otel case rea ched a settlement in t he Bombay High Court with Del h i ·
based C l a ridges group buyi ng off t h e rem a i n i ng 3 0 % sta ke a n d e stabl i s h i ng total ownersh i p. The Cla ridges
gro u p had a l ready bought 70 % stake i n Sea rock. Today, it entered i nto a settlement with Skydeck Properties
to buy the rem a i n i ng stake for Rs 1 32 crore. Searock i s situated at Bandra Ba ndstan d in south M u m ba i . The
cou r t goaded the d i sp u t i n g p a rties to sett l e the d i spute. Accord i n g to the court's compromise for m u l a ,
Skydeck w a s to dete r m i n e t h e hote l 's ' e n terprise va l u e ' . C l a r id ges cou l d t h e n b u y off Skydeck a t that
va l uation or sel l off its 70% sta ke. Both parties agreed. Skyrock was val ued a t Rs 450 c rore, a nd C l a ri dges
a g reed to pay Rs 1 32 c rore to S kydeck to buy it off. (Sea rock s p a t over, C i a ridges buys 1 00%, I E. D,
1 4.09 . 05 , C30)
G lobe·trotti ng I nd i a n s can now own a hotel room in downtown London on a 999·yea r l ea se. Not only wil l this
del iver 52 n ights a yea r of free stay, the deal prom i ses a return on i nvestment by a ll owi ng the hotel to let the
room out for the rema i n i ng d ays. Th i s u n u s u a l i nvestment p l a n is the baby of Joh n ny S a n d e l son . CEO of
G u estl nvest, i n town to p ro mote the s a l e of hote l s to i nvestors. The fi rst hotel to i nt rod u ce the model w a s
Guesthouse West, i n Notti n g H i l l . N ext in l i ne i s N est, a 1 70·room l uxury hotel i n Pad d ingto n . which w i l l open
in early 2007 . Room s a re up for grab. with p r i ces ra ngi ng from 1 75 ,000 pounds ( a ro u n d Rs 1 .4 c rore) to
270.000 pounds (Rs 2 . 2 crore). With 1 1 m i l l ion tou rists each yea r and hotel room occupa ncy reaching 79 %
by August 2005 , i t's clear that London's hotel m arket i s i n a n acceleration mode. Sandel son i s a l so p l a n n i ng
to bring t h i s concept to I nd i a . ( Now. buy a hotel room i n London for Rs 1 .4 c rore, I E. B. 1 8. 1 1 .0 5 , C30)
CGH Earth , which o pe rates hote l s in Kera l a and La kshwad eep, has chal ked out an exp a n s i o n p l a n that w i l l
ta ke the gro u p outside t h e State a n d even see it g o globa l .
The fam i ly·owned group w i l l open i ts f i rst property outside the State i n Goka rna i n northern Karnataka next
month . The p roject, s p read over 58 a c re s , w i l l i n the fi rst p h ase. offer 30 del uxe v i l l a s priced a t $300 per
n ight per v i l l a . The p roperty, cal led 'Swaswar' (Sanskrit for I n ner Vibrations), has been positioned as a yoga
retreat by the sea . Bes i des, i t has s i gned a j o i n t venture a g reement w i t h the Karnataka Gove r n ment for a
project i n H a m pi . The Karnata ka Govern ment wou l d provide l a nd a s its equ ity i n the 30·room p roject, with
CGH bri ngi ng in Rs 1 2· 1 5 c rore.
Mr Dom i n i c said the group had also a cq u i red a heritage bui l di ng at Kara i ku d i i n Tam i l N a d u , a n d the property
would be launched by the winter of 2006. The group has also acquired 200 acres a long the coast in Rameswaram
d i st r i ct a n d i s a wa i t i n g e n v i ro n menta l c l ea ra nce for a p roject that w i l l come u p a l ongside the p roposed
M a ri n e National Park . Under i ts overseas i n i t iative, the com pa ny has taken on l ea se a heritage b u i l d i n g in a
vi l l age nea r Stuttga rt i n Germany, which wi l l serve a s i ts marketi ng a r m for E u ro pe. A new compa ny, CGH
I nternatio n a l , has been floated to operate its overseas ventures. (CGH Earth p l a n s expansion, Tun i a Cheria n
George, B L . B, 1 9. 1 1 .0 5 , C30)
Viceroy Hote l s Ltd has p ro posed to set up two, star category hote l s with an ove ra l l i nvestment of Rs 620
crore i n the n ext t h ree yea rs. The C h en n a i property, est i ma ted to cost Rs. 460 crore, wi l l have 350 room·
ca pacity bes ides 200 executive a p a r tments attached to the hote l . Fu rther, the U S - b a sed JW M a rriott h a s
expressed i ts wil l i ngness to manage the property. The p roposed Bangal ore property i s esti mated t o cost R s .
1 60 crore a nd the boa rd has a l so authori sed the ma nagi ng d i rector t o explore t h e possi b i l i ty o f fra nchi see!
ma n a gement contract with M a r ri ott I nternational I nc, USA. And it wi l l h ave a 200 · room c a pa c i ty. (Viceroy
H ote l s p l a n s to i nvest Rs. 620cr i n 2 n ew p rojects, F E . B, 23 . 1 1 . 0 5 , C30)
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Hilton I nternational, a leading hotel cha i n of the U.K. based H i lton group, has entered i nto a n agreement with
E m pee Hotels to m a n age and operate the latter's l uxury hotel to be established i n Che n na i . Accordi ng to M .
P. Purushothaman , C ha i rm a n , Empee Group, the 253-room property to be christened ' H i lton Che n na i ' , will be
l ocated i n t he G u indy I nd us tria l Estate ( Ekkattuthangal). The outlay on the project was esti mated at Rs. 1 84
crore, to be financed with a n equity compbnent of Rs. 55 crore a n d debt of Rs. 1 2 9 crore. ( H ilton to manage
E mpee H otel s ' n ew venture , T H. D, 06.0 1 . 0 5 , C30)
Prestige Estates P rojects has a nnounced its ex p a n s i o n p l a n s i n its newly d i versifi ed a re a of hospit a l i ty
busi ness. The company, which had completed 1 20 developments covering 1 0 m i l lion sq ft s ince i ts foray i nto
the business in 85-86, a n nounced l ast yea r its foray i nto hotel busi ness with a tie-up w i th H ilton I nternational
to develop a 300-room property in Bangalore. Mr I rfan Razack, Managin g D irector, said that Prestige plans to
promote five hotels a n d serviced a partments i n the next two years. One of them i s a joint venture with the Taj
Gro u p to bui l d a property a bout three km near the proposed Bangal ore I nternational Ai rport at Deven a ha l l i .
P restige w i l l h ave a n eq u ity stake i n t h e a i rport tra n s i t hotel w i t h Taj ru n n i ng a n d m a n a g i ng t h e property.
I n i t i a l ly it would have 1 00 rooms a nd other fac i l ities with a n option to expand as the demand grows . (Prestige
Estates to expa n d biz i n hospita l i ty sector, B L . B, 2 1 . 0 1 .06, C30)
Rel ia n ce I ndustries Ltd ( R I L), w h i c h has won the bid for 7 . 5 hectare of l a nd at B a n d ra Kurla Complex for a
record Rs 1 , 1 04 crore for the deve lopment of a convention centre, proposes to m a ke i ts foray i nto the hotel s
business.
R I L has worked out a plan for the constructi on of a hotel h avi ng u pto 250' rooms, which wi l l accom p a ny the
proposed convention centre. R I L has planned t he construction of a world·class convention centre with seati ng
c apacity of 2 , 000. I nd ustry sources, however, s a i d R I L wi l l explore options of a 3-sta r, 4-sta r or 5-star hotel
which would enta i l i nvestments ranging a nywhere between Rs 35,000 per room a n d Rs one l a kh per room .
( Re l i a nce I n d eyes foray i nto hotel busi n ess, S a nj ay Jog & Mona Mehta , FE. B, 24.01 .06, C30)
ITC Hotels, it a ppears, may continue with the Sheraton brand for another year before it revisits the a rrangement.
The Sheraton bra n d , which is owned by Starwood Hote l s a n d Resorts, has been I TC Hote l s ' partner i n I nd i a
for 2 9 yea rs . P resently, only 1 0 o f l TC's 66 odd hote l s i n 5 0 locations i n I nd i a a re co-branded a s Sheraton
properties under a m arketi ng and d i stribution a l l ia nce. Si nce the commerc i a l relationshi p was coming to a n
e n d t h i s year, severa l !ea d i ng hotel cha i ns i nc l u d i ng Regent a n d Shagri - I a were t a l k i ng with I nd i a 's second
l argest hospita l ity c h a i n to step i nto S heraton's place. ( l TC, Sheraton tie-up to stay for now Arra n geme nt May
Be Revi s i ted i n a Year's T i me, G i ri s h Rao, ET. B, 2 1 .02.06, C30)
Hotel management compa ny Sarovar p l a n s to open 50 Hometel budget busi ness hotel s pan · 1 n d i a over the
next five years. The first one, Radh a Homete l , was thrown o pen in Whitefie l d , Bangalore. Typical ly, the hote l s,
w h i c h w i l l promi se a neat a n d c l e a n a m bi e nce, w i l l c a l l for a n i nvestment of a bout Rs 1 0- 1 1 crore each
exc l u d i ng the land cost. Sarovar w i l l a l so turn i nto a n i nvestor soon with p l a n s to put in Rs 200 crore towards
own i ng some of these hotel s . S a rova r has a l so rai sed $8 m i l l i o n priva te e q u i ty from two American VCs ­
New Bassma and N ew Nernon to su pport its future i nvestments. The Bangalore property, owned by Chennai
based Fai r mont H otel , offers 1 02 rooms. (Sarova r p l a ns 50 H ometel biz h otel s i n 5 years, ET. B, 26.02.06 ,
C30)
U n l i ke Ba ngal ore and other metros , w here modern s pecia l i ty hospital s a re giving a fi l l i p to health tou r i s m ,
i nvestors i n Keral a a re pitch i ng for ayurveda , Kera l a's forte, for both treatment a n d w e l l ness t o attract more
touri sts. Dr N . M a d h u , one of the three promoters of Chera i Beach Resorts i n Koch i sai d that with its basic
expertise i n ayurveda , Keral a shoul d be a ble to garner 25 % of the overa l l s h a re in the wel l ness a n d med i c a l
tourism busi ness. He said that though ayu rveda had suffered a setback d u e t o some u nscru pulous operators,
the Kerala Govern me nt's move to i ssue accreditation to practitioners wou ld rei nforce its c red i b i l i ty_ (Cherai
Beach Resorts p l a ns to focus on health tourism, B L.C, 22.03.05, C30)
C31 R esorts
W i lderness Resorts Pvt Ltd, a start·up eco·tourism company, has a n n ou nced an i ni t i a l i nvestment of Rs 45
crore to l a u nch a resort cha i n a c ross cou ntry. W i lderness Resorts h a s a l ready identified fou r p roperties i n
Kab i n i n ea r N aga rhole, Band i pu r a nd Bhadra i n Ka rnataka . I t p l a n s to set u p 5 0 resorts a c ross the cou ntry
2005- 0 6
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i n five years through the development of green field projects and acqui sitions. Wi Iderness has been promoted
jointly by Mr Ra mes h , Mr M urthy a n d Mr H . B. J a i ra j , C h a i r m a n of B R B Group, a local hospital i ty company.
(Wi l derness Resorts to set u p eco·tou rism c h a i n , B l . C , 22 . 1 2 .0 5 , C 3 1 )
Country C l u b I n d i a (CC l l) , a touri sm resort c l u b chai n , h a s exp anded its operati o n s t o Sri l a n ka by t a k i ng
over a h i l lside resort near Kandy. CCl l w i l l spend a bout Rs 2 b i l l i on ($44.4mi l l ion) on its development. The Rs
1 b i l l ion resort grou p s i gned a memora n d u m of u nderst a n d i ng ( Mo U ) with a Sri La n k a n tou rism grou p to
acq u i re the 40000 sq feet property just 15 k m from Kan dy. It recently bought tou rism p roperties l i ke "Bush·
Betta", near the B a n d i pu r Tiger Reserve, Coconut Grove near B a ngalore and Country C l u b De Goa . (Country
C l u b buys h i l l s ide resort i n Srila n k a , Harish C Menon, ET. B, 05.0 1 .06, C3 1 )
A website w h i c h rates accord i ng to merit the ten best resorts of 1 7 States. The rat i ngs a re ba sed o n the
recommendations of veteran travel l e rs, who speak from fi rst· h a n d experience of havi ng spent q u a li ty t i me
there with the i r fam i lies. www. i nd i a resortssurvey.com ( I ReS) i s a 50,000 p l u s grou p of travel l ers, who share
thei r experiences onli ne. "Th i s i s the fi rst of its kind venture i n the country. I nd i a Resorts Survey has a n onli ne
rati ng mecha n i s m that a l l ows a ct ua l travellers to eva luate the resorts a n d l e i s u re h ote l s i n I nd i a . These a re
regu l a rly reviewed by PWC. We have l i sti ngs of more t h a n 1 , 500 h o l i d ay dest i n a t i o n s s i t uated withi n 350
k m s from prime cities a nd which c h a rge a nywhere from Rs.72 to Rs. 32,000 for a day's stay, " Hari N aya r,
CEO a n d Co·Fou nder of lei s u re a n d L ifestyle I nformation Service. (Website l i st s top ten 'hop ski p ' resorts,
A m i t U pa d hye, I E. B, 1 3. 0 1 .06, C 3 1 )
e32 Travel Age nts
Air· l nd i a , has annou nced that travel agents' com m i ss i ons on i nternational tickets wi l l be reduced from 7 % to
5 %, effecti ve M ay 1 . M ost other European a n d Sou t h · Ea st A s i a n c a rriers a re a l so to fol low s u i t . Travel
a gents a re j oi n i ng ran ks, with the two major trade a ssoc i ations
t h e Travel Agents Assoc i at i o n of I nd i a
(TAAI ) a n d the Travel Agents Federation of I nd i a (TAFI) - a n nounci ng a boycott of Air· l n d i a . Earlier l a st year,
Briti sh A i rways a n d luft h a n sa had tried u nsuccessful ly to cut the travel agents comm issions.
Commission cuts, a worldwide phenomenon: A i rl ines are c a pp i ng I nternational A i r Travel Agents' commissions
to red u ce d i stri bution costs. For l a rge corporate c lients, travel agents a l ready operate o n a fixed service fee,
based on t ic kets i ssued rather t h a n on percentage of p u b l i shed fa re . W i t h t h e a dvent of the I n te r n et for
making booki ngs, a n d the options of electronic ticketi ng, a i rl i nes, at l a st, have an effecti ve travel i ntermediary
i n 11
Val ue chai n for traditional air travel d i stribution: Mega a i r l i ne s a re u nique in exte n d i ng their d i stribution cha i n
through i maginative use of tec hnology. The G D S (Globa l D i stribution Systems) - such a s Sab re, Amadeus,
G a l l i leo, a n d WorldSpan - a re technology platforms based on a m a inframe rea l t i me computer, with a V P N
(Vi rtua l Private N etwork) t h a t connects travel a gents w i t h t h e reservation system s o f different a i rl i nes. Now,
with the I nternet, they have a n a lternative medi u m to d i stribute t he i r a i r prod uct.
The new kids o n the b l ock - th e O n l i n e travel a gency: The success of these OTAs i ntroduced a i rl i ne s to the
potent ia l of the I nternet for sel l i ng air tickets. They s i m p lified their fares, a n d bega n to attract consu mers to
their portal s . As the a i r l i n e port a l s scored over OTAs in terms of tra n sp a re n cy of price, better ava i l a b i l ity of
fl ights, etc, their s h a re of t h e OTA m a rket grew to 60 % .
Wake · u p c a l l f o r tra d i t i on a l a i r l i nes from lCC s : Tra d i t i o n a l a i r l i ne s a re a t l ast foc u s s i ng o n red u c i ng the
d i stribution costs, which a re second only to salaries. The d i stribution costs a re contro l lable, if a n d only if, the
traditional a i r l i nes attempt to change thei r business model . Thi s is easier said than done, as can be seen from
the boycott by travel agents of a i r l i nes w h i c h redu ce thei r commissions.
Profitabi l i ty of travel agents: The i n du stry average of travel agent profita bi l ity, P BT/ Revenue i s 1 ·2 % . The
globa l , multi · l ocation travel agents may not pass on the entire l ATA commissions to t he i r corporate c l i ents;
t hey a l so earn com m i ss i o n s o n other va l ue·added servi ces such as sale of fore i gn exc h a nge, p a c ka ge d
tours, a n d hotel booki ngs . Yet such global conglomerates have l ow operati ng margi n s bec a u se o f the h i gh
overhead costs on sa l a ries, a d m i n i stration, commu n i cations, etc.
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The smal l travel operator h a s a much lower cost base, yet i s forced to part with most of the l ATA commission
to meet the expectations of the a i r trave l l ers . A n d n ow trave l lers a re s a i d to check the l owest f a re on the
I nternet, only to buy from their neighbou rhood agent.
What future technology holds i n t ravel d i stribution: I n 1 999, a t the height of the I nternet frenzy, Forre ster
foreca sted that the o n l i n e ret a i l s a l es in the US wi l l rea c h $ 100 b i l l ion in 2002. Despite the I nternet bust i n
2000, the forecast c a m e true, i n 2003, when t h e tota l on l i ne sa les i n t he U S touched $ 1 20 b i l l i o n . I t i s a
question of t i me before the US tre nds become a global one.
The a i rlines will simultaneously build technologies of sharing FFP (Frequent Flyers' Programmes), and common
a i r l i ne Web sites with e-ticket i ng whi c h connects them d i rectly with the c ustomer. The a i rl i n e i ndustry in Asia
is soon d esti ned to catch up with N o r t h A me r i ca in s a l es f rom o n l i ne c h a n n e l s as well as e · t i cketi ng , a s
p red icted by i nd u stry a n a lysts. Tod ay, few travel agents possess the technological ca pability o r t he fin a n c i a l
powers to ta ke o n the combi ned m i g h t o f the a i r l i nes. T h e smal l operators, who cater to the n i che m a r ket,
may survive the o n s l a ught of technology. However, the la rge trave l agents w i l l have to tra nsform themselves
u s i ng the same I nternet technology to offer B2C web-based i nterfaces for their corporate clients, offer dyna mic
tou r packaging for leisure travel ler to outsmart the OTAs. The offl i ne travel agent neither 'owns' the customer
nor the technology cha n ne l s to access the c u stomer.
As a i r l i nes a n d t h e i r agents s l u g i t out over t h e a mo u n t of co m m i s s i o n , i t w i l l be i nteresti n g to see who
emerges victorious in the fi rst rou n d of battle, as Air I nd i a perceivably has a lower "Customer P u l l " , bei ng a
weaker bra nd than British A irways, and Lufthansa; even these a i rl ines with stronger brands have to rely upon
the vital "Agent P u s h " to sel l a i r t i c kets in I nd i a . (Wh a t is the fut u re of the t ravel a ge n t? P a n kaj N a rayan
Pan d i t , B L. C, 08.04.05, C32)
A i r Decca n has h i t its fi rst a i r pocket with the travel agents t a k i n g a deci sion to keep in a beya nce the co­
branded c redi t c a rd offe r w i t h I C I C I t i l l the i ss u e of c o m m i s s i o n to the a ge nt s is resolved . The bone of
contention between A i r Decca n and the travel a gents is the 5 % transa ct i on fee, w h i c h the a i rl i ne levies on
passengers over and a bove the basic fare whenever a t i c ket is booked t h rough the a gents. Passe ngers w ho
book t h e i r tickets d irectly t h rough the I nternet a re exem pted from payin g the transaction fee.
Though the t ra nsaction fee i s given to the travel a ge nts i n the for m of comm i ssion, a gents say the fee should
be i nc luded in the bas i c fare a n d n ot shown separa tely in the ticket. The t ravel agents c l a i m that by showi ng
the tran saction fee separately from the basic fare i n the ticket, the a i rl i ne i s i n fact tryi ng to lure the passengers
away from the t ravel a gents. Travel a ge n ts a l so fea r t h a t if t hey a ccept t h e c red i t c a rd offer, i t wi l l set a
p recedent a nd they may h ave to accept s i m i l a r offers from other a i rl i ne s .
I nteresti ngly, the yet-to - be l a u nched K i n gfi s h e r A i r h a s a n no u n ce d that i t w i l l p rovi d e t ravel a gents 5 %
commission for sel l i n g its t i c kets a n d the com mi ssion w i l l be i nc luded i n to the basic fare. (Travel agents put
Air Deccan ' s c re d i t c a rd offer o n hol d , K. G i ri p ra k a s h , B L. C , 1 1 .04 . 0 5 , C32)
Travel Corpora t i on of I n d i a (TC I ) has a nn o u nced TCI Travel N et
the 24x7 t ravel centre. It is a i me d a t
enhanci ng the t ravel lers experiences by offering them a range of services t h rough a s i ngle seamless channel.
By cal l i ng TCI Travel Net, customers get travel assistance to meet a l l t hei r req u i rements; from domestic and
i nternational a i r tic kets, c u stomised hol idays, hotel reservations, c a r h i re , E u rora i l passes, Cosmos tours &
cruises, to j u st a bout a nythi ng that has to do with t ravel . TCI Travel Net ensures home delivery of tickets a nd
a l l travel documents. I t a l so offers trave l lers the flex i b i l ity of pay i ng by cheque, credi t card, bank transfers or
d e m a n d d raft s . (Trave l l ers can ca l l TCI 24x7 for a s s i sta n ce, AA. D, 1 9 .0 5 . 0 5 , C32)
E- P LACES BOO M I NG E-TI C K ET I N G BUSI N ESS ( I n d ustry esti mates)
Yea r
e·travel
e - a i r t i c kets
2 004-05
976
200 5 ·06
1 ,600
1 ,400*
2 00 6 - 0 7
1 ,800
1 ,600*
800
;] 0 0 5 - 0 6
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Documentation Update
I
Accord i ng to sources, e-travel b u s i ness , where i n con s umers book hotel reservations o n l i n e , i s expected to
j u m p over 90% to Rs 1 ,800 crare by the n ext f i n a n ci a l yea r, from Rs 976 c rore i n 2004-05 . Boo k i ng of a i r
tic kets t h rough the I nternet i s a lso esti mated to double to R s 1 ,600 crore next yea r from R s 800 c ro re l a st
yea r. Among the exist i n g low-cost a i rl i nes, i ndustry est i ma tes put A i r Decca n as the leader i n e-ticketi ng with
over 60% m a r ket s h a re fol l owed by Spicejet ( 1 0%), Ki ngfisher (8%) and A i r S a h a ra (7%), i n dustry sources
sa i d . (e-asy booki ngs l ea d to net i ncrease in t ra ve l , Ash i s h S i n ha , F E . D, 0 7 . 09 . 0 5 , C32)
The hotel i nd u stry and tou r operators s igned an a greement to a b i de by the r u l e s of the game, h o n o u r
c o m m it m ents a n d n o t u n de rc u t each other. T h e a greement, s igned between t h e Federat i o n o f H otel a nd
Restaurant Associations of I nd i a a nd I nd i a n Assoc i ation of Tou r Operators ( l ATa), c a l l s for written contracts
between the two s i des on deta i l s of services to be p rovi d ed to tou rists, i nc l u di ng food , rooms, t ra n sport,
ta riffs, taxes, payment terms a n d com missions. It a i m s a t resolving problems a nd na rrow i n g down a reas of
confli ct of i nterest between tour operators and hoteliers. ( Hotel iers, tour operators sign pact, TS. D, 09. 1 0.05,
C32/C30)
Lack of uniformity in the fa res charged by t he Archaeologica l Department in terms of I nd i a n currency and US
d o l l a rs , is tak i ng a f i n a n c i a l toll on the fore ign tourists vis iti ng the renowned Khaju ra ho temples. As fa r the
c h a rges of Archaeology Depa rtment go, for a s i ngle tem p l e vi s i t , a fore igner h a s to shell out $5 w h i c h i s
equiva lent to Rs 250. The bone o f contention i s t h a t the conversi o n rate o f a dol l a r i s R s . 2 1 5 to 2 2 0 . Most
of the foreign touri sts a pp roach the travel a gents for v i s i t i n g the tem p l es. The agents c h a rge the tour i st i n
I nd i a n c u r re ncy, that i s R s 250, a n d pay $ 5 for each t i c ket at the A rchaeo logy coun te r a t the tem p l e. Thi s
way, the a gents a re able t o save R s 3 0 each t ic ket. The a ge nts n ot sat i sfied with t h e i r e a r n i ngs have gone a
step beyon d . They a re c i rc u l at i ng fake dol la rs a n d t h u s b aggi n g the whole conversion rate. ( B h o p a l t ravel
agents d u p e fore i gn tourists, T P. D, 1 2 . 1 0.05, C32)
Swiss t ravel g i a n t Kuoni a ppears to be rem a p p i ng its I nd i a retai l strategy to better access the masses. It i s
i n trod ucing t h e Kuoni-badged products for t h e fi rst t i me i n t h e country s i n ce i t made a s pl a s h i n t h e ma rket
i n 1 996 by acquiring SOTC Holiday Tou rs . The Kuon i brand w i l l focus on the premi u m t raffic i n group travel ,
FIT (free i nd ividual trave l ler) a n d domest i c busi ness. The SOTC master bra n d (World Famous Tours, Holidays
of I nd i a , Do I t Yourself) wil l cont i n ue to d rive the vol u me end of the travel business, i nc l uding the products for
corporate t ravellers. Another customised product for i ndividual fam i l ies, Christopher Colombus, was phased
out some months back to pave way for these new umbrel l a b ra n d s . Kuo n i I n d i a has u sed both S I TA, which it
a cq u i red i n 2000 a n d Tou r C l u b , bought i n 200 1 , a nd SOTC bra n d n ames i n the past s i n ce these bra n d s
ca rried strang l ocal a ppea l . However, i t h a s now decided to use t h e Kuon i badge t o c u t t h rough the grow i n g
clu tter a t the top where several operators a re vyi ng f o r a l a rger s l i ce o f the H N I c rowd .
Accord i ng to travel trade a na lysts, the pocket s izes of I nd i a n s i s only gett i n g b i gger by the year, which offers
an exc i t i n g opport u n i ty for t ravel compan i es to offer a d iversified basket of p roducts to meet every need. A
Merri l l Lynch/Ca pge m i n i World Wealth Report has, i n fact, put the country i n the fastest growing H N I category,
with 7 0 , 00 0 m i l l iona i res i n 2004. A study by the National Coun c i l of Appl ied E co n o m i c Resea rc h has s a i d
that t h e number of c rorepati househol d s h a d grown t o a lmost 2 0,000 i n 2 0 0 1 ·02 a n d w i l l i n crease t o more
than 50,000 by 2005·06. (Kuoni to tap richie-rich's ruse for holiday trave l , Gir i sh Rao, ETB, 24.0 1 .06, C32)
I nd i a wi l l see a t least three more travel sites go onl i ne this yea r, taking the tota l n um be r of tra nsaction-based
e-trave l s ites to s i x . Howeve r, t he goi n g w o u l d not be easy for some of these new e ntra nts, M r Deep Ka l ra ,
Fou nder a n d C EO, M a ke MyTr i p.com, s a i d . I nvestors, who have been i nterested i n the segment, were bound
to get more wa ry of i nvest i ng in a m a r ket that was fast crowdi ng, h e s a i d .
M a ke MyTri p, whic h was t a rgeted at the US-based N R I w h e n i t l a unched i n 2000, entered the I nd i a n m arket
l ast year, a n d has i n seven months of operation notched up a t u rnover of Rs 200 crore. Mr Kal ra has targeted
a turnover of Rs 450·Rs 500 crore i n the yea r e n d i n g M a rch 2007. The new p l ayers a re l i kely to eat i nto the
market share of the offli ne p l ayers.
Earlier this month, Rel i a nce Capita l , Norwest Venture Partners , a nd TV 18 i nvested in Yatra o n l i ne, a venture
i n itially p romoted by M r Dhruv Shri ng i a nd M r M a n i sh A m i n . M r Shri ngi a n d M r Ami n were earl ier managing
Ebookers, a n o n l i n e t ravel Website , which was bought out by Cendant for $41 0 m i l l ion in 2 004.
1 Documenta tion Update 1 2 0 05
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06
About 20 % of the I nd i a n travel m arket wou l d go o n l i ne by 20 1 0 , a s aga i n st 2 . 5 %, va l ued a t Rs 2 , 500 c rore
currently. I n the US, over 50 % of tickets a re sol d o n l i ne.
The m arket's response to M a ke MyTrip a n d its a ccepta nce of the o n l i ne mode h ave su rpri sed h i m . Mr Kal ra
says h i s s ite sel l s between 500 a n d 600 domestic a i r tickets a n d a ro u n d 1 0 0 i nterna t i o n a l ti cket s , a l l
i nbound from the U S .
I nteresti ngly, nearly 7 0 % of t h e tra nsactions on the site a re by male buyers, a n d 70-80 % o f t h e buyers a re
p rofess i o n a l s i n the 27 -42 yea r age g rou p. Most of the transactions a re conducted between 1 0 a m a n d 5
p m , suggest i n g that travel reservati ons a re fi n a l i sed d u r i ng offi ce hours! H otel bookings a re a n i mportant
busi ness segment, with M a keMytri p booki ng a bout 50 room n ights each day. Currently, it has the i nventory
of a round 400 hote l s on l ine a n d hopes to ra i se t h i s to 500·600 hotel s i n the comi ng year.
Going forward , the site would l ook at new strategies i nclu d i ng e n a b l i ng B2B2C busi ness i n the smal ler cities.
The site was currently working with travel a gents to go onl i ne in ' B' and 'C' cities such a s Lud h i a n a , A mritsar,
N a s h i k , a nd Kol h a p u re, h e s a i d . (e·travel sites to m u l t i p ly, but e q u i ty f i n a nce may d ry up, Tun i a Cher i a n
G eo rge, B L . C , 28. 0 1 .06 , C32)
The boom in the travel space conti n ues to attract i nvestors. Bennett, Coleman & Co ( BCCL) has a cq u i red a
1 3% sta ke i n the Travel Ai r G roup, a l e a d i n g south · ba sed trave l services company. Travel A i r Group, which
rol led out its operations from Bangalore i n 1 977, has consistently remained Karnataka's l ea d i ng travel agent.
The group h a s a turnover of over Rs 200 c rore a nd is grow i n g at 20% a n n u a l ly. ( BCC L ta kes 1 3% sta ke i n
Travel A i r, ET. B, 1 6. 02 . 0 6 , C32)
After havi ng quit the aviation busi ness, the Sahara I nd i a g roup has a nnou nced the l a unch of I nd ia's "largest"
travel a n d tou ri sm com p a ny - S a h a ra G l oba l . The n ew U$ 1 0 b i l l i o n conglomerate" w i l l have 665 offices
across 165 towns and cities both withi n the country and abroa d . The company wi l l focus o n i nboun d tourism
(trave l lers visiting I nd ia ) , trave l oversea s, domestic tourism w it h i n the country, med i c a l tourism, trave l for
conferen ces a n d exh i b i ti on s, N R I travel services a n d a travel portal backed by a giant sate l li te network that
w i l l fac i l i tate fl ight a n d hotel booki ngs a mong other thi ngs. The S a h a ra I nd i a grou p had been p l a n n i ng the
l a u n c h of the company for a bout 1 5 months now and operat i o n s w i l l commence by the end of the month.
( S a h a ra sta rts travel firm, AA. D, 1 0. 0 3 . 06 , C32)
C41 La bour Pol i cy and Legi s l ation
After t h e b ruta l ra pe a n d murder of a ca l l centre employee by a t a x i driver, t ravel a gencies i n the city h ave
come u n d er the pol i ce scan n e r. The c a l l centres, too, h ave i mp osed certai n rules a n d regu l ations for these
compa nies to follow.
A study t a ke n u p by tra ff i c e n g i n e e r i n g expert M N . Sree h a r i , c h a i r m a n of Traff i c E n g i neers a n d S afety
Trai n e rs (TEST) · has esti mated that more than 20,000 vehi cles on contract with these compan i es m a ke over
2 0 , 000 tri ps each day ferryi ng e m p l oyees from t h e i r homes to workpl a ce a nd vice versa . The ca b d rivers
have bee n given strict i nstructions that the fi rst employee they pick for work a nd the l a st one to be d ropped
at home shoul d be a male. If the route a ssigned to the cab does not have a ny male employee to pick tip, i t i s
the d uty of the driver to come back t o the compa ny, pick u p a security guard , who w i l l accompany the female
e m p l oyee to the i r desti nations. Meanwhile, the i d e ntity card s p rovi d ed by the travel a gency should a lways
be fur n i s hed by the cab d river when dema n ded by the employee or by the poli ce.
Si m i l a rly, the travel a ge nc ies have a l so become very strict on whom they a ppoi nt. The c a n di dates have to
produce a police verification certificate a long with d rivi ng l i cence.
The telephone n u m bers of a l l d rivers have bee n give n to the e m p l oyees. If a su bstitute d river ta kes over,
then the travel agent w i l l i nform the compa ny. which wi l l i n tu r n i nfor m the employee. Safety meas u res l i ke
sti c kers on veh i c l es with n a me of the c a l l centre a n d phone n um bers to hel p the p u b l i c report a ny d river
f l outing traffic rules, a re bei ng fol l owed . Travel agencies want the B PO compan ies to i n sta l l w i reless rad i os
a n d G l ob a l Position i n g System ( G S M ) gadgets i n the veh i cl e s for heightened safety of the i r e m p l oyee s .
(Travel agencies adopt safety norms for c a l l centres, I E. B, 1 7 . 0 1 .06, C4 1 )
2a05- a6
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Documenta tio n Update
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TOU R I SM P ROM OT I ON AN D T Y PES O F TOUR I SM .
000 Tourism Volumes and Patterns (Ind i a)
With more people brea king away from conventional travell i ng, offbeat options a re here to stay. "The change i s
due t o med i a cove rage of u n u s u a l p l a ces, a n d a dventure T V chan ne l s where people see rea l ac tio n . Treks,
ca m p i ng and raft i ng expeditions a re getti ng bigger than ever before," says Vai bhav Ka l a , Fou nder· D i rector of
Del h i · b a sed Aquaterra Adventures. If adve n tu re tour i s m exci tes the outdoor· bo u n d , eco·to u r i s m has i t s
share of ta kers too. Eco·to u rism i s a l l about n ot l eaving one's foot pri nts beh i n d , w h i le u n rave l l i ng nature's
mystery. But eco·tourism i s much more than just sightseei ng. M i ngl i ng with the l oca ls a n d creating a bond i s
part of the experience. Travel lers lea r n a bout new cultures a nd l ifestyles, t h u s bre a k i ng t h e myt h i c a l ru ra l ·
urban divi de.
Eco·retreats a n d camps ra nge from cozy cottages i n the middle of p i ne forests to fully e q u i pped Swiss·style
tents at d i zzyi ng heights. And those who run t hese properties w a n t to offer much m o re t h a n 'a hote l a n d
roo m ' . These com m u nity·based retreats have somethi n g for every k i n d of travel ler - fam i l ies, professional s ,
busi nesspersons, backpackers, students a n d corporates. Run · of·the·m i l i locaies a re ge nera l l y avoided, a n d
relatively l e s s charted p l a ce s a re explore d . (The new·age M a rco Polo, Swetha Kan n a n , B L.C, 06.05.05, 000)
I nd i an hol iday make rs stay longer a n d shop to thei r hearts conte nt, and s p i ce up the economy. I n fact, Ber l i n
Tourism M arketi n g which got less t h a n 1 0 ,000 leisure visitors from t h e country l ast year i s engagi ng the B i rd
group to market the p l a ce. S i m i l a rly, S i ngapore Tourism Board is not only l a u nch i ng I nd i a ·specific ca mpaigns
but has even designed school trave l p rogrammes, which combines i nformation a nd entertai n ment.
J ust a bout every tou rism boa rd, be it Duba i , M a l aysi a , Switze rl a nd or Austra l ia has stradd l ed together to
fasci nate the desi· pa l a te s i nce there is nothi n g l i ke an I n d i a n holiday m a ker un leashed. The a rchetypa l leisure
travel l e r loves good food , comfortable accommodation (usua l ly t h ree to five sta r). i s n ot very excited a bout
roughing it out and most i mportantly l i ke to shop, notwithstanding l i bera l i sation which has made all international
products ava i l able i n the country. The l a st cha ra cteristic i s common to j ust a bout a l l I nd i a n s irrespective of
whether he i s on a holi d ay or trave l l i ng on work. (Global tourism l u res I nd i a ns; Si ngapore, Dubai & Germany
Design Packages for Des i s , G i rish Rao, ET.C, 1 6 .05.05, 000)
An i ncreasi ng n u m ber of I nd i a n s a re now searc h i ng the globe for exotic desti nations, for that rare experience
a n d possi bly for the added s n ob value. Rushi ng off i n to the Amazon ju ngles or Africa's hea rt of darkness i s
sti l l not pa r t of t h e average exoti c hol idayer's t o u r i t i nerary b u t he i s a l ready k n oc k i ng on t h e fri nges a n d
s u rely gett i ng the re.
" I n the l a st few years, the n u mber of I nd i a n s seeki ng exot i c hol idayi ng dest i nations h a s been stead i ly risi ng.
What were just a few thousands five years ago i s q u i te a su bstantial now' s a i d Roh i t Hanga l , d i rector of I nd i a
I nternational Travel M a rt . ' Ea rl ier, u s u a l ly i t was the t h i rd·time travel ler who chose exoti c dest inations, si nce
it i nvolved more money a nd more of the u nknown; someone who has trave l led is comfortable with try i ng out
somet h i ng new. But that has changed now, " s a i d G irija Chandra n , a Bangalore·based travel o perator.
I n addition, the young IT crOWd, with more disposa ble i n come a nd which travels frequently on job assign ments,
prefers such dest i nations. There a re a lso the cautious, "though the n umber of those choosi ng only exoti c
desti nations itself has gone u p, there a re plenty of other tourists who i nclude o n e destination t o the i r itinera ry,
l i ke a d d i ng G reece to a n I ta l ia n t r i p or hopping a cross t o New Zea l a nd o n a t r i p to A u st ra l i a . ' s a i d Prata p
Das, a travel con s ultant. A n d then there i s the mi nuscule segment w h i c h wants to do just one exot i c a ctivity
preferably i n a n exot i c loca t i o n . " Ri ver c ru ises on Russ i a n rivers, d ivi ng a n d zorbi ng i n New Zea l a n d , scuba
d ivi ng in the Pacifi c · these a re some of the activities bei n g chosen. ' (Normal is bori ng: more ta kers for exotic
tou rism, Anita Rao Kashi , TOI . B, 0 1 .08.05, 000)
I
DOCll men t u l ioll Update
1 2 0 05
06
-
Foreign Tourist Arrive's,
-
-
---
--"--
1 995-2006
foreign tourist arrivals during the calendar year 2005 numbered 39, 1 5, 324, a 1 3.2%
lnetease over the 2004 arrivals that numbered 54,57.477. Foreign exchange earnings
dul1ng fhe year amoul'\te<:i to US$ 5, 730.86 million. up 20.2% over the 2004 earnings of
US$ 4. 769.00 million. In rupee terms the earnings during 2005 .amount RS.25, 1 72.28 crore.
Q 1 6.5% il'tcrease over the 2004 earnings ot Rs2l ,603 .00 erore.
-
1
I
!
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
,
I
2.12
i
I
I
I
r
I
-
-
1 995
-
2.29
2.37
-
1 99 6
1 997
Ii
2 .65
1 998
2000
Source; Ministry of Tourism
' 999
2.73
_.I
2 . 54
�.
.
2.38
Arrivals In Million Nos.
._.-
2001
2002
2003
-
2004
2005
PTI Grophlcs
L
_-'-- TForeignlo-u r i st a rriva l s , l 995·2'0()6 ,\llB, 1 r.01 .1)6-;-01)0; -
Foreign tourist inflow i nto I nd i a registered a growth of 1 3 .2% i n 200 5 , from 34, 57 ,477 i n 2004 to 39, 1 5,324
i n 2005. Accord i ng to i n dustry sources, the growth a n d development of I n d i a n economy have contri buted
substanti a l ly to the growth of tourism in the cou ntry. The growth of tourism a l so had favoura bl e i m pact on the
country's foreign exchange earnings which registered a growth of 1 6.5% in 2005. Earnings from forex a mounted
to Rs 2 5 , 1 72.28 c rore i n 2005 compa red to Rs 2 1 ,603 crore i n 2004 is currently a mong the fastest growing
tourist desti nations i n the world . The a n n u a l rate of growth of tourism in I nd i a i s pegged a t 1 3 . 2% compa red
to 5% growth i n globa l tou rism. With tou rism touch i ng n ew heights, I nd i a n hotels a re geari ng u p to enchash
the opportunity. Despite the average room rate (ARR) goi ng u p, the overa l l occupancy rate (OR) was sign ificantly
h igher at 80· 85% in 2005 in l uxury hotels across the country. (Foreign tourist i nflow u p, Somasroy Chakraborty,
F E . C , 2 6 . 0 l .06, 000)
The high-payi ng American touri st has toppled the charter·flying tourists from UK over the l a st one yea r. Thi s
t re n d i s expected t o gather stea m ove r the next one yea r, t h a n ks t o the l a u n c h o f d i rect n o n · stop f l i ghts
between the two cou ntries fol l ow i ng the open s ky policy signed last year. With national carriers I nd i a n Airl i nes
a n d A i r I nd i a s l a ted to fly d i rectly to US desti nations over the n ext 1 2 to 1 5 months, the to·a n d·fro t raff i c
between t h e countries i s expected to grow by a round 20% over t h e next o n e yea r, cu rrently val u ed a t around
$1 b i l l ion in revenues.
Of the 3 . 9 m i l lion foreign tourists who a rrived on I nd i a n shores in 2005, the U n i ted States not only offered the
biggest nu m bers -a round 5 1 a k h
but more i m porta ntly this l ot were the h ighest s pend i ng ones.
"One h i g h · e n d Ameri c a n tourist is e q u a l to t h ree B r i t i s h tou rist i n terms of tot a l s p e n d in I n d i a , " n oted
officials in M i nistry of Tou rism. One of the primary reasons for this is that an Ameri ca n tourist on an average
stays a nywhere between 1 5 a n d 1 8 days i n the country. I n comparison, the popu l a r U K tour i st i s general ly
here for seven to e i gh t n ights. To a ttract greater n u mbers, accord i ngly, the I nc re d i b l e I n d i a ca m pa ign to
m a r ket B ra n d I n d i a a s a tourism desti nation is bei ng re·worked with more focus on the A merican m a rket.
Sever a l c a m pa igns on print, te l ev i s i on and I nternet med i a a re l i ned up for 2006 in the U S m a r ket. ( U S
tourists head t o I n d i a , S u d i pto Dey, ET. B, 0 3 .02.06, 000)
The tou r i sm i nd u stry is expected to grow by 1 5 % t h i s yea r t ha n ks to the fri nge benefit tax cut. A l so, the
i ncrease i n a l l ocation for tou rism from Rs. 786 crore to Rs 830 crore i s expected to enable I n d i a n desti nations
to be marketed better. However, the tourism i ndustry wou l d have been h a ppier if it recei ved sops in the form
2 0 05 - 0 6
I
Documentation Updat e
I
of u n iform tax structure on hotel rooms a s wel l a s a better taxation on aviation turbine fue l . The i nd ustry i s
p a rticularly plea sed with t h e decision t o i ncrease FOl l imit i n aviation from 4 0 t o 4 9 % . (Tourism sector seen
witnessing 1 5% growth post-FBT cut, HT. O, 02.03.06, 000)
001 Domesti c Tou r i s m
The government h a s decided to pay more attention o n promoting d o:nestic touris m rather than focus i ng only
o n i nternationa l touri sts. Spea k i ng at a n i nteractive meet o rgan ised by P H D C h amber of Commerce a n d
I ndustry ( P H DCCI), Tourism Secretary A K M i shra s a i d that t h e focus o f the country's tourism pol i cies h a d
a l ways been o n attra cting elite tourists from abroad . This was refl ected i n a poor ratio o f domestic tourists to
foreign touri sts. The rate needs to be c h a n ged i n favo u r of d omestic tou ri sts to meet tou r i s m ta rgets, the
secreta ry s a i d . P i lgrimage tourism is one a rea which Tou ri s m M i n i ster Ren u ka Choudhary is atte m pting to
promote to boost tou rism. (Domesti c tou rism to be p romoted , F E . B, 07 .04.05, 001 )
I nd i a n trave l lers a re w i l l i ng to expl ore dest i n at i o n s w i t h i n the country a n d a re p re p a red to fly domestic
carriers on i nternational routes if given a good deal than the foreign counterparts, says J o u neyMa rt.com . In
a survey conducted a mong 1 , 1 50 people, comprising both males a n d females i n the age grou ps between 1 824, 25-55 a n d 56 a n d a bove, it was fou nd that I n d i a i s the hottest a n d preferred desti nation for trave l le rs
thi s s u mmer. As m a ny a s 83% p l a n vacation i n I nd i a than a broa d , the survey h ighl ighte d .
A ccord i ng t o the s urvey, attractive a i rfa re, package s a n d dea l s conti n u e t o b e t h e prime i nf l u encers w h i l e
d e c i d i n g a hol iday d esti n a t i o n . 43 % o f the respondents were i nf l u e n ced b y a ttractive d e a l s , whi l e 3 0 %
through word o f mouth . Travel expe n s e/ budget i nf l u e n ced 1 6% of the respondents whi l e p ro motio n s by
tou r i s m boards h ave a l so made a n i mpact on the overa l l choice of the desti nation . I t is i n te resti ng to n ote
that I nd i a n travellers are w i l li ng to experiment with flying on popular domestic a i rl ines for overseas destinations.
Majority of the respondents were aware of the open sky pol icy. In fact, the tsu n a m i d isaster has not deterred
people from going to the beaches, with 61 % of the respondents sayi ng tsu n a m i has had no i m pact on travel
to beaches, though 32% have agreed that tsu n a m i has made them reconsider travel to beaches this summer.
The travel p o l l a l so reve a l ed that 37% of the respondents a re l oo k i ng for a n a dventurous getaways, w h i l e
2 3 % a re i nterested i n w i l d l ife safari. The concept o f crui se vacation seems to b e growing i n popul a ri ty with
6% of the respondents goi n g on a c r u i se th i s s u mmer. Goi ng by the i n crea s i ng electronic payment system ,
most o f t h e trave l l e rs a re w i l l i ng t o p a y b y c a rd s . The su rvey s h ows t h a t c redit/debit c a rd s h ave rep l a ced
cash a s a more favou rable mode for financial tra nsactions.
Among the trave l l ers, travel agents rem a i n to be the most popular choice for making travel reservations, with
6 5% res pondents booki ng the i r t i c kets through a t ravel agent. ( I nd i a n ready to expl ore l oc a l tour i st
desti nations, R Ravichandra n , F E . O, 1 4.05.05, 00 1 )
The big myth a bout Benga l i s a n d G uj a ratis bei ng the top trave l l ers i n the cou ntry i s blown . Thei r n umbers
a re n ' t i n significan t, but Benga l i s a n d Gujaratis together accounted for just a bout 5.4 m i l l i o n of a total of 33
m i l l io n domestic tourists in 2002. That m ight seem l i ke a l ot , but Karnataka a l one had 6. 1 m i l l ion tourists,
m a k i ng Kannadigas, by fa r, the most trave l led people in the country. Tou ri sts from Ta m i l N a d u made up the
next biggest gro u p with 3.7 m i l l ion. M a ha ra shtria n s and Benga l i s were next in l i ne with 2.9 m i l l i o n tou r i sts
a pi ece whi l e the G uj a ratis were just beh i nd t hem at 2 .8 m i l l io n .
That's the s n a pshot o f domestic tou r i s m i n I n d i a from a fi rst o f its k i n d survey condu cted by the N a t i o n a l
Council o f Applied Economic Research (NCAER) for t h e tourism m i n istry.
With over 800,000 respondents, it i s a m ongst the biggest su rveys i n tou r i s m a n d i s i nte nded to give the
m i n i stry i n s ights that cou l d be useful in formu l a ti ng pol icy. (Surprise! Kan n ad igas travel most, B a ngal ore,
Mysore in Top 1 0 non ·re l i gious s pots, Sam i ra n Cha krawertt i , TOI . B, 06. 1 2.05, 001 )
010 Tou ri s m P romotion
See i ng C h i n a fast emergi ng a s a relatively o p e n society a n d a major player i n the glob a l economy with their
citizens enjoying a measure of freedom to m ove a n d the moola h to spend as never before, I nd i a i s exp l ori ng
I Docllmentation Update I 2 0 0 5 - 0 6
pos s i b i l ities of woo i ng tourists from its giant neighbou r with the wor l d 's l a rgest pop ulation. The n u mber of
tourists from C h i n a to I nd i a i n 2003 was 34,90 7 . There a re clear signs of Chi nese tourists' i nterest in I nd ia
a n d the tourism m i nistry has i n it i ated a process to reopen a representative offi ce i n C h i n a to further i ncrease
the tourist a rriva l s to I nd i a . (Wooi ng the b rave, new C h i nese tourists, TS. D, 29.05 . 05 , 0 1 0)
To p romote the tourism sector beyon d the t ra d itional tourist seasons, the Confederation of I nd i a n I n dustry
(CI I) has ' mooted the i d ea of promot i ng ' m onsoon tourism".
The monsoon season for a l most states, barring a few excepti o n s , h a s t raditiona l ly been the off·season for
i nbound a n d domest i c tour i s m . Monsoon, though vital for the economy, has so far been a wet bla n ket for the
tourism i n dustry, drop p i ng hotel / resort occupancies by nearly 50% a n d sharply red ucing revenues for travel
a n d tou r operators servic i ng the domest i c segment. Therefore, there is a need to promote monsoon tourism.
Suggesti ng strategies for promot i n g monsoon tourism, the C I I paper has recommended that i t woul d be
i mp e ra t i ve to i de n t i fy states t ha t wou l d be sold a s monsoon tou r i s m dest i n a t i o n s . It cou l d be based on
tou rist attractions, bea uty of the l andscapes, equa b i l ity of the c l imate, a b i l ity of the i nfrastructure to h a n d l e
monsoon a n d t h e hospitab i lity o f the local popul a ce. (CI I floa ts 'monsoon tourism' to beat off season b l ues,
F E . B , 04. 0 7 . 0 5 , 0 1 0)
Ma ny tourism boa rds are try i ng to l u re tourists from smaller a n d tier " cities. I n fact, these boa rds a re doi ng
roadshows a n d educa t i ng the p u b l i c a long with the travel a n d tour i ndustry in these cities. O n the i r radar a re
places l i ke Lucknow, Bhopal , Hyderabad, P une, A h medabad , Chandiga rh, Ludh i a n a , Amritsar, Koc h i , Pu ne,
N a s i k, J a i p u r, Coi m ba tore, Guwa hat i , I ndore and Jammu. There has been a great demand from these p l aces
to v i s i t South East A s i a .The yea r 2 004 c l osed w i t h a figure of 5 .8 m i l l io n out· bou n d t rave l l ers with t h e
deve l o p i ng c ities (B·cities) contri buting nearly 38%. Thi s yea r the figu res a re expected to touch 7 . 5 m i l l ion
and i nd ustry sources expect the contr i bution of B·cities to su rge by a t l e a st 1 5 to 20% with the growth in
these cities from a nywhere between 25 to 30% per a n n u m . (Tourism boards eye tier II cities for growt h , Raja
Awasthi , ET. B, 1 7 .0 7 . 0 5 , 0 1 0)
I nformation on tourism options i n the Capital wi l l now be ava ilable at Del h i Tourism's multi l i ngual , interactive
website. To attract touri sts from Japan, Europe as well as parts of Africa a n d Lat i n America, the Delh i Tou ri s m
website w i l l go multi l i ngua l from 1 5 N ovember. The new i nteractive website w i l l have tourist related i nformation
i n fou r l anguage s , Frenc h , J a pa nese, German a n d Spani s h , i n a d d ition to Engl i sh . (To u r i s m web s i te to go
multi l i ngual , Abhijeet A n a n d , TS.D, 20. 1 0.05, 0 10)
Targeti n g secondary cities i n I n d i a a n d e ncourag i ng lea d i n g fi l mm a kers to shoot in Singa pore i s the twi n a i m
of the Singa pore Tourism Board i n i ts effort t o i ncrease traffic from I ndia t o S ingapore. Among the i ncentives
they offer i s u pto 5 0 % of the cost of fi l m i ng. They have a fund of $ 1 0 mi l l io n to be spent over th ree yea rs.
(Co i m ba tore, Sura t h igh o n S i ngapore tourism l i st , AA. D, 26. 1 0 .05, 0 10)
A n u n p recedented surge in travel sector notwithsta n d i ng, a l l service p roviders to t h i s boo m i ng sector, be
they a i rl ines, hotel s or travel a gents, however, w i l l need to put much more effort in d ifferentiating t hei r bra nds.
The word of caution for the sector comes from t he TNS I nd i a n Travel Dossier 2005 released. Accord i ng to the
study that t ra c ks the i m pa ct of the u n p receden ted s urge i n t ravel d e m a n d s i n recent years, N o r t h I n d i a
leads the way, with a significantly higher travel i ncidence. While domestic business a n d leisure travel accounted
for 1 1 % each of the travel i ncidence. overseas travel was 3% each for busin ess a n d domest i c travel . (Travel
sector u rged to 'focus on d i fferentia t i ng brands, F E . C , 1 5 . 1 2 .0 5 , 0 10)
The world 's l a rgest travel and tourism fai r · ITB Berli n · gets underway with over 1 0, 000 companies from 1 83
countries pa rtic i pating i n the event. I n its 40th edition this year, the ITB organ i sers say the fai r w i l l be b igger
t h a n before, havi n g evo lved fro m a s i m p l e exh i bition to a modern competence centre for t h e trave l a nd
tourism i nd ustry.
Those putting u p stal ls at the four·day event i nclude Kingfisher A i rl i nes, Jet Airways and the tourism departments
of Kera l a , Uttar Pradesh, Rajastha n ,' Utta ranchal a n d Goa , Taj Hotel s, t he Oberoi G ro u p, Leela Pa l a ces a n d
Resorts a nd T h e G ra n d G ro u p woul d b e participating i n t h e fai r with the hope o f garnering i nternational t i e·
u ps. (World tourism fai r opens today, T H . B, 08.03.06 , 0 1 0)
2 0 05 - 0 6
I
Documcntation Update
I
011 Festiva l s · I n d i a (Tourism P romot i on)
H e l d i n J a n u a ry every yea r, the J a i p u r Heritage I n te r n a t i o n a l Festiva l i s not j u s t a bo u t the a rts, c u l tu re,
heritage and conservation , but a l so a bout development.
All a ctivities of the fou ndation a re , in fact, d r i ve n by the conviction that Rajastha n's heri ta ge is the State's
greatest econo m i c a sset a n d m u st be leveraged even a s i t i s p rese rve d , h e says. So, even a s i t seeks to
increase i nterest in Rajast h an 's culture, c raft a n d heritage , the festival must a l so have a d i rect a n d positive
i m pact o n the State's economy.
I nitiative gets street-sma rt: The J a i p u r Vi rasat Foundation has star ted a series of ongo i ng i n itiatives to craft
a heritage·based model of soc i a l a n d econom i c development. One such progra mme is an ' i ntegrated street
revita l i sation project' . A pi lot project of t h i s venture is to be l a u nched i n a few days a nd i nvolves ren ovating
an entire street w i t h i n the 'old city' of J a i pu r.
The project i n c ludes restoring fa<;:ades of key buildi ngs o n the street a n d i mprov i ng physica l i nfrastructu re i n
t h e street. T h e project , which h a s t h e a ct i ve parti c i pa t i o n o f t h e street's resi dents, a lso seeks t o i nc rease
pride in ownershi p of properties and bring in tangible economic benefits to people l iving there. The fou ndation
hopes the pi lot venture , when comp l eted , wi l l encoura ge other com m u n ities to l a u n c h s i mi l a r i n it i at i ves.
( Heritage festi va l a i ms to drive development, San k a r Radha krish n a n , BL.C, 05 . 09.05, 0 1 1 )
020 Package Tou rs
I nd i a i s not j u st a bout the Taj . Stung by the myst i q u e of I nd i a n weavers, foreigners a re a l l out to explore the
country's text i l e tra d i tions i n remote a reas of Bhuj (Guja rat), Sanga ner ( Rajastha n), N u a patna (Ori ssa) a n d
Pocham pa i l i (Andhra P radesh).
'Texti l e c i rcuits ' have become one of the u n ique sel l i ng p ropositions for t hose tour opera tors who offer thei r
customers somet h i ng beyond t h e famous Golden Tri a ngle of Del h i -Agra -J a i p u r. A N ew Zea l a n d-based tour
o perator sel l i ng South I nd i a n text i l e tour p ackage for a pp roxi mately $4,600, h a s na med i t "Si l k and S p i ce.
Domestic operators a re a lso offering choices. One of the famous circuits i n the east is Bhubaneshwar· N uapatna­
Barpa l i ·Sonepu r· Bo l a ng i r. The package p romi ses to make you fam i l i a r with I ka t (tie and dye) a n d tasa r s i l k
weavi ng. Another popul a r sector offered by domestic tour operators is M u m ba i · Bhuj·Ja mnagar·Ahmedabad­
Udaip u r·Jai pu r·Agra - De lh i · M um ba i . The rates a re around $2,000 for 16 days a nd 15 n ights. (Tourists snoop
at o u r warp & weft, Rajeev J aya swa l , ET.C, 1 5 . 08 . 0 5 , 020)
I magine a group of Americans on horsebacks riding through remote vil lages in Rajasthan, braving the scorchi ng
desert hea t . N ow i magi ne t h e m stop p i n g a t vi l la ges, d i st r i b u t i n g l i vestock , ed ucati ng the vi l la gers a bout
A I D S a nd p a r t i c i pati ng in med i ca l c a m ps . T h i s motley g ro u p , m a i n ly from N ew York is, by the way, o n a
hol iday. Except that it combi nes exoti c travel with a l iberal dose of p h i l a nthropy. Wel come to a new concept
of t ra ve l that's f i ri n g the i magi nation of A meri ca ns who a re now comi ng to I n d i a to get the experience of a
l ifeti me. And the man beh i n d this concept is a 35-year-old New Yoker, half- I nd i a n , half·French, Alexander Souri
and it is his organ i sation, Rel ief Riders I nternational ( R R I ) , that's m a ki ng this possi ble. The nearly two·week
l ong ri de, cost i ng $5 ,400 each , i s orga n i sed a l ong w i t h the I nd i a n Red Cross a n d h a s been co-created by
Mahesh Anora , d irector, National Disaster Management, I ndian Red Cross. (Happy holi day: Giving a i d a s they
travel , Mee n a ks h i Ku mar, TOL D, 1 1 .09.05, 020)
The n ext t i me you decide to go on a holiday beware of the 'two n ights/three d ays package' offered by travel
a gents. There is every possi bil ity that you w i l l get cheated by a day. The catch i nva ria bly l ies i n the fi ne print:
the emba rkation a n d d i semba rkation timings. This means the schedule is fixed i n. such a way that one m in ute
of service costs you a d ay.
One such case came u p before the Nationa l Consumer D i s putes Red ressal Com mission ( N C D RC) a bout a
couple take n on a trip from Bangalore to S ingapore a nd then on a cruise to Malaysia a n d back. They had been
p ro m i sed a 2 n i ghts 3 d ays S i nga pore · M al aysia c r u i s e by t h e t rave l a gency. On t h e i r retu r n , t h ey f i led a
petition i n the d i strict consumer forum sayi ng the cru i se tri p was of two nights a n d only 1 % days. They said
they had been misled by the sched u le. The consu mer forum upheld t h i s view a n d ordered the tou r o perator
to pay Rs 50, 000 compensation. (Beware the 2 nights/3 days trap, Kumkum Chadh a , HT.D, 23.02.06, 020)
I
[)o(,ll711 c ntu l ion Update
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06
020a Adventure Tou ri s m
One d a y after NASA brought t h e s hu tt l e D i scovery back from l ow Earth orbit, a p r i vate com p a ny p l a n s to
a nnounce a more a u dacious venture , a tourist tri p a round the Moon. S pace Adventures, a compa ny based i n
Virgi n i a h a s a l ready sent two tou ri sts i nto orbit, o n 1 0t h A u g 0 5 , i t was set t o u nvei l a n a greement w i t h
Rus si a n space off i c i al s to sen d t w o passengers o n a voyage l asti ng 1 0 to 2 1 d ays, depend i ng p a r t l y o n its
iti nerary and whether i t i n cl udes the I nternational S pace Stati o n . A roundtrip t icket wil l cost $ 1 00 m i ll ion. The
space·fa r i ng tourists w i l l trave l with a Russi a n p i l ot. ( Now, a $ 1 00 m Tou r a round the Moo n , John Schwartz,
TOI . M , 1 1 .08.05, D20a)
Adventure tourism i n I nd i a coul d emerge a s one of the biggest foreign exchange earner for the country i n the
next 10 yea rs t h rough effective management a n d poli cy i n it i a t ives by d i fferent state gove r n ments. Revenue
genera ted by the sector is expected to reach $20 b i l l i o n by 20 1 0 . I n d i a regi stered a growth of ove r 20%
l a st yea r a n d is cu rre ntly val ued a t over Rs. 400 c rore. The growth figu re is expected to double t h i s yea r a s
tourism i n the country grew a t 1 5. 3% with additional foreign exchange e a r n ings u p b y 22% to $5.03 b i l l ion
in 2004·05 from $4. 1 2 b i l l io n i n 2003-04. These a re the fin d i ngs of a recent a n a lysi s to a ssess the potenti a l
of the country t o become a pri me dest ination i n attract i ng foreign tourists with a n a dventurous bent of m i n d .
D ifferen t locatio n s i n t h e country which p rovide such a venues for a dventure tourism recorded close t o 1 .25
l a k h of domestic holidayers with H imachal Pradesh being t he preferred destination, who enjoyed the thri l l s of
rafting, trekking, para -gli d i ng etc.
There i s a n est imated 1 0,000 a dventure tour operators i n I nd i a who have speci a l ized i n provi d i ng a dventure
tour package s to the domestic a n d the foreign tou rists. A n d adventu re tour operators a re n ow ma rketi ng
Moun t Kai la s h , a p i lgri m a ge desti n a t i o n i n a b i g way. The a na ly s i s h a s u nd e r l i ned the i m po rt a n c e of the
sector, a s a dventure tourism is a major d raw for i nternational tourist as nearly 40% of them come to I ndia for
a dve n t u re a n d soft a dventure h o l i d ays. (Adve n t u re tou ri s m w i l l be biggest forex e a r n e r, F E . C, 29.08. 0 5 ,
D20a)
020b Recreation a n d Theme Pa rks
More hotel s a c ro s s the U nited State s a re s pe nd i ng up to $75 m i l l i o n each to b u i l d huge e n cl o sed water
p a rks, hopi ng to l u re fam i l ie s someti mes from j u st a few k i lometers away. More fam i l i e s a re checking i n ,
despite paying somet i mes double o r even trip l e t h e cost o f oth e r hotel s . A decade ago, there were only six
such i ndoor hotel parks - pri mari ly in the Wisconsin Del l s, a resort com m u nity outside Madison, Wiscon s i n .
Today, s o m e 60 hote l s offer i ndoor w a t e r pa rks a n d 98 more a re e ither p l a nned or u n d e r construction i n
various states, a ccord i ng t o US Rea l ty Consultants, a hospital ity i nd u stry resea rc h firm based i n Col u mbus,
Ohio.
Visitors to most hotel s with water p a rks w i l l pay $80 to $400 per n ight per room, depend i n g on the size of
the park a n d the hote l 's location. Yet m a ny fam i lies a re w i l l i ng to pay extra , because most room rates i nclude
water park a d m i ssion for four to six guests tor the first and l a st d ays ot the i r stay. (The Latest I n Hotel Pools:
Water Pa rks, Jenn i fe r AI sever, AA. D, 1 4. 0 5 . 0 5 , D20b)
The Borivli pol ice have registere d a case of negligence a ga i n st Vi nayak Kas h i d , a n offici a l of Water Kingdom,
after an e ight yea r-old boy d rowned in a wave pool in the a musement park. Senior police i nspector S u resh
M a rtathe said, "We cond ucted an i nspection of the p re m i ses fol l ow i n g the i ncident. I t is the m a nagement's
respo n s i b i l i ty to e n s u re that you ngsters do not venture i nto the pool on thei r own. Water Ki ngdom offici a l s
fai led t o d o this . They d o not h ave sufficient n umber o f l i fe guards. (Amusement park offic i a l booked for boy's
deat h , TOI . M , 08.06 . 0 5 , D20b)
:; 0 0 5 - 0 6
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DOCWl1Cll i uti01 1 Upc/at e
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D20c Convention Tou ri s m
Interview with Barbara Hanlon, Managing director, India International Expo XXI (P) L td, (a
subsidiary of Expomedia Group PIc, London).
Q. What i s the exh i bition m arket l i ke i n I nd i a ? Where d oes I n d i a stan d vis-a·v i s the world?
A . I nd i a n exh i b i t i on i n d u stry i s h ig h ly u norga n i se d and i s c u r rently a t a n a scent stage. I t
resembles w h a t C h i n a or Russia were over 1 2 yea rs a go. At present I nd i a h a s exhi bition
centres in o n ly five c i ties, with a total i nd oor space of a bout 200. 000 sq m . I ronical ly, m ost
of the ven ues a re outdated a n d not u p to global sta n d a rds. Moreover, every yea r there a re
only about 200 exh i bitions orga n i sed a l l over I nd i a . C h i n a , with a l most the same population
as I n d i a , holds m ore tha n 2 , 500 exh ibitions with t he tota l exh i bition space rea c h i n g more
than 2.5 m i l l io n sq m . Germany, has 2.7 m i l l ion sq exh i b ition space and organ i ses 300 fai rs;
al most two·thi rd of them a re renowned i nternational exh i bitions.
Q. What a re the c h a l le nges and opportun i ties in this segment for I nd i a ?
A. M ost o f t h e exhi bitions h e l d i n I nd i a a re organ i se d b y various governmental bodies, ITPO,
i ndustry a ssociations or trade·specific bodies. There a re only a handful of private orga n isers.
I n the a bsence of a ny l e a d i ng i n te r n a t i o n a l orga n i se r s , t he I nd i a n m arket is d e pr i ved of
i nternational s hows and exhibitions.
Q. How does I nd i a gai n from exhi bitions? Wil l it ma ke a significant difference for I nd i a ?
A. The exh i bition i n d u stry i s very i m portant for a ny country a s successful exh ibitions d i rectly
or i nd i rectly benefit the country's economy a n d boost its global i ma ge. It w i l l d i rectly boost
I nd i a 's tourism a n d hospitality sector. Foreign a n d l ocal exh i bitors a n d visitors spend m oney
for boardi ng, lodgi ng, tra nsport, a n d entertai nment which d i rectly benefits the city where the
even t is being held. All these commercial activities have a d irect i mpact on country's economy.
Further more, exhi bitions a lso generate employment.
( ' Exhi bition i ndustry w i l l boost tourism ' , A mrita Chauha n S a nyal , ET. B, 1 6. 0 7 . 0 5 , D20c)
Secu rity l i nes and flight delays top the l i st a s the events that most negatively affect t rave l . And t he majority
of business travellers do not want cel l phone use a l l owed i n-flight. As for travel managers, they say expectations
from top m anagement a re cost savings and globalisation of the travel program me.
These a re a mong the findings of the C a r Wago n l i t Travel (CWT) global busi ness trave l survey commissioned
to gauge attitudes a n d perceptions of busi ness travel lers a n d corporate trawl m a n agers a bout the current
and futu re state of busi ness trave l .
It randomly sampled opin i ons of 2 , 1 00 business travellers a n d 650 t ravel m a n a ge rs i n 1 2 countries. Results
from t he Asia Pacific point towa rd a general ly positive out look for the travel sector in this region in 2006, with
I nd i a n trave l l ers bei ng the most o ptim i stic.
In I nd i a , Austra l ia and J a p a n , f l ight d e l ays affect 6 1 % of busi ness trave l l e r s fre q u e n t ly or o cc a s i o n a l ly.
C h inese business trave l l ers, however, are the most l i kely to be frequently or occa sional ly affected by a i rport
security l i nes a s compared to other trave l lers in t h i s region . In A s i a Pacifi c , J a p a n ese t ravel lers a re most
comfortable with m a k i ng t he i r t ravel booki ngs o n l i n e w i t h 7 5% of t he m booki ng more t h a n 40% of t h e i r
business travel o n l i ne. A majority of Austra l i a n t ravel lers ( 55%) a l so book the i r busi ness t ra ve l onl i ne w h i l e
the i r counterparts i n C h i n a a n d I nd i a d o e s s o l e s s often (23% a n d 1 7% respective ly)
When trave l l i ng, A s i a Pacific busi ness trave l lers a re m ost l i kely to be i r r i tated by other pa ssengers. W h i le
both the Austra l i a n s a n d Ja panese a re most a n n oyed by c rying babies, the C h i nese d i sl i ke other trave l lers
not checking·i n over·sized l uggage, and I nd i a n trave l l ers do not appreciate bei ng d i stu rbed by neighbouring
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passengers. I n d i a n travel lers i ndicated that they a re least i ncli ned to travel to Africa. (Businessmen optimistic
on t ra ve l growth in 2006 , I E. C , 2 6 . 0 1 .06, D20c)
For most I nd i a n busi ness t rave l l ers, it mea n s high stress l eve l s , t h a n ks t o the poor t ravel i nfrastructure i n
t h e cou ntry. A recent s u rvey puts I nd i a n s o n top o f t h e wor l d , l itera l ly for b e i n g t h e most stressed o ut
business trave llers. A survey carried out by G ra nt Thornton a mong more than 7 ,000 owners of med ium·sized
busi nesses from 30 countries d u r i n g fou rt h q u a rter of l a st year, states business travel i s most stressful for
I n d i a n executives. A rou n d 41 % of the respondents c l a i med it to be very or extremely stressfu l . But t he se
busi ness owners suggest t h at busi n ess t ravel i s v i ta l for the s u ccess of the i r e nter p r i se. P h i l i p p i nes h a d
22% res pondents fee l i ng stress d u e to business trave l . Botswana a n d C h i n a fol l owed I nd i a a n d t h e P h i l i pi nes
with 21 % a n d 20% respondents claim i n g stress respect ive l y. (I ndian biz trave l l e rs m ost stressed : Survey,
B aiju Ka lesh & T i nesh B h a s i n , TOI . D, 2 1 .02.06, D20c)
With corporate culture attracti ng more and more people. it is i tself u ndergoi ng some changes. One evident
change is the boardroom shifti ng from the metropol i s to "greener pastures". A n i n creasing n u m ber of I nd i a n
business houses a nd multinational corporations are conducting their conferences, meetings and team building
exercises far from the madding c rowd of the metropolis i n a quiet and serene a mbience. (The green boardroom,
Yudhajit S h ank a r Das, TS. D, 23 .02.06, D20c)
D20d Herita ge Tou r i s m
The Su preme Court i ssued a notice t o t h e A rchaeological Survey of I nd i a on a petition seeki ng protection of
wor l d heritage site s a nd monu ments i nc l u d i ng the Tom b of G ha l i b, the renowned poet of medi eval period
situated within the N i za mu d d in's com plex i n the capital .
The a p p l ication fi l ed by noted envi ron mentalist lawyer N . C. Me hta came for hearing before a be-comprising
J ustice S . N . Va ri a va , J ustice A . R. La ksh m a n a n a nd J u st i ce H .S. Kap a d i a seek i n g d i rection for remov i n g
encroachment from t h e monument situated at the Hazra t N izamuddin com p l ex .
I n the a pp l i ca t i o n , the petitioner h a s a l s o sought rep a i r a n d restorat i o n o f the cu rved · m a r b l e screen t h a t
was surroun d i n g A m i r Khusro's s h ri ne. T h e pet i tioner has a l so sought constitution o f a n expert committee
commission comprising i ndependent expert in the field of a rt a n d culture to visit the world heritage s i te a n d
protected monu ments i n Del h i a n d submit a n i ndepe ndent report with meas u res t o be u ndertaken for thei r
safety, preserva t i o n a n d p rotect i o n . ( Heritage s i tes: N ot i ce t o AS I , I E . B, 06.04.05, D20d)
With a i r pol l ut i o n a round the Taj s l owly com i ng down to acceptable l i mits, the Agra a d m i n i stration is taking
steps to restore the sere n i ty of the a tmosphere a round t h i s monume nt by control l ing noise pol lu t i o n . Th i s
woul d a l so b e a p p l i ca bl e to rel igious p l a ces i nc l u d i ng mosques a n d temples.
Cont i n u i ng its effort to check pol l ution control a round the Taj, the UP Pol l ut i o n Control Board ( U P PC B ) has
t a rgeted the l ou d-spea kers i n st a l l ed at the various temples a n d mosques of Taj G a n j as major sou rces of
noise pol lution in the vicin ity of the Taj Maha l .
I n a l etter i ssued t o the Agra d i strict magist rate a n d corre s po n d i ng pol i ce stations of the town , the U PPCB
h a s dema n d ed t h e l o u d h a i lers functi o n i n g a ro u n d t h e Taj Mahal to be i m me d iately scra p ped dow n , not
d i sc ri mi n a t i n g between commerci a l i nstal lations a nd the loudspea ke rs i nsta l led on rel igious bui l d i ngs l i ke
temples, mosq ues etc.
I ncidental ly, bei ng a World Heritage monu ment, the Taj M a h a l e njoys the specia l status of bei n g p rotected
from noise pol l ut i o n with the maxi mum n o i se a llowed at the mai n dome of the monument restricted at j ust
45d B (deci bel s). The monument h a s a l ready been crippled by a number of c u l tural programmes organ i sed
beh i nd the Taj M a h a l i nc l u d i ng the "Ya n n i S how" i n 1 997 a n d Zee Anta kshari i n the yea r 2000. The a re a
a ro u n d the Taj i s deemed to be a 'si l e nce z o n e ' with the noise l i mits a t 5 0 d B i n the d a y a n d 40d B d u ri ng
n ights but i n real i ty the noise levels i n a n d a round the monument far exceed the n orms specified i n the Noise
Pol lution ( Regu lation a n d Control) (Amendment) Rules, 2002 by more than 20·30d B. (After a i r check, ' clea n'
Taj project to muff l e noi se, Vijay Upadhyay, TP.D, 27.04.05, D20d)
::; 0 0 5 - 0 6
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DO(,U111Clll(l t ion Updat e
I
The rich c ultura l heritage of G u rgaon w i l l soon be l a i d ba re for visitors, than ks to a n a mbitious p l a n to boost
tourism in this N C R city. The G u rgaon chapter of I nd i a n National Trust for Art a n d Cultura l Heritage ( I NTACH),
which has l i sted 5 0 such h i storical monuments, has plans to promote two of these as tourist dest inations. I n
its draft p l a n 202 1 , t h e N C R P l a n n i ng Board ( N C R PB) h a s a l so emphasi sed on t h e conservation of t h e N C R
heritage. The monu ments exist as i n d ividual structures. (Save heritage, woo tourists, P l a n t o save 5 0 G u rgaon
s i tes, S K Ahuj a , HT. D, 0 1 . 05 . 0 5 , D20d)
The ASI has come in for severe critici sm from the Pa rliamentary Stan d i n g Committee for its lethargy in n ot
writing reports of the excavations i t has undertaken a n d thereby wast i ng p u b l i c funds.
"The l a bour a n d money gone i nto t h e excava t i o n s u nder t a ke n by ASI for the k nowledge to c rysta l l i ze for
generati o n s and the efforts to m a ke excavations more u nderstandable, becomes more fruitful only when the
findi ngs a re documented, " the report of the committee on Transport, Tou rism and Culture s a i d .
T h e previous pa nel , too, had poi nted o u t t h i s l apse and inspite o f it, t h e M i n i st ry o f Culture has d o n e nothing
to document the excavations.
The ASI 's excuse, the report says, is that it does n ' t have enough p rofess i o n a l s a n d staff to do the work. In
this context, it q uestions the wisdom of the M i n i stry in "loa d i ng the ASI with more mi ssions when its not a b l e
to com p l ete its e a r l i e r a ssigned w o r k " The com m ittee h a s a l so c h a rged the M i n i st ry w i t h " l a c k i ng i n far
sighted ness a n d a confused thinking" on conservation of the country's rich cultura l and a rchaeological heritage.
The remark comes i n the wake of ASI's plans of first l a u nching two national missions - one for antiquities a nd
other for bu i l d i ng heritage - a n d l ater merg i ng t h e m . (ASI gets r a p for s k i p p i n g reports, wast i ng fu nds,
Aasha Khosa , I E. D, 02 .05.05, D20d)
U N ESCO has stated that Delhi has the potentia l of join i ng the fa med l i st of wor l d heritage cities l i ke Bath or
Edi nburgh. The honour has e luded the Ca pital for long. Even neighbouri ng N e p a l has t h ree heritage cities:
Kat h m a n d u , B h a kta p u r and L a l i t pu r. The world over, t he re a re 200 heritage cities with E u rope a n d N orth
A m e r i ca d o m i n a t i n g the l i st . Experts feel the gove r n me n t now h a s t o m a ke out a strong c a se for Del h i ,
highlight i ng the city's u nique facts t o U N ESCO. The earl iest could be next yea r, a s only one nomi nation a yea r
can b e sent. The heritage status w i l l come a s a b i g boost to tou rism. Conservation ists, too, want t h e country
to seize t h i s opport u n i ty. With 3000 years of recorded h istory, Del h i i s e m i nently q u a l ified for the honour.
(City vies for heritage tag, Saura b h S i n h a , HT, Del h i , 04.0 5.05 , S20 / D20d)
The B ra h m a n Tem p l e at P u s h k a r has been decl a red a protected m o n u me nt of n atio n a l i m porta n ce. The
temple, sa i d to be the o n l y exi sti n g one dedicated to Lord Bra h m a , was constructed i n 1 4th century and
thousa nds of d evotees and tou rists throng i t every yea r. (Centre gives tem pl e tag of p rotected , AA. D,
09.05.05, D20d)
The government wi l l develop the h i storic Da,ndi March route in Gujarat i nto a heritage corridor, Tou rism M i n i ster
Renuka Chowdhury said. Wayside a menities a n d other tourism fac i l ities w i l l be created a long the route which
M ahatma Gandhi took duri ng his salt satyagraha a s part of the freedom struggle. She said the corridor woul d
b e t h e part o f the "freedom c i rcuit" bei n g developed across t h e country t o make t h e people awa re of the l ife
a n d work of our freedom fighters. ( D a n d i route to be heritage corridor, T P. D, 1 3.05 ,0 5 , D20d)
After d rawing up recommendations for the Centra l and state governments o n preservation of tribal heritage,
the I nd i a n N ational Trust for Art a n d Cultural Heritage has worked out a road m a p to c reate u rban awareness
a bout the ' natio n a l t re as u re s ' a n d the need t o p rotect t h e m . To start w i t h , I NTACH w i l l orga n i se a t ri b a l
cultural festival i n Delh i early n ext year. The objective of t h e festival i s t o educa te t h e m a i n stream a bout the
i n d igenous knowledge of the tribals.
Besides, I N TACH p l a n s to set u p heritage monitors to prevent further destruction of tri bal a reas, endorse
tri b a l s a s ' n a t i on a l t reas u res' , devise speci a l i ncentives a n d other benefits, and a d d ress the concepts of
Trib a l Trusteesh i p and I ntel lectual P roperty Rights.
As a fou r·day conference on p reservation of tribal heritage came to a c lose, the recommendations i n c luded
documentation of triba l tra di ti ons, oral literature, customs and rich i ntangible heritage, sensitizing bureaucrats,
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Documen iu i iOll Updaic
I �005- 06
sociologi sts, med i a and others dea l i ng d i rectly with triba l s, cond ucting workshops and sem i na rs, prepa ring
a sma l l module for tra i ni ng offi c i a l s posted in tri bal a rea s and fac i l itati ng tribal representation in the nationa l
m a i n strea m. ( I ntach road m a p to preserve tribal heritage, Pra rth na Gah i l ote, I E. D, 1 9.05.05, D20d)
M a hatma Gand h i 's Phoe n i x Settlement, the b i rthplace of the non-violent movement or satyagra h a , may be
recommended for nomi nation as a World Heritage site, the South Africa n government has sai d . The settlement
could be i ncl uded in a l ist of potential s ites to be submitted to U N ESCO, spokesperson for the South African
depa rtment of e nv i ro n me nta l affa i rs a nd tou r i s m said. The ca l l fo r the h i storic site to be recog n i sed a s a
Worl d H e ri ta ge S ite h a s been made by lead i ng m e m bers of the I nd i a n -origi n com m u n i ty. ( B i rt h p l a ce of
'satyagra h a ' may become World Heritage site, TOI . D, 24.05 .05, D20d)
Reacting strongly to the frequent concerns ra i sed by envi ron m enta l i sts over the req u i re ment of a healthy
wate r l evel i n Ya m u n a to p reserve the Taj M a h a l 's fou ndation the Archaeologica l Su rvey of I nd i a (AS I ) h a s
termed these concerns "un necessa ry".
Attri buti ng the spread of such "hoaxes' to an overzealou s section of the med i a , M r D Daya l a n , Superi ntendi ng
Archaeologi st, ASI sa id there was no need for concern over the structura l i ntegrity of the Taj as the monu ment
was perfectly safe from a l l natura l ca l a mities. The ASI off i c i a l sai d concerns over the d ryi ng up of the water­
f i l l ed fou n d a t i o n s of the 'Taj d u e to the sh ifting of the rive r Ya m u n a were a l so baseless a s " most of the
foundation of the Taj i s placed on sol i d ground and not on a water- borne raft of ebony. He sa id that the Taj and
all other mon u ments nea r the river in Agra have one common feature - a "ri ng formation" i n the fou ndation
fac i ng the rive r to d i spe rse the force of the river water d u ri ng floods. (AS I s l a ms u nwa rra nted 'expert'
opinions on Taj structure, Vijay Upadhyay, T H . D, 07.09.05, D20d)
D i rector-Genera l of the Archaeological Survey of I ndia (ASI) Babu Rajiv sai d that a Heritage Sites Commission
wou l d be set up by the Centre to e n s u re conservation of h i storical monu ments in the country. Replyi ng to
q uestions, he said the proposed commission woul d concentrate on unprotected monuments. I t would advise
the Centre on measu res to be taken for identification, p rotecti o n a n d ma nage ment of the mon u ments. It
wou l d a l s o review the l ega l fra mework for the conserva t i on of monu ments a nd suggest a p p ropri ate
a mendments. The statute for the proposed Commission was being prepared a nd would be ready by December.
I t wou l d have to be p l aced before Pa rl i a ment a n d , subsequently, i t m i ght have to go th rough the Sta n d i ng
Committee.
M a ny monu ments were fac i ng t h reats beca use of h a phaza rd growth , u n p l a n ned u rb a n i sation, demol ition ,
renovation, negative i m pact of pilgrim tourism and other forms of tourism, poor mai ntenance and development
projects such as i rrigation schemes.
He suggested that the Central a nd the State Governments a s w e l l a s the local bod i es act in u n i son for the
effective i mp lementation of the conservation schemes with people's partici pation a nd i nvolve ment. There
was a l so a need to accelerate the efforts for ca pacity· bu i l d i ng i n a rchaeology which had evolved i nto a new
sci ence. (Heritage Sites Com m i ssion to be set up soo n , T H . D, 1 2 .09.05, D20d)
From I nd i a and the Dia spora s they a re joi n i ng hands with the world's I ra n i a n Zoroa strians to protest aga i n st
the destruction of the most potent symbol of thei r common heritage. The Seeva nd d a m nea ri ng completion i n
South I ra n wi l l s u bmerge t h e o l d ' i m pe r i a l route' of t h e Ach a e men i d e m p i re, o n e of t h e two Zoroa stri a n
dynasties of Pe rs i a . The g reater a ngu i sh i s that i t cou l d a l so jeopa rd i se Pa s a rgadae, t h e c a p i t a l b u i lt by
Cyrus the G reat, sweepi n g away h i s fa bled tomb there.
A c a m p a ign t h rough cyberspace ca l l i ng for sign atu res to a pet i t i o n a d d ressed to "the peo p l e of the world
and the United Nations" (http://www.petitiononl i ne.com/Pasargad). l nitiated by the ' I nternational Committee
to Save the Archaeologica l Sites of Pasargad ' , it states rather dramatical ly, "We, the u ndersigned, regretfully
have to i nform a l l the i nhabita nts of our pla net earth that one of the greatest pa rts of the h i storica l heritage
of (the) h u m a n race i s on the verge of perma nent exti ncti o n . " I t a ppea l s agai nst the d rowni ng of a "rich a nd
com plex site that, si nce its i ncept i o n , h a s been considered by a l l writers of antiqu ity a s one of the wonders
of the a nc i e n t wo r l d ' ' , a n d compa res t h i s to the destruction of Ba m iya n B u d d h a s by the Ta l i ba n . (Da m
t h reatens Pa rsi heritage site, Bachi Ka rka ria , TOI . D, 1 4.09.05, D20d)
2005-06
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Documenta tion Update
I
This 1 ,600-year-ol d city of Kashmir ach ieved a m i lestone, when its f irst heritage map compiled by the Centre
for Heritage and Environment Kashmir (CH EK) was l a unched by Chief M i n i ster M ufti Mohammad Sayeed. The
five-vo l u me c ul t u ra l resou rce m a p p i ng, completed i n col l a boration with I nd i a n N a t i o n a l Tru st for A rt a n d
Cultura l Heritage ( I NTACH), gives Sri n aga r t h e d i st i n ct i on of bei ng the second city i n I nd i a after Delhi with a
documented map on heritage structures. The mapping work w a s done by a group of fou r young a rc hitects
who d i d the job in a short s p a n . The organ i sation has identified 825 heritage m arve l s i n the c i ty. ( Herita ge
m a p of Srinaga r l a unched , Shujaat Bukha ri, T H . B, 2 1 .09.05, D20d)
The Archaeologi c a l Survey of I nd i a (AS I ) is p l a n n i ng a heritage map for the country, logging in u nprotected
monuments a nd a nt iq uities to c u rb traffic k i ng a nd ensure they a re not neglected. The Rs 90-crore p roject,
National M i ssion o n Monuments a nd Antiquities, p roposes a location a l a n a lysis that would i nc l ud e n ot only
the protected mon u ments but thousands of others which according to the project document a re "unprotected
or i n utter state of neglect ' . As of now o n ly 3659 b u i l t heritage s i tes a re p rotected by t he ASI a bout 3 ,500
a re c o n se rved by the states.
Each site will be documented with drawi ngs, photographs, satel l i te i ma gery and aeria I p hotography to place
the c ultura l heritage in a chronological order a ccording to a standard i sed procedure of mappi ng. The data wi l l
b e compiled from both publis hed a n d u npub l is hed l i terature.
The ASI had, earlier, got a pproval from the Planning Commission for setti ng up two projects-one on monuments
a n d a nother on a n t i q u ities at a higher outlay of Rs 400 c rore. For the map p i ng though the outlay has been
sca led down to Rs 90 c rore. Besides m a p p i ng monuments, the p roject w i l l d ra w up a n i nventory of the
possessions with state museums, heritage i n m a l khanas of panchayats. Confiscated by the Customs, i ncome
tax, C B I or police stations, a n d those housed in private museums a n d col lections. A database generated out
of such an i nven tory expected to provide "the most effective tool in p reventi ng i l l ega l trade i n antiq u ities".
(AS I to d raw up monu ment m a p, Rs 90-cro re project aims a t curbing i llegal t rafficking, A mitav Ranj a n , I E. D,
20. 1 0 .05 , D20d)
'THlS HEQ.l TAG=.(
'TOWN Wi L\" SOME
Dft\J y�we. ,T As
A GtlEAT INt....
·
( F E . B, 1 8. 1 1 .0 5 , D20d / Z80)
The Archaeologica l Survey of I nd i a (AS I ) has c arried out several excavations at i mporta nt sites this yea r with
significant res u lts such as d i scovery of p re - H a ra pp a n rem a i n s at U tta r P ra d e s h , a ccord i ng to an A S I
s po kesma n . S peaking a t H a msala deevi , where River Krishna j o i n s t h e Bay o f Benga l , 4 5 k m from here, h e
sa i d i n Ba ror i n Rajasthan , rem a i n s of pre-H a ra ppan a n d H a ra ppan cultures h a d been u nearthed. (ASI finds
p re - H a ra pp a n s ites in Rajast h a n , VT. B, 1 9 . 1 1 .0 5 , D20d)
D20e P i lgri mage Tourism
The Utta ranchal Gove r n ment's move to o p e n the B a d ri nath sh r i n e f o r "darsh a n " t h roughout the yea r h a s
evoked stiff oppOSition from rel igious leaders a nd priests. Reacting sharply t o t h e move, Swami Swaroopanand
S a ra swati, S a n k a racharya of Jyoti r Peeth a n d Dwa ri ka -Shard a Peeth sai d that the very i dea of keeping the
B a d r i n a t h shrine open t h roughout the yea r w a s aga i n st the H i nd u rel i gi o u s bel i ef and if the Gove r n ment
forced s u c h a decision i t w i l l b ri ng u ntold m isery to t h e e n t i re n a t i o n . Swa m i B ra h m a n a n d Sa raswati of
H a r i dwar felt that the Government's attempts to commercia l ize the sacred shri nes a n d a l so put restrictions
on them in the na me of scientific management was deplorable and woul d spark off an agitation by the H indus
in the e n ti re country_ He hoped the State Gove r n ment wou ld refrai n from p l aying with rel igious bel i efs a n d
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2 0 05 - 06
'gra bbi ng' m a nagement of tem ples i n the n a me of reforms. ( Seers not for keepi ng Badrinath open a l l year,
T H . D, 1 7 .0 5 . 05 , D20e)
The crush a n d chaos in the J agan na t h temple a t P u ri may be rou t i ne for the fai thfu l but it has put off U n i o n
M i nister for Tou rism, Ms Renuka Choudhary. Fresh from a v i s i t to the 1 2th century s h r i n e t h e m i ni ster ticked
off its m anagement and suggested that it shoul d fol low the Vaishno Devi and T i ru pati pattern for i mprovement.
Asse r t i n g that Orissa was poised for a big l e a p i n the field of tou r i s m , the m i n i ster who visited wel l ·known
sites l i ke Kon a r k P i p l i and Raghuraj p u r duri ng her t h ree day tour, said she wanted the state to be the biggest
tourist dest i nation.
The M i ni ster h a d a word of a dvice for the Orissa government which, she said, should d raw u p a tourism s u b·
p l a n to ensure that every department of the government chi p ped i n with funds for the a l l -round development
of tourist sites. She s a i d there was n o dearth of money for tourism deve l op ment, but the state government
should u se the fu nds effective l y. Orissa w i l l joi n 10 other states of the count ry which have been i nc l uded i n
the Centre's p l a n for l a u nchi ng a "freedom tou rist c i rcuit" i n August to highl i ght p l a ces con nected with the
I nd i a n freedom struggle. (Crowded P u ri temple puts Ren u ka off, Ashutosh M ishra , T P. D, 03.06.05 , D20e)
I nd i a n s a re known to be a religious l ot a n d the l ow·cost a i rl i nes a re a ct i ng as a catalyst to the i ncrease i n non·
resident I ndians opting for pilgrimage tourism. Apart from domestic tourists, tour operators a re now embarking
more on non· resident I n d i a ns to boost their revenues .
SOTC seni or v i ce- p re s i d ent, Frede r i c k D ivecha poi nts o u t , "the e n t ry o f m o re l ow-cost c a rriers a n d the
Tourism Ministry's I ncredi ble I ndia campa ign has helped i n the growth of pilgri mage tourism.' Popul a r pilgrimage
packages favou red by N R ls i nclude Char Dham (Ya m n otri , G angotri , Bad rinath a nd Kedarnath) Vai s h n odevi ,
Amritsar, T i rupati a n d Shi rd i , while Ajmer i s a l so emerging a lmost as popu l a r as T i rupat i . Comment i ng on the
growth in pilgri m age tourism, Cox & Ki ngs executive di rector Arup Sen adds, " Pi lgrimage tou ri s m i s growi ng
a t a rate of 20% a n n u a l ly i n the organ i sed sector. " Fore i gn tourists from J a p a n a nd Sri Lan ka a re ma ki ng a
bee l i ne for the Buddhist ci rcle, particul a rly Bodh Gaya . Sri La nkan A i r l i nes even o perates a di rect flight twice
a week between Colombo and Bodh Gaya from October to February. ( P i l grimage tourism turns big business,
Rouh a n Sharma & Neelasri Barma n , FE. D, 1 6 . 09.05, D20e)
M i n i ster of State, Renuka Chowdh u ry c l a i med that she had successfully persuaded Da l a i Lama to promote
the Buddhist c i rcuit in the cou ntry. Further, to ensure tourist arriva l s to these sites, the touri sm m i n i st ry was
a l so in the process of working out MoUs with state-owned a i r l i nes l i ke Air I nd i a for i ntroduci ng spec i a l pi lgrim
packages specifical ly targeted a t Buddh i st sites, Chowdhury sai d . About 1 6 states, i nc l u d i ng Uttar Pradesh,
A n d h ra P radesh and H i m a c h a l P radesh h a ve been i d entified by the tou rism m i n i st ry which c a n deve l o p
various Buddh i st sites. ( D a l a i Lama, I nd i a 's new tou rism a m bassador, P u m my Kau l , F E . D, 28. 1 0 .05 , D20e)
020f H ea lth / Med i ca l Tou rism
The Government hopes t o encourage t h e buddi ng medical tourism sector, sel ling foreigners the idea of trave l l i ng
to I nd i a for l ow·cost, but world-class healthcare.
Accord i ng to a Confederation of I nd i a n I ndust ry-McKinsey study, med i c a l touri sm ca n contri bute between
Rs. 5 , 00 0 c rores a n d Rs 1 0, 000 c ro re s of a d d i t i o n a l reve n u e for u pm arket tert i a ry hos pi t a l s by 20 1 2 .
Globally, med i ca l tourism i s said to b e a Rs. 1 76-bi llion i nd ustry, a nd a na lysi s projects that people from Afro·
Asi a n countries spend Rs. 880 b il l ion eve ry yea r on healthcare services from outside thei r countries.
I nd i a i s a rel atively new ent ra nt i n this field, a n d it has to p repare to face the exist i n g competition from other
Asi a n cou ntries such as Tha i l a nd. Mal aysia and Singapore. These countries together now attra ct 10 times the
medi ca l tourists that I nd i a does. Hong Kong and South Africa a re emerging as big medical tourism destinations.
Experts s a i d the other big advantage of i mp rovi ng medi ca l tou rism is that it is non·seasona l . ( I nd i a , a new
desti nation for med i ca l tourism, Vidyas h ree A m a resh, T H . B, 1 9. 04.05, D20f)
The government p l a ns to i s sue 1 2-month vi sas to attract foreign patients to come to I n d i a for medical care.
Last yea r, 1 . 1 8 m i l l ion people c a me to I n d i a for med i c a l treatment, at one-tenth the US cost. N ursi ng costs
2a05-a6
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Documenta tion Update
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i n a n u rs i ng h o me i n the U S average $38,000 per yea r, a n d even home ca re costs $ 1 2 , 000 per yea r. The
n u m ber of a ged Americans a bove 6 5 w i l l dou ble from 36 m i l l ion today to 7 1 .5 m i l l ion by 2030, and may be
one-tenth of t h e m w i l l need long-term n u rs i ng. H os p i ta l s a re very expen s i ve to set up a n d exp a n d . B ut
creating a series of old persons' homes with n ursi ng fac i l ities i s relatively l ow-tech, ca n be done at a scorchi ng
pace a n d yield plenty of jobs. This is where I n d i a shoul d go. There wil l natu ra l ly be resistance in rich countries
to sendi ng their aged to I nd i a . I t wil l take time and patience to create a cl i mate where th i s d i sa ppears. G l obal
i nsura nce com pa n ies shou l d , in consultation with the government, create a system for certifying old people's
homes a s world class. FDI should be per m i tted in the sector up to 1 00%. The government should offer visas
for not j u st 1 2 months but 1 2 yea rs for l o n g-ter m a i l ments l i ke A l z he i mer's. ( N u rs i n g a s b i g busi ness,
Medical Tou ri s m With A Difference, ET. B, 0 1 .08.0 5 , D20f)
The wi despre a d bel i ef that 'green med i c i ne' is safe a n d more dependable t h a n synthet i c d rugs that carry
side effects has led to a spurt i n the dema n d of med i c i n a l p l a nts.
This renewed i n te rest in the p l a nt-derived d rugs has l ed to an over-exploitation a nd v i r tu a l decimation of
seve ra l va l ua bl e p l a nt species. I n adequate efforts with rega rd to collect i o n , p rocessing a n d m a r keti ng of
medicinal pla nts have jeopardised the i n come generation activities of a l a rge number of rura l people, especi a l ly
t r i b a l s . Accord i ng to offic i a l est i mates, O r i ssa forest coverage w a s 3 7 . 3 % of the tota l 1 ,5 5 , 70 7 sq kms
forest cover in I nd i a . However, yea r 2000 sate l l ite survey showed o n l y 24 % of forest cover a s the forests
were d e pl et i ng at a rate of 0 . 9 3 %. As the forests a re the d o m i c i l e of various spec i e s of med i c i n a l h e rbs,
efforts a re bei ng taken to i ntroduce t he concept of 'socia l forestry'. (Demand for herbal medi c i ne eati ng away
green cover, T P D, 09.09.05, D20flE0 1 b)
With medical tou rism fast atta i n i ng indust ry status i n major cities l i ke Bangalore i n res ponse to a concerted
effort i nvolvi ng leading hospita ls, travel a gents, tou r operators a nd hotel companies, the U n i on Govern ment
has sta rted efforts to esta bl i s h a national l evel regu latory body to ensure i nternationa l stan d a rd in med i c a l
faci l i ties ava i l a b l e to patients com i ng from a broad. A h igh-l evel meeti ng o f Heal t h a n d Tourism m i n i sters of
d iffe ren t states, h e l d i n N ew Del h i , decided on such a regu l atory body a s vita l i n v i ew of t h e i n c re as i ng
tendency among certai n hospitals a nd travel agents to charge exorbita nt rate for surgeries a n d other modes
of treatment on fore i gners. ( N ational body to c heck med i c a l tourism, I E. C , 26.0 1 .06, D20f)
D20g Rura l Tou rism
The Union Government is focussi ng on rura l tourism t o provide a new experience t o foreign as wel l a s domestic
tourists, Mr A m i ta b h Kant, J o i n t Secreta ry, U ni o n M i n i stry of Tour i s m , has s a i d . As p a rt of t h i s i n i t i ative,
I n d i a Tou ri s m is i m pl ementi ng a project in 55 selected vi l l a ges a c ross t he country to s e l l t h e i r heritage,
c u l t u re a n d a rt for m s . These v i l l a ges wou l d be p rovided with Rs 50 l a k h e a ch u n d e r U N DP a ss i stance to
i m prove i nfra structure l i ke bui l d i ng open- a i r t heatres, i nterpretation centres, shop outlets etc.
Besides, an additional a mo u nt of Rs 20 l a kh wou ld be provided for develo p i ng l ogi stic fac i l i ti es and sta rti ng
commu n i ty p a rtici pation centres t h rough self·h e l p grou ps, he added.
The Government i ntends to p rovide 25 m i l l i o n jobs from tourism by 2007 with the i m p lementation of these
p rojects , h e sai d . (55 v i l l a ges selected to promote rural touris m , V sanjeev Kumar, T H . B , 29.08.05, D20g)
Rural I nd i a h a s much to offer beyon d agriculture. It has a great potential ity for different growi ng segments of
tourism l i ke eco tourism, adventure tourism, health tourism, farm tourism, endogenous tourism, nature tourism,
cultura l touri sm, rel igious tourism and the l i ke. Worldwide rural tourism which offers these n i c he segments is
a growi n g conce pt . W h i l e tou r i s m i n gene ral is grow i ng a t a n a nn u a l rate of 4%, natu re travel is i ncrea s i ng
a n n u a l rate of between 1 0% a n d 30%, says the Wor l d Resources I n stitute.
The World Tourism Organ i sation est i mated the all nature·related forms of tourism a ccounted for a bout 20%
of tota l i nter n a t i o n a l travel a n d nature tou r i s m , i n particul a r, generates 7% of globa l t rave l expend i tu re .
Experts l i ke Fi l l i on fou n d t h a t 40-60% of s u c h tou rists a re nature tour i sts a n d 20- 40% a re w i l d l ife - re l a ted
tourists.
The i ssue is of rural tourism on a susta i nable basis. Different facets of nature a l l u re tou rists. I t is, therefore,
1
l)oCll1llcll t a l ioll Upda t e
12005 -06
a dvisable that natu re i s m a i n ta i ned i n its t ru e form. But t h e re a re i nsta n ces of d e l i berate exploitation of
nature for minti ng money.
I n I nd i a the entire package of rura l tourism i s sti l l a t a n i nfant stage. Adequate efforts have n ot been made so
far to effectively m arket t h i s concept a broa d . Rural a reas i n Raj a sth a n a nd Keral a a re attracti ng tourists on
their own Utta r Pradesh a nd B i h a r have sta rted attracting tou r i sts on their own .
D i fferent stu d i es a re d one on i d en tifyi ng a reas of rural tou r i s m . The U N D P s ponsored project i s being
i m plemented i n d ifferent parts of the country t hrough the part i c i pation of Central a nd state governments a n d
N GOs. A recent study joi ntly u n dertaken by the Federation o f I nd i a n Cham be rs o f Com merce a n d I ndustry
( F I C C I ) , Raja stha n gove r n me n t a n d the c re d i t rat i n g a ge n cy C ri s i l h a s d iv i d ed t h e state i ntD e ight tou rist
c i rcuits . These c i rcuits a re: J a i pur·Tonk·Madhopur c i rcuit, Shekhawati c i rcuit, Mewar c i rcuit, Hadoti c i rcuit
desser t c i rc u i t , Aj mer Pushkar·Merta- Nagpur c i rcuit, Mount A bu c i rcuit a n d Vagad c i rc u i t .
The study has a lso identified four eco-ru ra l c i rcuits each i n southern, south-eastern, north-eastern and western
regions. (Sustai na bl e r u ra l tou rism can generate l o ng-term benefits for v i l la gers, Ashok 0 Sharma,
1 9.09.05, D20g)
D20h Golf Tou r i s m
P l aying golf h a s virtu a l ly become de rigueur for senior officers i n t h e a rmed forces. A n d t o faci l i tate "Sen ior
officer·l i ke q u a l ity", the a rmed forces have establi shed golf courses a t ma ny different l ocations in the country.
B u t the Comptro l l e r a n d A u d i tor G enera l has n ow frowned o n t h i s practice to use defe n ce l a nd for golf
courses. Moreover, it has criticised the fact that a rmed forces h ave been crediti ng the revenue e a rned from
these courses to n o n · p u b l i c fu n d s " . The IAF, for i nsta nce, has six gol f cou rses at N ew Del h i , B a n g a l o re,
Barod a , A l l a ha bad, Nagpur and H i ndon. The CAG selected golf courses a t Ba nga lore and Baroda for a detailed
a u d i t scruti ny. (Audit report s l a ms defence golf cou rses, TOL D, 09.05. 0 5 , D20h)
The National Capita l Region ( NCR) promises to be the next big hot spot of this multi · b i l l ion dol l a r golf business
worldwide. N C R today boasts of five world · c l a ss golf courses: Del h i Golf C l u b (GC) in Del h i , C l a ss i c Golf
Resort, DLF G C , Golden G reens G C - a l l i n G u rgaon, and J aypee G reens GC in G reater N o i d a . A l l these
cou rses h ave i nvolved i nvestments of a t l east Rs 1 00 crore each. (NCR tees off to a new h igh i n golf tourism,
N aveneet Anand, TO I . D, 29.05.05, D20h)
Pri ced at Rs 3 crore, a l most 90% of the 300 l u xu ry flats in Magno l i a s have been sold out. A n d this, when the
DLF grou p's project is sti l l on pa per. B u ye rs were more i nterested in the fact that the proposed comp l ex
shares its boun d a ry wal l with a n exuberant golf course. Magnol ias, which i s second i n the series of the high·
end l uxu ry homes, i s p receded by the Ara li a s , overlooking the golf course. The Ara l i a s , l i ke Magnolias, was a
speci a l " by i nvitation o nly" project l a u n ched by the D L F i n l a te 2002. ( Buyers tee off to D L F p roject for golf
course, Payal Saxe n a , TOI . D, 03. 1 0.05, D20h)
D20i Eco Tou rism
Tak i n g note o f t h e confli ct between national pa rks a nd l ocal people, H i machal Pradesh h a s come o u t with a
model to encou rage participatory management to promote eco·tourism.
The fi rst move i s to curta i l government s pendi ng and e n courage l oca l s to t a ke part in the promot i on of eco­
tou r i s m . Seco n d , to convert t h e l i on safa ri at Ren u k a a n d the G reat H i ma l ayan N a t i o n a l Park at Kufri by
h a n d i ng over management to i ndependent societies.
The famous touri st desti nation of Khajji a r in Cha mba d i strict, M a n i karan a n d Banja r val l eys in Kul l u a n d the
Chan se l ski slopes in the Roh ru a re a of S h i m l a d i strict a re a l so bei ng conve r ted i nto societies.
Sources in the state government said that this had been done fol l owing the lessons learnt from the experience
i n the 'Va l ley of Flowe rs' i n Cha mol i d i st r i ct i n Uttara ncha l . The val l ey, o n ce descri bed a s one of the most
bea ut iful in the worl d , is today c hoked with weeds.
2 0 05 - 0 6
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Documentation Update
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Experts say the tal l grass growi ng here led to flowers becoming exti nct. Thanks to a ban on the entry of local s
i nto t h e va l l ey after i t w a s decla red a nati o n a l p a rk. E a r l i e r, loca l s had free access w i t h t h e i r cattle, which
used to graze there a n d prevent the pro l iferation of weed s. Hi mach a l govern ment h a s therefore decided to
i nvol ve loca l s i n the devel opment of key tourist destinations to m a ke these self·susta i na bl e. Govern ment
sources say these societies could promote eco·touri sm. The state is home to three zoos, 29 wildlife sanctua ries
and th ree H i ma l aya n national parks. The government decided to locate the forest department i nfra structure
i n places of tou ri st i nterest at these societies' di sposa l . The societies charge entry fees and other levies from
tourists.
The pi ctu resq ue n a t u re p a rk a t M a n a l i has a l so been converted i nto a soci ety. The results h ave been
encouraging. Locals have been instrumental in bringi ng more touri sts to trekking routes that a re bei ng regulated
by them on an experi mental basis in the Manikara n and Banjar valleys, popular touri st desti nations. Encouraged
by the respon se, the government has decided to i nvolve people i n regu l ation of ground wate r resources a n d
mon itori ng of qual ity of d ri nking water. (Locals a re back i n pa rks, hel pi ng eco·tourism, Charanjit Ahuj a , FE.C,
26 . 1 2.05, D20i)
D20j C u l tu re To urism
The U n i o n C a b i net a p p roved a proposal t o ratify t h e U N ESCO Conve n t i o n for safegua rd i ng o f i nt a n gi ble
c u l tu ra l heritage. I t a l so agreed to contri bute to the " Fund for the Safegu a rd i n g of the I nta ngi ble Cultu ra l
Heritage" a t l e a st every two yea rs.
Mr J a i p a l Reddy, M i nster for I nformation and B roadcast i ng, sa i d , " Fo r the pu rpose of t h i s Conve n t i o n ,
i nternational a ssistance could b e obtai ned t o safegua rd those forms o f i nta ngi ble cultural heritage i n need of
urgent safegua rd i ng." (Cabi net nod for UN ESCO proposal on cultu ra l , heritage, BL. B, 06.07.05, D20j)
Holding a cultu ra l event on a heritage site withi n the city has become a matter of monumental expense. The
Archaeological Su rvey of I nd i a (ASI) cha rges the orga nisers a nyth i ng between Rs 25 ,000·Rs 50 ,000 daily for
such a n event, whereas the fee is as l ow as Rs 1 0 ,000 · Rs 25 ,000 i n other c i ties.
Even the refu ndable secu rity·fee i s a steep Rs 50 ,000 per day here , w h i le i n other places, orga n isers wou l d
need t o deposit Rs 30,000 d a i ly. What's more, t h e ru les that were formulated some ti me back, sti pulate that
no permi ssion wou l d be granted for a fu nction where a d m i ssion fee is c h a rged or tickets sol d .
T h e govern ment h a s i de ntified eight p l a ces where c u l t u ra l events "of h igh sta n d a rds, p referably c l a ssica l
music, d a n ce a nd dra m a " may be permitted by the ASI Ara b ki Sara i a n d outer l awns of I sa Khan's Tom b i n
Hu mayun's Tom b : open a re a s a t Qutab M i n a r comp l ex , Q u a Ra i P i t h o ra , Red Fort (a rea of Ra m L i l a a nd
i n side); Rosha n a ra G a rden a n d Tal a b M a ha l . (AS I ' s monumenta l rates for cultural events, S a u ra bh S i n h a ,
TOI . D, 04.09.05 , D20j)
N ew Fo rms
In December l a st yea r a city·based tou r operator orga ni sed a package for a group of 26 Austra l i a n s , who
spent 22 days in South I nd i a tasti ng a n d lea r n i ng the cu i si nes here. So i mpressed was the group that it has
promi sed to come back thi s yea r for more.
The i t i nerary was s i m p l e : each d ay, the gro u p travel led to a new p l a ce a n d l e a r n t of five loca l d i shes. I n
Mysore, they were taught Mysore Pak w h i l e i n Coorg i t w a s pa ndi cu rry a n d k a d a m butt u ; i n Kera l a i t w a s
Malaba r and Syrian Christian food, while i n Ta mil N adu it was Chetti nad and other cuisi nes. "It was a l ittle l i ke
turning tourism on its head. I n between cooki ng a n d sa mpl i ng, the tourists got to see the local attractions,
the tou r operator sai d .
Though sti l l i n i t s i nfancy i n I nd i a , t h e potential for food tourism i s enormou s a n d i s extremely popu l a r i n the
U K, Eu rope USA and C h i n a . In I reland exclusive cateri ng houses take in candidates and tourists for two·three
weeks of culi n a ry tra i n i ng.
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The cou ntry i s seei n g a host of spec i a l ity tours related to food W i n e tours a re c u r rently done i n a few v i n e
yard s i n Kar n ataka a n d Maharashtra, w h i l e pub-hopping, though slightly on t h e w a n e now, i s sti l l a done thing.
At the other extreme is the organ i c far m experience started by a few fa rmers i n M a ha rashtra , where tourists
can stay on farms for two·four weeks a n d work with farmers. The accommodation is rustic; food is basic a n d
work, back· breaki ng. (Wha t's cook i ng? I t's food tourism, A nita Rao Kash i , TOI . B, 1 6.04.05)
For those fasci nated by the maca bre and catastrophic, the hair·raising a nd gut wrench i ng episodes of history,
t here's a n entire industry of tour operators waiting to take you to graveya rds, a n d battlefields, to the darkest
torture c h a m bers and even on the track of seri a l k i l l ers . They c a l l it Dark Tourism.
Curious visitors
Even before the d e b r i s cou l d be c l e a red from G ro u n d Zero, a view i n g p l a tform had to be e rected for t h e
h u n d reds o f c u r i o u s visitors who trooped i n , some even p os i n g for ca meras. T h e su bway route that once
ended under the World Trade Centre now bre a ks i nto the city's surface.
The book Dark Tourism: The Attraction of Death and Disaster co·authored by John Lennon and M al colm Foley,
d is c u sses t h i s 20th cent u ry phenomenon. The two a u thors bel i eve i t a l l sta rted w i t h the s i n k i n g of t h e
T i t a n i c . Other tragedies were too old to obsess over or s e l l s uccessful ly.
I n Dallas, Texas, you can actually take a Cad i l l a c ride with the accompanyi ng soundtrack of cheering crowds.
I t e n d s with the sound of a gu nshot that Ken n edy i n a l l l i ke l i hood never heard. Jack·the · R i p pe r-wa l ks a re
hugely pop u l a r i n London. N ot so high on the l ist i s the i nfamous nuclear reactor a t Chernobyl ; despite the
risk of exposu re to rad i ation.
You cou l d v i s i t t he gas c h a m bers in Auschwitz. Or you could v i s i t the Robben I sl a nd - l ies 1 2 km off the
South African coast - where N elson Madela spent 27 yea rs of h i s l ife.
Asi a's l ist
Although some experts l i ke Lennon and Foley bel ieve dark tourism i s a predominantly western trend promoted
by crafty m arket i ng s k i l l s, Asia has its own l ist. There's the c hi l l i ng sight of t housa nds of sku l l s at the Ki l l i n g
Fields o f Tuol Sleng i n P h n o m Pen h .
I n I ndia, nearly 1 0,000 people visit t h e J a l l i a nwala Bagh each day, says Balraj Singh, Tou rist offi cer a t Amritsar.
The Cel l u l a r J a i l a t A n d a m a n s, a nother N ational Memoria l , which w i l l be 1 00 years old o n M a rch 1 0, 2006,
a l so gets its share of c u rious visitors . (Wal k on the d a rk side, Meera Mohanty, T H . B, 0 5 . 02 .06)
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• E - TOU R IS M , SOCI ETY A N D I M PACTS .
EOO Soc i a l I m pact of Tou r i s m
Islamist groups i n Zanzibar a re worried b y what they see a s i ncreasi ngly i n a ppropriate behaviour by Western
tourists, saying thei r actions offend the I nd i a n ocea n islands' conservative Musl i m culture. The orga nisations
are a lso concerned a bout the s pread of bars on t he islands off ma i nl a n d Ta nz a n i a , whose beaches and coral
reefs m a ke it a have n for honeymooners. "Tou rists s hou l d n ot i nd ul ge in sex a cts o r k i ss open ly, this is not
something that people can accept," Farid H a d i , chairman of the Zanzibar I ma ms' a ssociation (Jumaza), said.
(No k i s s i ng p l ea se! I E. C , 0 5 . 0 5 . 0 5 , EOO)
Foreign tou rists getti ng married as per H i ndu ritua ls in Rajastha n i s a common thi ng. But one such cou ple,
who ki sse d each other d u r i ng t h e ceremony, h a s c reated ri p p l e s i n the holy P u s h k a r, w i t h l oc al priests
l odgi ng a F I R agai n st them. The controversy started after an I sraeli cou ple got married i n the traditional way
a n d sea led the wedding with a kiss. Since then the priest community has been fum i ng over this public d isplay
of passion a t a holy p l a ce l i ke Pushkar.
Terming it a c l ear violation of rel igious senti ments a n d norms, Sri Tirth Guru Purohit Sa ngh Trust has l odged
a compl a i n t with the pol ice agai nst the couple. Though kissi ng a mong tourists is a common scene at public
p laces i n P u s h ka r, t h i s i s the fi rst i nsta n ce when a pol ice case h a s been l odged against a ny foreigne r for
h u r t i ng rel igious senti ments. What enraged the p riests the most was the fact that the I srael i duo star ted
embracing a nd kissing each other while the Ved i c hymns were bei ng chanted. The cou p l e c l a i med that t hey
were encouraged by l ocal s to go for a kiss d u ri ng the weddi ng cere mony. They a l so said that they respect the
sa nctity of the holy place but if kissi ng was agai nst the rel igious senti ments, the priests shoul d have cautioned
them beforehand. Pushkar has seen a rapid increase of tourists from I srael i n recent yea rs, who stay here for
months. Last yea r, a stri ptease d a nce by a n I s ra e l troupe h a d snowbal l ed i nto a major controversy t h a t
u l t i mately led to the removal o f the d istrict col lector, who w a s p resent a t the show. ( N o k i ss i ng a t P u s h k a r
wed d i ngs, Ra njeet S J a mwa l , T S . O , 1 1 .09 . 0 5 , EOO)
•
Smok i ng a n d d ri nk i ng, however i nnocent, a re considered as symbols of moral l axity a mong I nd i a ns .
• H uggi ng, e m b ra c i n g a n d k i s s i ng a woma n i n p u b l i c i s out of question i n society. A l so, women never
a pproach a stra nge r for a casual conversation.
These are just some of the nuggets of wisdom i n the administration's new mora l ity guide to Pushka r's foreign
tourists. Concerned a bout the rising i ncidents of 'cultural c l ashes' between the pandits of Pushkar a n d the
foreign tourists, the Ajmer a d m i ni stration i s tryi ng to broker peace th rough a rule book for the visitors.
The 20-page book, drafted publi shed and distributed by the a d m i n istration, i nd i cates that I nd i a n s consider
smoking and dri n king as symbols of moral l ax ity and consider any publi c d i s p l ay of affection with women as
soc i a l ta boo.
The a d mi n i stration is hopi ng that a conservative portrayal of the I nd i a n culture woul d deter the touri sts from
behavi ng i n a m a n ner t h a t would i ncense the l oca l pri ests, who have been a t l oggerheads with tourists,
sayi ng that they have been pol l uting the holy city. Prithvi Raj Sankhla, SOM of Ajmer, feels that by warning the
touri sts, such c u l t u ra l d a s hes cou l d be averte d . A week a go , a F i n n i s h tou r i st bathed on the ghats in the
nude a n d then w a l ked down to her hote l . The priests created a furore a nd fi l ed a case agai nst her. In 2004,
priests had l a u nc hed a stir when a group of I srae l i women .. stri pped" on the outski rts of P us hkar d u ring a
priva te party_ ( P us h ka r to have rule book for tourists, S a n d i p a n S h a r m a , I E.C, 1 9. 1 1 .05, EOO)
E01 Env i ron menta l I m pact of Tou rism
U nion Tou ri sm M i n i ster M r s Ren u ka Chowdhury s a i d i n the Lok Sabha that u n l ess t h e people's concerns
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a risi ng out of the debil itating environmental situation i n the Sunderban s, the world's l a rgest mangrove forests,
were a d e q ua te l y a d d ressed , i t wou l d be 'very d i fficu l t " for her to " m arket" the region a s a pri me t o u r i st
l ocation of the cou ntry, "Sunderbans i s causing a n xious moments," the M i ni ster said while respon d i ng to a
s u p p lementa ry q uest io n on rural tourism by M r Basudev Barman ( C P I -M). She s a i d a gro u p of people h a d
a ppealed t o MPs drawing the i r attention t o environ mental degradation taking place i n the ecologically sensitive
regio n . M r B a r m a n wa n ted the M i n i ster to ta ke steps to deve l op Suderba n s a s p a r t of her r u ra l tou r i s m
development scheme. (Sunderba n s rea l ly worries Renu k a , TS. D, 1 0.05.05, E0 1 )
The hospital ity divi sion of the M uthoot G roup i s to focus on conservation tou rism a nd i s rea dying a boutique
of s m a l l p rojects with l e sser envi ron ment i mp a ct . A part of t h e group's reve n u e wi l l be set aside for
conservation p rojects l i ke protection of a s pecies a n d a l so support a project of the tri bal people, a ccord i ng
to d ivision executive d i rector M George.
About the boutique of projects, he said they wou l d be high-end resorts with not over 20 rooms. The a i m was
not ra pid expa nsio n , but create a susta i ned destination a n d take the lead i n this i nitiative. The p rojects woul d
b e i n beach a n d backwate r desti nation: T h e d ivision h a d evolved a strategy to enter agri c u lt u ra l tourism so
that the i n dustry cou l d regai n its status, he added. (Muthoot's hospita l ity d ivision to focu s on conservation
project s , F E . B, 1 9. 0 5 . 0 5 , E0 1 )
The Envi ron ment M i n i stry of the D e l h i government ha s made i t m a n datory for a l l five star, fou r· sta r hotel s ,
restau ra nts w i t h more t h a n 1 0 0 seats a n d hos p i ta l s t o u se degra d a b l e pl astic bags . As p e r a notification
issued by the M i n i st ry i n this rega rd, fi rst t i me violators wi l l be fined Rs 1 0,000, the second and su bsequent
d efa u l ters w i l l be f ined Rs 20,000. The S r i ra m I n stitu te for I n d ustri a l Research, cou nci l for Scientific a n d
I n stitutional Research (CSI R), Central I n stitute for Plastic Engi neering a n d Technol ogy (CI PE E Che n n a i ) have
been short l i sted by the M i n i stry for provid ing the degradability certification. The Certifica te of degradabil i ty
is made mandatory for a l l the a bove hotel s a n d restaurants. O n a n average the monthly consumption of a ny
five-st a r hotel ranges between 3 , 000A,000 bags. Whi l e most of them have a l ready moved t o degra d a b l e
p l a stic bags, others a re l ooking for agencies w h i c h provide t h e degrada ble plastic bags. (Degra d a ble plastic
bags m u st for hospital s , star hotels, Environment M i n i st ry to hold surprise checks and fine violators, Teena
Tha c ke r, I E . D, 30 .08.05 , EO l )
The fou nders of the Rough G u i des a n d Lonely P l a net books, trou bled that t hey have hel ped spread a ca sual
attitude towards air travel that cou ld trigger devastati ng c l i mate c h a nge, a re u n i t i ng to u rge tou rists to fly
less. M a rk E l l i ngham the founde r of Rough G u ides, a n d Tony Wheeler, who created Lonely P l a net after taking
the h i ppie t ra i l a c ross Asi a , want fel l ow travel lers to "fly less a n d stay longer" and donate money to c arbon
offsetting schemes. From next month, warnings will a ppear in a l l new editions of their guides about the i mpact
of flyi ng on global warming a longside a l ternative ways of reaching certai n destinations.
But the fou nders of the U K's two biggest travel p u b l is hers a re refusi ng to give u p flyi ng and a d m it they a re
not pa ragons of e nvi ron menta l virtue. Both men h ave a l so pledged to donate money to the cha rity C l i ma te
C a re to offset the ca rbon e m i ss i o n s of thei r 650 staff who fly a ro u n d the world every yea r com pi l i ng a n d
updating their t ravel books. I n Rough Guides, the warnings w i l l come u nder the "getting there" sections o f a l l
new editions a nd wil l emphasize a lternative forms of trave l . Whi l e a i r t ravel is predicted to i ncrease threefold
i n the n ext 20 yea rs, E l l i ngham denied h i s company had encouraged the s urge i n flyi ng. (Travel guides urge
less flyi ng, HI D, 0 5 . 03 .06, E0 1 )
Ecologi ca l footpri n t i ng was devised i n t h e 1 990s. A k i n d of ecologic a l a ccou nti ng, footpri nti ng measu res
human resource consu mption a n d waste level s (both of which a re i nc reasing) aga i nst the earth's biocapacity,
which i nc ludes the a mount of biologi ca l ly p roductive space ava i l a ble a nd the capacity of the earth to a bsorb
waste a nd poll ution, and to regenerate.
Ou r "fa i r s h a re " of the globe's resou rces works out to a round two hect a res per person a year, whereas the
a ve rage person in the U nited Ki ngdom req u i res 5 . 3 hectares each (the equiva l e n t of six footbal l p itches).
Craig Si mmons, co·au thor of Sharing Nature's I nterest, i nsists that footprinti ng i s crucial beca use it gives us
a s n a p shot of ou r i mpact a t a globa l , nationa l , regional and perso n a l leve l . U ns u rprisi ngly, M r. S i m mons
recommends c al l i ng t i me on u nnecessa ry air trave l : "Dol l a r for dol l a r, chea p fl i ghts have a huge i mpact. A
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fl ight to the east coast of America can add a n ot her two to three hectares on to your personal footprint for the
yea r. "
Less obvious, but i n creasingly significant, i s the amount of electroni c gadgets a n d a ppl i a nces we let i nto our
l ives each yea r. (How can I calculate my 'eco footprint'? We a re consu m i ng more a n d dumping more than ever
before. A guide on how to shri n k you r ecological shoe size, Lucy Siegle, T H . B, 06. 03.06, E0 1 )
EOla Envi ronmenta l Laws a n d Pol i cy
The d raft N a t i o n a l E nvironment Pol i cy ( N E P ) released by t h e U n io n M i n istry of Envi ronm e n t a n d Forest
e mphasi ses ' po l l uter pays', 'cost·m i n i m i sation' and m arket·based i ncentives for poll ution contro l , A l ogical
fol l ow u p should be to vest stewards h i p of n atural resources with comm u n ities that a re d i rectly dependent
o n the m . N E p, however, fal l s short here. This l ac u n a i s g l a ri ng beca use most com mon resources in I nd i a
degenerate i nto open resources, over which l ocal commu n it ies have very l i ttle contro l .
People w h o converted forests i nto agricultura l l a n d , a nd then i nto residential or comme rc i a l l a n d , received
p roperty titl es, but t hose who let the forests stand a re now told that t hese forests belong to a l l peo p l e, n ot
just to them. Thi s i s grave i nj ustice. N EP does t a l k of mend i ng matters a n d givi ng l egal recognition to forest
dwellers' traditional rights. But then, how exactly to recognise traditional rights? N EP only has trite suggestions
of partnersh i ps between com mu n it i es a nd forest department offi c i a l s, a nd a rguments to u niversal i se Joint
Forest Manage ment (JFM).
Of course, J FM does e n courage community pa rt i c i pation. But it offers comm u n ities no long·term sta ke i n
i mprovi ng forests. Moreover, where i s t h e lega l mech a n i s m that gua ra ntees revenue shari ng between t h e
forest depa rtment a n d comm u n i ties? J FM needs to move towards c o m mu n i ty forestry m a na ge me n t a n d
recogn ize communities a s custodians or stewards o f forests. The forest department should merely a c t as a n
advisor o r consultant. The N E P recognises that i m p roper prici ng pol i cies for water, electricity a nd fue l s have
led to water misuse. However, it does not clea rly a rticulate the way to rat i o n al ize these policies. It a lso fa i l s
t o e mphas i se t h a t p ri c i ng is b u t a subset o f t h e i ssue o f t h e use r rights t o water.
A way to a l l ocate water rights wou l d be to firm u p t he system of 'project a l l ocations' used by the gover n ment
today. P roject a uthorities enter i nto l ong·term contracts with mun i c i p a l corporations and other government
agencies for supply of fixed q ua ntities of water. These quantitative a llocations should be converted to legal ly
enforceable proportional a l l ocations to water user associations. These rights should be t ra dable. This a pproach
is very d i fferent from the eme rging pract i ce of privati sing river waters by l ea s i n g several ki lometres of them
to p rivate com p a nies · our method o n ly formal i ses existi ng cla i ms.
But what a bout fa m i lies who c annot a fford to pay? The government can either decide o n 'free' a l location per
person or per fam i ly · then pay for that wate r from the general tax reven ue. Thi s q u ota is for a l l · the rich as
wel l a s the poor. Water consume d above this 'free' quota will have to be paid by each fami ly. As recourse, the
a ut horities c a n subsidise o n ly the poor a nd m a ke the rich pay for every dro p of water they consume. (It's just
the basic, Pa rth J S h a h & H B Soumya , I E. C , 05.06.05, E0 1 a)
Rep l a c e the W i l d l i fe P rotect i o n Act (WPA) 1 97 2 , the I nd i a n Forest Act ( I FA) 1 92 7 a n d the Forest (Tr i b a l
Rights) B i l l 2005 with a n i ntegrated piece o f legislation. The Renewable N atural Resource (Conservation) Act,
which i ncorporates the good pa rts of a l l the t h ree above a n d is futuristic i n its vision a n d a pp l i ca t i o n a n d
does not suffer e i ther from t h e siege menta l i ty o f t h e W PA which revel s i n prohi bition of a l l sorts or t h e free
for a l l m andate of the tribal b i l l .
The nation needs a l a w that h a s gone t h rough the rigour o f a good working d raft fol l owed by p u b l i c hea ri ngs,
expert debates a n d a ct ive d i scussion in Parl i a ment, a l l with a p re·agreed t imefra me.
Foc u s on the whole a n d not just the parts.
Focus on trends a n d not numbers.
Focus o n front l i nes a n d top l i nes.
•
Focus on l ocal s .
•
( Forests: for a hol i st i c, futuristic v i s i o n , M an oj Kumar M i sra, T H . B, 3 1 .07 . 0 5 , E 0 1 a )
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Act i vi sts, environment groups a n d i n d i v i d u a l s a re p rotesti ng t he secretive ways of the U n ion M i n i stry of
Envi ronment and Forests (MoEF). The M i n i stry has final i sed a draft of the National Envi ron ment Pol icy (N EP)
and submitted it to the Cabi net for a p proval , without making the pol icy public, as sti pulated under the Right
to I nformation (RTI) Act of 2004. Over 70 citizens' groups and i n dividua l s have written to the Pri me M i n i ster
to make it public. The first draft of the N E P was fil led with contra d i ctions. The revi sed draft should have been
shown to u s , and national consu ltations hel d with c it izens, before it was sent to the Cabi net," sai d Ashish
Kothari of Kal pavri ksh. (What a re the babus h i d i ng? Anupama J ava ra m a n , I E. B, 29.08.05, E0 1 a )
For t h e fi rst ti me, t h e a pex court h a s put i n pl ace a system t o eva l u ate a n d collect t h e envi ronmental cost of
any project i n forest l a nd. U ntil now, the cost i ncluded just that of trees fel led. But i n a 70 page judgment. the
S u p reme Court has ordered that p rojects be c h a rged N et P resent Va l ue (N PV); va l u e of ben efits from a
forest i nc l u d i ng oxygen production, biodiversity, ca rbon absorption a nd fl ood and d rought contro l . The only
p rojects exem pted w i l l be govern ment hospita l s, d i spensa ries, non commerc i a l government ventures l i ke
schools, water tan ks, sewers. The N PV collected w i l l go to a nati onal corpus that w i l l be audited by CAG a n d
used f o r preservi ng forests, not necessa r i ly i n the state where the p roject i s com i ng u p. T h i s i s ove r a n d
a bove the cu rrent system of compensatory afforestation . .
N PV i s a l ready bei ng charged by fou r states - B i h a r, Chattisga r h , M a h a ra st ra a nd Ha rya n a . More t h a n Rs
300 c rore has been col lected so fa r and i s lying with the cou rts with no cla rity on what to do with the money.
The plea that publ i c sector p rojects of N H PC or Power-grid be exempted has been tu rned down by a three
- mem ber bench headed by J ustice Y K Sabharwal who del ive red the judgment after a conti nuous three·day
hea ri ng on an o m n i bus forest ease. (SC defi nes 'green' cost for p rojects bui l t on forest l a n d , Sonu J a i n , I E.D,
29.09.0 5 , E0 1 a)
The final tec h n i ca l report of the National Biodiversity Strategy a n d A( ' i on P l a n (N BSAP) has said that I ndia
has l ost over half of its forest cover, 40 % of its ma ngroves, and a significant part of its wetla nds in the past
couple of centuries.
The report "Secu r i n g I n d i a 's Futu re: The F i n a l Tech n i ca l Repor t of the N a t i o n a l B i odiversity Strategy a n d
Action P l a n " relea sed wa s origi n a l ly supposed t o have been a n offic i a l report of t h e U n i on Envi ronment and
Forests M i n i stry. I t was made pu bl i c as a citi zen's report si nce the M i ni stry had fa i l ed to act on it for a l most
two yea rs.
Citi ng ha bitat destruct i o n , hunting a n d over-exploitation as the i mmediate ca uses of b i odiversity l oss, the
report sai d that behi nd these factors were an unsustai na ble a nd i n sensitive model of 'development, ' brea k­
down of traditional management practices a nd i nstitutions, centra l i sation of dec i sion-ma k i ng powers in the
govern ment, serious social and economic equities, cha nges in moral and cultural values and lack of recognition
of the ful l val ue of biodiversity i n economi c planni ng. The scenario was worsened by globa l i sation, it said . I n
January 2000, the M i n i stry fac i l i tated the N BSAP process, starting with the unusual step of giving its technical
coord i nation to Kal pvri shk, worki ng in conjunction with a 1 5-member tec h n i c a l and pol i cy core grou p. The
p roject wa s fu nded t h rough the G l oba l Envi ronment Fac i l i ty ( G EF) by the U n i ted N a t i o n s Deve l opment
Progra m me. The final report was submitted to the M i n i st ry in 2003. U nt i l then , the M i n i stry had i nd icated
that it wou l d be the national p l a n .
Stress i ng o n more decentra l i sed governa nce and ad m i n i strati o n , it sai d there was a need for a national land
a n d water use plan besides re-ori e n tat i on of agricultu re, i nd u st ry, i nfra structure a n d other development
sectors. It highlighted the need for central involvement of commun ities most dependent on biological resources
a nd exp a n s i o n of a reas a nd species u nder conservation. (50 % forests l ost, says report, T H . D, 05. 1 0. 0 5 ,
E0 1 a)
Six countries i nc l u d i ng I ndia and C h i na wi l l form an Asia Pacific i n itiative as a ' pa ra l lel to the Kyoto protocol
a n d wi l l meet i n Syd ney next month to d i scuss effective methods to reduce gree n h ouse ga s e m i ss i o n s .
Ca l l i ng the Kyoto p rotocol a fa i l u re, Austra l ia's i n d ustry m i n i ster I a n Macfa r l a n e said the n e w Asia Pac ific
foru m · i nc l ud i ng Austra l i a , I nd i a , C h i n a , U n i ted States, J a pa n a nd South Korea - wi l l be more effective i n
red ucing green house gas emissions.
The grouping, which represent half the world's economy', will meet for the first partnershi p on clean development
a n d c l i mate d i scussions. (Six countries i n bid to form pa ra l lel to Kyoto, F E . B, 3 l . 1 2. 0 5 , E0 1 a)
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EOl b Envi ronmenta l I ss ues
A new wave of i ndust ri a l i sation threatens to make the peopl e of Orissa envi ron menta l refugees in thei r own
l a n d . The State's a i r, w a ter, w i l d l ife a n d people's l ivel i hood s a re bei ng destroyed by the so·c a l l ed i n dustri a l
bl itzkrieg, accordi n g to environ mental i sts. S pu rred by t h e s p i ra l l i ng demand for steel a n d a lu m i n i u m i n the
i nternational market, several conglomerates h ave come forward t o set up meta l p roduction u n its to exploit
t he m inera l resources of the State. The i ndustri a l i sation boom i s expected to result i n massive envi ron mental
degradation sin ce the l ocal envi ronment has a l i mited "carrying capacity" to a bsorb a n d a ss i m il a te effluents
and wa stes prod u ced d u e to such giga n t i c prod uction fac i l it i es bei ng squeezed with i n a very s hort t i me.
(, I ndustri a l i sation w i l l harm Orissa's ecology greatly' , Praful l a Das, BL.C, 07.06 .0 5 , E0 1 b)
EOlc Forests
The efforts of a band of wom e n to conserve and devel o p ma ngrove forests a re c reating a revo l u tion in the
h i nterland of Chettuva . With the support of the H abitat Science Teaching Community, Depa rtment of Socia l
Forestry, Gym k h a n a C l u b a n d little F l ower Col l ege, t h e women p l a nt t h e s a p l i ngs a ro u n d p o n d s i n t h e i r
houses a n d re·plant them, after a few months, i n t h e mangrove forest at Azh i mukhom i n Kadappuram panchayat,
25 km from Thriss u r. Thi s is perhaps the fi rst t i me in the country that a group of vi l la ge women is tak i ng a n
i n terest i n conserv i n g m angrove forests. (A wom e n ' s revo l u t i on i s o n ; Conserva t i o n a n d d eve l o p m e n t of
m anfrove forests, K. Santhos h , T H .C, 1 4. 04.05, E0 1 c)
The Envi ronment M i n i st ry p l a n s to adopt a "mu lti ·sta keholder' a pproach to i m prove private partici pation to
i ncre a se forest cover in the cou ntry. An i nter· m i n i steria l con su l tation is requ i red w i t h va rious m i n i stries to
i ro n out i ssues l i ke the extent of f i n a nce that the Gover n ment wou l d be w i l l i ng to extend and the revenue
s h a re between the Government a n d p rivate parties.
While the Mi n i stry i s final ising i t p l a ns, it would soon seek feedback from various i ndustries, non·governmental
orga n isations ( NGOs), resea rchers a n d other m i n i stries. Whi l e the proposa l is a t a preli mi n a ry stage, i t may
entai l changes in the Forest Conservation Act, depending on the fi n a lised pla ns, said officia l s . Meanwhi l e, the
country lost 26,245 sq km of dense forests between 2001 and 2003, though the overa l l forest cover i ncreased
by 2 , 795 sq k m . As m u c h a s 3 ,9 0 , 564 sq km of the count ry's geogra p h i ca l a re a was u nd e r dense forest
cover, w h i l e open forests covered 2 ,87 ,769 sq k i n , a ccord i ng to the ' State of Forest Report -2003' (SFR·
2003) rel ea sed by the Forest Su rvey of I nd i a . A tot a l of 6 ,78,333 sq km or 20.64 % of a rea i s under forest
cover. Asked about the loss i n dense forests, Mr Raja attri buted it to various i n dustri a l , d eve l opmental a nd
m i n i ng projects being u n dertaken a cross the country. The Government rul es sti pu late that those u ndertak i ng
such p rojects have to compensate for the l oss of forests by pla nting trees on double the forest l a n d used for
the purpose. (Mi nistry to adopt ' mu lti-stakeholder' approach to i ncrease forest cover; To seek feedback from
i nd u st ry, NGOs, B L . B, 20.07.05, E 0 1 c)
The Cent re rece ntly a p proved d iversi o n of forest l a n d u nd e r Secti o n 2 of t h e Fores t (Conserva t i o n ) Act,
1 980 to certai n gove r n ment departments for d evelopment activities. However, a p p rova l w i l l be granted for
two yea rs , e n d i ng December 3 1 , 2006, a n d w i l l be s u bj ect to review thereafter. Accordi ngly, rel axation of
roles cover activities s u c h as construction of school bui ld i ngs, d i s pe n s a ry a n d hospita l s , e l ectric a n d
telecommu ni cation l i nes, drinking water, rai nwater harvesting structures, minor i rrigation canals, structures
of non· conventional sources of energy, putt i n g u p skill development a n d vocational t ra i ning centres, power
substations, com m u n ication posts, police stations, outposts, border outposts a nd watch towers i n sensitive
a reas.
The Centre, in its guideli nes, stated that development and conservation shou l d go hand in h a n d . Awa reness,
however, a mong the peopl e i s bound to come from w i th i n , provided other necessities such as food , cloth i ng,
ed u c a t i o n , hea l t h , a nd c o m m u n i ca t i o n a re s a t i sfied. The Centre is com m i tted to exped i te its efforts for
devel opment activities in forest a reas, covering the triba l people and others l iving in the forest.
The Centre is rea dy to t a c k l e the problems of sensitive a re a s on the socio-eco n o m i c f ro n t . It i s set to
faci l itate spec i a l exe cu t i on of esse n t i a l deve l opment activities. But, t h e Govern me n t wa nts to e n su re a
ba l a nce between economic a nd development considerations on one h a n d a n d ecological considerations on
the other. I t i s i mperative that for creation of t hese fac i l ities i n forest a n d its fri nge a reas, most of the l a n d
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req u i rement w i l l have to be met from forest l a n d . The general a p p rova l of t h e Centre i s bound by certa i n
conditions. Forest l a n d diverted for s pecific develop ment works s hould be less than one hecta re i n each case
a n d c l ea ra n ce from the Centre is su bject to the cond i t i o n that it is need based . ( Fo rest A ct rel a xe d for
development, Jeevan C h i n n a p p a , T H . B, 28.08 . 0 5 , EO l c)
EOld Wi l dl i fe
Stu n n e d by the fate of t igers a t S a r i ska i n Rajast h a n , Forest offic i a l s a t B a n d i p u r a re o n a n a l e rt a nd w i l l
strengthen t h e a nti ·poa c h i n g c a m ps t o deal with t h e cri s i s plagui ng the stri ped beauty which i s totteri ng on
the bri n k of ext i n ct i o n . Strengt he n i ng such camps is n ow perceived to be an a rea of priority ever s i n ce the
cou nt ry was hit by the t ragedy at Sariska where poachers w iped a way the magnificent creatu res forc i ng the
P r i me M i n i ster to express concern over the fate of w i l d l ife and the Central B u re a u of I nvestigat i o n (CB I )
stepped i n for i nvestiga t i o n . There a re 3 1 a nt i · poa c h i n g ca m p s i n t h e B a n d i p u r N at i o n a l Pa rk a n d 2 4 i n
N agarahole. The a uthorities have sought permission t o create 30 more c a m ps for the forest p rotection work.
H owever, some non·gove r n me nta l organ i sa t i o n s worki ng on conservation i ssue say that strengthening the
a nt i · poac hi ng c a m ps i s a welcome d eve l opment, but the Depa rt ment of Forests shou l d t a ke c a re of the
personnel posted to s u c h ca m ps . The average age of a forest g u a rd is reckoned to be 50 with majority of
them sufferi ng from hypertension or d i a betes, a nd t h u s u nfit for the rigours of t h e forest protection task.
(Forest staff gea r up to prevent a Sariska in Bandi pur, Krishna Ku ma r, T H .B, 0 2 . 04.05, EO l d)
A l l may not be wel l with the tigers, but there i s good news for a n i ma l lovers from G i r, the o n ly natural habitat
of the Asiatic l i on in the worl d . Accord i ng to a l i o n census carried out at Sasan G i r in the Saura shtra region of
G u j a ra t , the l i o n p o p u l a t i o n i n the n a ti o n a l park h a s c l i mbed to 359 com p a red t o 3 2 7 i n 200 1 . The G i r
N ational Park i s , i n fact, overflow i ng a n d the l ions have s p i l led over to a djoi n i ng a reas. A few years ago, a pride
of l ions had moved to the coast near Verava l , a tow n a bout 3 5 k m from Sasan G i r. That w a s the first t i me the
l i o n was fou nd to be a d a pt i n g i tself to a coasta l envi ronment. Gujarat i s , however, sti l l not w i l l i ng to rel ocate
the l i ons i n a ny other p a r t of the country. W i l d l ife experts have been d e m a n d i ng that the l io n population
s h o u l d be s p read out to i mp rove its s u rviva l , in case an e p i d e m i c stri kes G i r. M a d hya P ra d e s h h a s been
req uest i ng that some l i on s be moved to i ts forests. (Wi l l Guj a rat's ' pride' h u rt G i r? G a u ra v Raghuva n s h i ,
B L . B, 0 1 . 0 5 . 0 5 , EO l d)
Yea rs before savi ng the tige r became a raging national concern , one m a n h a d made it h i s sole mission. H e
d evoted h i s entire I ife to savi n g I n d i a 's b i g c a t , w h i c h way b a c k i n t h e 70s d i d n ot face the k i n d o f t h reat i t
faces today. That man i s B i l ly A rj a n S i ngh, I nd ia ' s origi nal 'tiger m a n ' . H e chose to set u p home on t h e edge
of the D u d hwa N ational Park i n U P so that he coul d p rotect the tige r a nd leopard s i n the forest. N ow a s the
88·ye a r·old l ooks back, he feels he was successful despite being a persona non·gratis for the govern ment and
the local goo n s . H e c l a i m s t here a re n ot more than 20·25 tigers today i n D u d hwa and they s u rvived chiefly
because the Park is the o nly one boasting of bio·diversity.
That a part, there i s n ' t much a bout the state of t igers i n I nd i a that S ingh feels c heerful a bout. Even the recent
a ppoi ntment of the T i ge r Task Force by the P r i m e M i n i ster i s n ot m u s i c to h i s ears. "The w rong perso n i s
hea d i ng it. S u ni t a N arai n calis herself a n environmental i st , which I feel i s a m i x of one or a nother. A n d as such,
one i s not givi ng p r i or i ty to the c a u se. They s h o u l d h ave a ppoi n ted someone l i ke U l l a s Karat o r Val m i k
Thapar" h e says. (Wrong person i s headi ng t iger pa nel: B i l ly Arj a n S ingh, Meenakshi Kumar, TOI . M , 1 5. 08.05,
EO l d)
The tussle between the Tatas a n d the turtles has ta ken a new twist with the recent a ssertion from Tata Steel
officia l s that Dha mra Port Compa ny Ltd (Tata Steel · L&T JV) would go a head with t he port at Dha mra , Orissa
even before the e nvironmental study is over.
The e nvi ronmental a s sessment of the port a s s u m es critica l i mp orta nce a s i t i s l ocated i n the i mmed i a te
v i c i n ity of t h i s fragi l e zone of Ol ive R i d l ey sea t u r t l es a n d a ny s u c h a ct i v i ty poses a t h reat to t h i s ra re
species.
The envi ronmental study for the p roposed port, w h i ch is c urrently being c a rried out by Bombay N a t u ra l
H i story Soci ety ( B N H S) a n d other N G O s , i s not expected t o get over by A p ri l · M ay, 2006. Tat a Stee l h a s
stated t h a t the work o n the project wou ld commence b y J an u a ry 2006. I n response to a n e ma i l q uery Tata
2 0 05 - 0 6
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Documenta tion Upda te
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Steel offi cia l s stated , Tata Steel a n d L&T a re not the type of comp a n i e s who woul d go a h ea d with a p roject
agai nst the i nterest of e nviron ment a n d ecology i n t h i s case the h abitat of the turtles.
H owever, a ccord ing to a n ot h e r study ca rried by out W i l d l ife I nstitute of I nd i a via sate l l ite, a l l the s a m pl e
turtles have a tendency t o move toward s t h e n orth o f D h am ra . Fou r turtles were tagged w i t h sate l l ite c h i p s
a n d their movements were monitored v i a satellite. The report o f t h e Central Empowered Commi ttee, a ppointed
by the S u p reme Court, had e a r l i e r suggested the port needs to be re· located a s it t h reate n s the existence
of O l i ve R i l ey turtles. (Tatas' tussle with tu rtles t a kes new twist, P roposed Por t C o m p a ny Poses R i s k to
Ol ive R i d l ey Tu rtles, M anoji t Saha, F E . D, 29.09.05 , E0 1 d )
T h e Forest Department h a s decided t o engage 1 200 e l e ph a nts for promot i n g n atu re t o u r is m i n n a t i o n a l
pa rks i n Ass a m . The Forest M i ni ster, P radvut Bordo l o i , said that the Gove r n ment wou l d o rgan i se elephant
festival s to sensitise people a bout co·ex i st i ng w i th the pachyderms to m i n i mi s e the growing m a n-elephant
conf l i ct. The destru cti o n of elephant h a bitats h a s led to t h i s confl i ct . U s i n g t he e l e p ha nts for promot i ng
tourism would help the i r owners to generate the income req u i red for maintaining them. The Forest Department
had engaged elephants owned by i ndividuals in the recently held Kaziranga N ational Park centenary celebrations
a n d a l so arra nged for thei r health check· u p. M r. Bordoloi said that an elephant vi l lage wou l d be set up by the
Depa rtment in col l a boration with tou r operators at Ran i on the outski rts of the c ity. ( Elephants to promote
natu re tourism, Susha nta Tal ukdar, T H . B, 20.02.06, E0 1 d)
E12 Natural a n d Common Resou rces
A Congress M LA is a mong s i x l a n d owners who have e nc roached on various stretches of J u h u bea c h . The
e n c roachments on the beach, w h i ch extends from J u h u Kol iw a d a in the south to M o ragaon near Versova ,
came to l ight l a st month when suburban deputy resident col l.ector G M Bodke fi led a n affid avit i n the H igh
Court l isting out the powerfu l people and esta b l i s h me nts that h ave grabbed expensive pieces of J u h u 's rea l
estate.
The affidavit was filed as part of the ongoi ng public i nterest l itigation demanding the implementation of the
J u hu beautification scheme a n d s hows a map i nd i cati ng that Congress M LA from Shirpur in d i strict D h u l e ,
A m r i s h Patel 's fa m i l y wh i c h ow n s p l ot n o . 1 7 a t J u h u bea c h , h a s en c ro a ched o n a secti o n o f t h e beac h .
Accord i ng t o t h e l ist s u bmitted, a cl u ster of five bungal ows owned by J u h u P roperty Pvt Ltd h a s usu rped a
who p p i ng 46, 000 sq mts on the northern end of the beach. Hotel Horizon has encroached u pon 900 sq mts
of the beach. (Cong M LA , hotel a mong encroachers at Juhu beach; Juhu P roperty Pvt Ltd usurped a whopping
46, 000 sqm , C l a ra Lewi s , TOI . M , 02 .05.05 , E 1 2)
M u lt i n ationals for rural water supply
We may have to pay a p r i ce even
1 0 . 0 5 . 0 5 , E 1 2)
Medha Patkar c rushe d a bottle of packaged d ri n k i n g water to symbol i c a l ly l a u nch t h e c a m p a i gn a g a i nst
privatisation of water supply. Envi ron mental ist and social activist Medha Patkar was to launch the Karnataka
leg of the nationwide c a m pa ign s pe a rheaded by the N a t i o n a l A l l i a nce of Peo p l e ' s M ovement. Ms. Patk a r
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2 0 05 - 0 6
a l l eged that the state govern ments a re being pressured by multir:lational compan i e s a n d the World B a n k to
p rivatise water supply i n one form or the other a nd the i ncreased m arketing of bottled water is the evidence
of t h i s . C. B a l a k r i s h n a n , convenor of the a l l i an ce, s a i d : "Many of these bottles a re fil led with conta m i nated
water resulti ng in health hazards. The poor a re den ied their right u nder the Constitution to free supply of safe
d ri nking water. "Gro u nd water is fast getti ng depleted, a nd the lack of state i nitiative and public i nvestments
to col l ect a n d preserve ra i nwater is adding to an u n precedented water crisis in m a ny parts of the country."
(Cam p a i gn a ga i nst priva t i sation of water supply l a u nched, T H . B, 25 . 1 0.05, E 1 2)
M a ny a re toy i ng with the i de a of commercia li s i ng water. The Worl d B a n k h a s been vigo rously ca mpa ign i ng
si nce the 1 990s a n d t hey have made i nroa d s i n Andhra P radesh, Orissa, a nd a l s o Del h i . Banga l o re i s not far
beh i n d . They have a l ready i dentified the soft targets a n d are s l owly u n l eas h i ng the p l a n . H en ce the protest of
c ivi l society organ i s a tions to thwart this a ttem pt i n Bangalore recently is not without rea son . Fres h water i s
a sca rce resou rce. O n ly 0 .008 % o f t h e p l a nets' water i s ava i l a bl e for h u m a n con s u m pt i o n . A c i ty o f o n e
m i l l ion uses approximately 625,000 metric tons of water everyday. Pol lution of rivers a nd oceans is i ncreasing.
It is easy to ta ke clea n water a nd regul a r access for gra nted in the deve l oped nations.
Water priva tisation exa cerbates the exi st i ng globa l i neq u a l ity of a ccess to water. Cou ntries that a re now
suffering severe water short a ges a re home to the poorest people on earth. To charge them for a l ready scarce
su ppl ies is to guara ntee growi ng water disparities. H u n d reds of thousa nds of Bolivians came i nto the streets
to protest when Bechte l , backed by the Wor l d B a n k , dou bled water rates.
Every a rtic l e o n t he s u bject of water sta rts with the rem i nder of the pop u l at i o n exp l os i on a n d w here i t i s
occurring. I m plying that "these people" a re responsi ble for the loomi ng water crisis. B u t a mere 1 2 % of the
world 's popu l a ti o n uses 85 % of i ts wa ter, a n d these 1 2 % do n ot l ive in the Thi rd Wor l d .
T h e privatisation o f t h i s sca rce resource w i l l lead to a two· tier, t h ose who ca n afford water a n d t hose w h o
ca n not. I t w i l l force m i l l ions t o choose between necessi ties s u c h as water a n d h e a l t h ca re. I n Engl a n d , high
wate r rates force people to choose whether or n ot to wash t h e i r food, flush the i r toi lets, or even bathe. Water
as a fundamenta l h u m a n right is guara nteed i n the UN U niversal Decl a ra tion on H u ma n Rights. ( P rivatising
water i s to h i t the poor where i t h u rts most, Somasekh a r V K, VT. 03. 1 2 . 0 5 , E 1 2)
E20 Tou r i s m a n d Crime
A 4 7 ·year·old German tou rist w a s a l legedly raped b y a n a uto· rickshaw d river a n d h i s a ccom p l i ce i n J od h p u r.
The two were a rrested a few hou rs l ater by the city pol i ce. The tourist, a n employee of Lufthansa Airlines, was
raped o n t he outski rts of the city after the two abducted her from the heart of Jodhpur. The victim's screams
woke up peo p l e in a nearby ha mlet, who ca me to the tourist's rescue. By then the accused had fled from the
scene. Nea rly t h ree hours l ater, the a uto d rive r S h a n k a r Lal was i ntercepted by the po l i ce a nd a r rested .
(Germ a n tourist raped i n Jod h p u r, I E . C, 1 3.05.05, E20)
Taking serious view of t he rape of a Germa n tourist, the Raja sthan H igh Court has d i rected the l ower court to
complete the hea ri ng with i n a mont h . The Cou rt observed that this case was very serious as it coul d ta rnish
the i ma ge of the cou nt ry and a lso c reate a sense of fea r a mongst fore ign tou rists. T h e Cou rt made the
p u b l is hed reports in newspa pers a s ba se and i ssued notices to H o me Secreta ry of the state, D i rector of
Tou ri s m Depa rtment a nd S P of J o d h p u r to p resent t h e i r a nswers before the Cou rt w i th i n a wee k . Thi s,
perha ps, i s the fi rst of i ts k i nd of P I L i n the h i story of j u d i c i a ry where, the H igh Court h a s d i rectly · issued
notices to the gove r n ment a gencies a n d d i rectives for the lower court.
Mea nwh i l e the tourist h a d s hown her gratitude towa rds .the v i l lage rs of Basni Ved a who ca me to her rescue
a n d Jod h p u r pol i ce. (Jod h p u r ra pe case: HC tel l s l ower cou r t to speed up, TOI . D, 1 5 .0 5 . 0 5 , E20)
A l a rge n um be r of craft emporiums i n the city of Taj a re known to cheat tourists through c redit card frauds.
Ta k i n g serious note of the l a rge num ber of i ncidents in which touri sts were cheated i n Agra , U n ion Tourism
M i n i ster Ren u ka Chowdhary has asked the l oca l I n d i a Tourism office to co·ordi nate with the Agra a uthorities
and U P Tou rism Department to check credi t ca rd sca ms that a re giving a bad na me to the country's tou rism
industry.
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Tou rist I nformation Officer Mr La lta P rasad sai d he has recently received a lette r from a n American tou rist,
who had been defrau ded of Rs 28,000 by a n Agra jewel lery s ho p. The compl aint t hat was filed by the touri st
t h rough he r embassy had been forwa rded to the Agra offi ce of I nd i a Tou r i sm by U n ion Tou rism M i n i ster
Renuka Chowdha ry, seeking i m mediate a ction.
Mr P rasad sa i d R achel C a l de ro n , a resi dent of Los Ange l e s , U n i ted States, h a s com p l a i ned that she had
a rrived i n Agra o n N ovem ber 1 1 l a st yea r a n d i m mediately after a rriving t o the city was ta ken to H a m l i ng
Collections, a jewe l le ry shop i n Sada r Baza r a rea of the town by a l oc a l tout.
•
She p u rchased jewe l lery worth $ 7 0 but when she returned to US afte r a few weeks, she fou n d that i n stead
of $ 7 0 , she had been c h a rged $ 700 for t he jewe l l e ry fol low i n g w h i c h she f i l e d a comp l a i nt with the US
embassy.
M r Prasad said such cases of credi t card frauds with foreign tourists a re not new i n Agra a n d each yea r, the
I ndia Tou rism office receives several com plai nts from tourists against a se lect few emporiums, whose na mes
recur in the com p l a i nts.
Now, acting u pon this complaint forwarded recently by t he U nion Tourism M i n i ster, the I ndia Tourism office has
a s ked the Agra Senior Superi ntendent of Pol i ce Rajiv Kri s h n a , D i st ri ct Magist ra te S a n j ay P ra sad & J o i nt
D i rector U P Tourism, D K Burma n to i nvestigate the role of Agra e m poriu m s i n cheating tourists.
He recommends that the tourists should make cash payments after making purchases from Agra emporiums
and if a t a l l c red it c a rds a re used for the p u rc ha ses, t hey s hou l d i ns i st on the use of an electro n i c c a rd
verification machine i n stead of a m a n u a l process as the e lect ro n i c method i s fool ·proof to a l a rge extent. I n
m a n u a l method , there a re c h a n ces that the charge s l i ps might be a ltered by the e m pori um owner after the
tourist signed it. (Credit ca rd sca ms a bou n d in city of Taj , Vijay U p a d hyay, T P. D, 1 9. 0 5 . 0 5 , E20)
Worried that r i s i n g ca ses of rape a n d molestat i o n in Del h i may affect the tourism sector, U n i o n Tou ri s m
M i n i ster Ren u ka Chaudhury called poli ce Chief K. K. Pau l t o express concern a n d sought remedial steps. The
Pol ice Com m i ss i oner h ad a 1 5·mi nute·long meeti ng with the M i nister d u ring which they disc ussed ways to
i ncrease safety for women i n the c ity. The meet i n g comes a day after a wom a n was raped at the Safd a rjung
Hospital a n d c l ose on t he heels of the molestation of a young woma n who had come with her fa m i l y to h ave
d i n n e r i n C o n n a ught P l ace. S he s a i d she had suggested that the tourist pol ice force be conve rted i nt o a
dedicated force a n d offered her M i n istry's a ssista nce to "sensitise' i t . However the M i n i ster s a i d the pol i ce
a l one c o u l d not be expected to c u r b s u c h cases a n d common people s h ou l d a l s o be se n s i t i se d so t h a t
offen de rs were s oc i a l ly ostracised. ( I ncidents h a r m i n g touri sm, Pau l told , H T. D, 1 6.09 . 0 5 , E20)
Displayi ng commendable speed, a J a i pu r sessions court a nd the Rajasthan p o l i ce have combi ned to ensure
that a local rickshaw puller was handed a court sentence within 36 hours of molest i ng a forei gn tou rist. This
is the fourth time that offenders have been brought to justice s peedily in Rajasthan . The Vidhayak Puri poli ce
sta t i o n here · o n ly the second i n the country to h ave ISO 9000 cert i f i cation · received a com pl a i nt from a
tourist t hat she had been molested by a rickshaw puller whi le looki ng for a hote l . Police identified the rickshaw
puller, Vijay Das, within two hou rs and over the next few hours a pproached the court with a charge s heet. On
the pol i ce's req uest, the cou rt bega n the t ri a l i mmedi a te ly a n d h e a rd out some witnesses · i n te resti ngly
t h ree foreign touri sts deposed a s w i tnesses. The tria l res umed a nd the cou r t a nnou nced i ts j udgment by
eveni ng, h a n d i n g Das a six months' j a i l term a n d a Rs 500 fi ne. The court said i t w a s i m pe rative to hand out
punishment quickly i n such cases as the cou ntry's reputation was at stake. (Ja i l term in two days for teasing
tou rist, Sandipan Sharma , I E.C, 2 7 . 1 1 .05, E20)
E21 Tou r i st Pol ice a n d Secu r i ty
Security agencies a t the Taj M a h a l were aga i n faced e m barrassment when a Korea n tourist grou p staged a
song a n d d ance show inside the monu ment. I t was even recorded o n a video.
React i ng l a te, the Central I nd ustria l Security Force (CI SF), i n·charge of t he mon uments security, managed to
confiscate the video camera of the tourists and the tape was destroyed before a l lowing the tou ri sts to l eave
the monument premises. This group, being part of a cultural troupe of Korea visiting the town, was a llowed to
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enter the monument after a perfu nctory secu rity check. The tourist s proceeded tow a rd s the centra l t a n k of
the monument a nd assembled on the tan k in the form of a choir and began a song and dance sequence on the
platfor m that was bei ng fi l med by one of the tourists from the g roup, sai d the Deputy Comma nda nt.
Accord i n g to Ms S i ng h , the g u a rds i m me d iately ca ptu red the c a mera bei ng u sed by the tou rists and told
them that they had violated the rules of the monument that prohi bited v ideo·shoots from the centra l tan k .
The tou rists feigned ignorance o f t h e rules a n d sai d that thei r l ocal guide h a d told them i t w a s o k t o shoot t he
music v i deo at the monument.
She said that after i nterrogati ng the tourists, i t was a scertai ned that t hey had i ndeed made a m i stake, bei ng
m isgui d ed by the l ocal guide and they were a l l owed to complete their tour of the monument, though thei r
video ca mera was confiscated t i l l t hey retu rned from the i r tour. The ca mera was l ater handed bac k to them,
though the tape w a s destroyed. (Tou ri sts m a ke mockery of Taj sec u r i ty, Vijay U pa dhyay, T P. D, 1 7 .02.06,
E2 1 )
E22 Tou r i s m and Drugs
A city court has refused the bai l a p p l i cation of a n I srae l i national accused of i nternational drug trafficking and
money l a u nderi ng worth 10 m i l l io n Euros, equiva l ent to Rs 50 crore.
I nd i a n i m m igration a uthorities apprehended Elisha, wanted in the Netherlands for over two years, in February,
pursua n t to a l ookout notice run by the I nterpol . Accordi ng to the warrant, E l i s ha i s gu i l ty of i nvolvement i n
cri m i na l drug trafficking activities a nd l a u ndering money from c ri m i nal origin i n Hol land and New Zea land. (No
to bai l for foreign drug pedd ler, T P. D, 1 2.03.06 , E22)
E40 Sex-Tou r i s m
A h i gh -profi l e p rostitution racket w a s u nearthed b y the Del h i pol i ce a n d two wome n , i nc l u d i ng a Bol lywood
sta rlet, a nd an a l l eged p i m p were a rreste d . The a l leged p i m p was a c l ose associate of Del h i 's "flesh trade
ki ng" Kamaljit Si ngh. Vi ma l Thapa a nd the two women were hel d by the pol ice a lter a rai d on a star hotel i n
South Del h i . The i r network was spread over Delh i , Mumba i , Jaipur, Chandigarh, Uttara nchal a n d other states.
( Sex racket busted at a p o s h h ote l , AA . D, 0 3 . 1 0 . 0 5 , E40)
Thomas Cook i s run n i ng fam i ly tours of Amsterd a m 's red l ight d i strict. Thomas Cook c l a i ms the tour, offers a
fascinati ng i nsight i nto the oldest p rofession i n the worl d . But fa m i l y cam pa igners a n d M P ' condemned the
c o m pa ny for offe r i n g the Wa l k i ng Tou r· Dark Amsterd a m . The outi n g i nc ludes a brief i n g on the haunt by a
former p rostitute a nd a g u i ded tour. I t's s i m p ly not good e nough every decent p a re n t a nd fa m i l y w i l l be
a pp a l l ed that tours of t h i s n a tu re a re bein g offered not o n l y to a dults but a l so to i m pres s i on a b l e c h i l d re n .
Thoma s Cook c la i ms it offers t h e tour i n i t s 2006 S ignatu re Cities a n d Short B reaks brochure s pecia l i st a r m
o f t h e m a i n f i r m i n response t o feed back from c l ients. A p ress rel ea se o n t h e two - ho u r tou r says i t leaves a t
8 p m a n d w i l l take visitors deep i nto t h e famous red · light d i strict , accom pan ied by a rel i a bl e a n d trustworthy
guide. (Travel Co offers family tour of Amsterd a m 's red · l i ght d i strict , Beth H a l e , TOI . B, 1 7. 1 1 .0 5 , E40)
E41 Prost i tutio n and Traff i cki n g
The age nts i nvolved i n flesh t ra d e a re tra n s port i ng ba r girls o f M u mb a i t o va rious p l a ces of western Utta r
Pradesh ( U P). They a re l oo k i n g for new faces. Some agents have even fi n a l i sed the dea l . After M a h a ra s htra
G ove r n ment's d ec i sion to c l ose i ts n umerous qan ce bars. ma ny ba r g i r l s have lost thei r jobs. The state has
a bout 1 500 d a nc e b a rs emp l oy i n g more than 1 00.000 women who mostly da nce Bol l ywood n u m bers.
U n e m p l oyed , the b a r g i r l s have sta rted mov i n g to other I n d i a n c i ti es to eke out thei r l i vi ng. Some of them
have s h i fted t o Meerut. The l oc a l agents have thei r network s p awned i n s ma l l e r c i t i e s - M u zaffa r n a g a r
Bijnore Baghpat a n d Shara npur. (Western U P : New destination for Maha b a r girls, Aloke Sharma, TP.D, 07.05.05.
E41 )
The jobless women of M u m ba i 's da nce bars may turn their i re towards the U S Cons u l a te s i n ce Was h i ngton
supports the closure of the i nfamous 'dance bars. An official report released by Secretary of State Condoleezza
R i ce a pplauds the Mahara shtra Home M i n i ster's order to c lose down d ance bars. " M a ny of t hese served a s
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p rostitution a n d t raff i c k i ng outlets." the state department report sa i d . T h e US hopes that the c l osure of
da nce bars may check a new trend of traffickers favouring this "more sop h i sticated and concealed format for
sel l i ng victims trafficked for the pu rpose of sexual exp loitation over more blatant brothel·based traffic k i ng".
The a n n u a l exercise of tracking human trafficking throughout the work does not go i nto soc i a l a nd economic
rea sons for this globa l malady but US resea rchers a re wel l i n formed a bout the red l i ght d i stricts in fa r away
Mumbai .
T h e report does n ot expl a i n t h e rea sons f o r the s h i ft a w a y from brot he l · ba sed t ra ffi cki ng t o h i gh ·c l a s s
prostitutio n . Reports from I n d i a often suggest t h a t economic l i bera l isation a n d i ncreased busi ness travel a re
partly responsi ble for expensive five-star prostituti o n .
I nd i a i s a l s o a grow i n g dest i nation f o r s e x tou rists from Europe, t h e US a n d other Western countries, t h e
report note studies show that majority fema les i n t h e I nd i a n commerc i a l sex i n dustry a re cu rrently victims of
sexual servitude. (Trafficki ng: I n d i a u n de r US' watchful eye, L K Sha rma , D H . B, 0 5 . 06.05, E4 1 )
Wa rning that trafficking i n human beings has become a n organ ised transnational c ri m e generating profits of
more than $ 8- 1 0 b i l lion a yea r, chai rperson of the National H u m a n Rights Commission ( N H RC) J u stice A . S.
Anand said there were enormous gaps i n the I m mora l Traffic ( P revention) Act that need to be addressed.
Del iveri ng the keynote address at a seminar on Trafficking i n Human Beings, he sa id that i nstead of prosecuti ng
the traffickers u nder Sections 3, 4, 5 a n d 6 of I T PA, most prosecutions take place u nder Section 8, vict i m i s i ng
trafficked persons.
Noti ng that efforts to combat trafficking have res ulted in j u st ifyi n g repressive measu res aga i nst victims of
sexua l exploitation i n the name of thei r protection , he said anti ·trafficking measu res m ust take i nto account
the role of tra ff ickers a n d steps to p rotect the rights of the sex u a l l y exploited . (Ca l l for c h a nges in law on
human trafficking, T H . B, 29. 1 0.05, E41 )
N ow, i f a w o m a n checks i nto a ny hotel i n N ew Del h i w i thout l uggage, she w i l l b e noticed by the p o l i ce.
Accord i ng to the pol i ce in the N ew Delh i a rea , the hotel s in the area a re frequented by prostitutes, who check
i nto rooms without a ny l uggage. Deputy Com m i ssioner of police ( N ew Del hi) Anita Roy sai d that t h i s is the
o n ly way to bust prostitution rackets run n i ng in the a rea. This new way to c u r b p rostitution wi l l be a p p l i ca ble
i n a l l hotels, i nclud i ng the five-star hotels in the city. The pol ice have a lso said that a l l hotels in N ew Del h i have
been given i nstructions to i nform the poli ce about women checki ng in without baggage. However, the pol ice i s
yet to bust any prostitution racket a n d a l though t he hotels a re cooperati ng with the pol i c e, many have f i l ed
counter-co m p l a i nts agai nst the poli ce. (Cops to check 5-star hotel 'guests ' , Syed Asi m Al i , AA. D, 29. 1 0. 0 5 ,
E4 1 )
E42 C h i l d Prostitution / C h i l d Sex Abuse
It is the educated , high p rofi l e and hep citizens of B a nga l o re who a re the worst child a busers.
The C h i l d Wel fa re Committee (CWC) rescues at least 12 c h i l d re n from B a nga l ore homes every week from
domestic abuse a nd majority of the employers are government officia l s, top officials in multi-national companies,
priests a nd even doctors.
Statistics
D u r i ng the l a st eight months, the committee has received 80 cases of c h i l d l a bour, 7 5 of w h i c h were
•
c h i l d re n e m p l oyed a s d o mest i c workers. Of t h i s , 95 % were below the age of 1 4 yea rs.
•
Of the 80 cases, 60 were g i r l s a nd 20 were boys.
1 3 ca ses of c h i l d re n who were severely a bused have been referred by the committee to the l a bo u r
•
court.
( Ed ucated e l i te top the chi l d a bu se rs' l i st, Seetha l a khsm i S, TOI . B, 1 1 .07.05, E42)
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The Supreme Court can celled the bai l of Swiss paedophile couple Wilhelm (62) and Lile Marti (60) - convicted
i n M a rc h 2003 by a M u m b a i Sessions Court
a n d a s ked t h e M a ha ra s ht ra pol i ce to i ssue a n o n · ba il a bl e
warra n t aga i n st them, a n d get the Centre's hel p on extraditing them. The cou rt w a s hea ri n g a special petition
moved by M a h a ra s htra fol lowi ng reports in " Express' on Apri l 2 and 3 that the Swiss cou ple - n abbed in a
s u bu rb a n hotel a bu s i ng m i no r street g i r l s fled the cou ntry i n N ovem ber 2 004, their pa ssports sti l l i n a
l oca l cou rt's possessi o n . The i r esca pe was i n d i rect violation of a Sup re m e Cou r t order that had g ra nted
them ba i l i n Apri l 2004 but ba rred them from l e avi ng the country. ( S u p re m e Court ca ncel ba i l of Swiss
paedophi les, Get Centre's help for extra d i ti o n , pol i ce tol d , Chitra ngada Choudhury, I E.C, 1 7 . 08.05, E42)
It is imperative that the present provisions u nder the criminal law, dea l i ng with child sex a buse and exploitation,
a re amended and s pec i a l courts establi shed to deal with such cases, said A P Shah, Chief Justice of Madra s
H i g h Court.
He suggested that a j o i n t i nvestigati ng team comprising a pol i ce off i cer, a phys i c i a n a n d a psyc h ia t ri st be
formed to dea l with chi l d a bu se cases. Stating that child a bu se had a ssu med monstrous proportions, he sa id
that c h i ld re n were bei ng traded l i ke a commod ity t he world over. M i l l ions of girls a n d boys a re bei ng used i n
flesh t ra d e , porn ogra phy a n d other forms of sex u a l a buse a n d exp l o i ta t i o n , h e s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t sex u a l
exploitation of chi ldren h a d become a multi· b i l l i on dol lar industry of i nternational d i mensions.
However, reports of cri mes aga i n st c h i l d re n , Shah sai d , "are on the i n crease in the country." He added that
i t w a s a m a tter of concern that 20 percent of the vi cti m s of ra pe were c h i l d re n a n d that the rel eva n t
provisions i n t h e I PC were i n adequate t o deal w i t h t h e cases of person a l violence against chi ldren . (Amend
law to tackle c h i l d sex a buse: CJ, I E. C, 1 7. 2 . 0 6 , E42)
E61 Women Workers i n Tou r i s m
A recent World Eco n om i c Forum study o n gender ga p h a s ranked I nd i a 53 a mong 5 8 cou n tries i n terms of
the status of women i n soci ety. Pa k i s t a n a t 56 a n d B ra z i l at 5 1 gave I n d i a compa ny. Sweden ra n ked fi rst
w h i l e Fra nce stood at 1 3 , a step a head of t he US ( 1 7).
What p l a ces India in such a dismal position? Accord i ng to the WEF, a c h i ev i ng gender equ a l i ty i s a gri n d i ngly
slow process, si nce it challenges one of the most deeply entrenched of a l l h u m a n attitudes. The study which
compared the globa l gender gap a cross five para meters economi c pa rtici patio n , economic opportun i ty,
pol itical empowerment , educational attai nment a nd health a n d wel l - bei ng - gave I nd i a a score of 3 . 2 7 i n a
scale of 1 to 7 , with 7 representing maximum gender eq u a l ity.
Although the I nd i a n Constitution ensures equ a l r ights for women i n the workforce, with equal pay for equal
work, the grou nd real it i es a re very different. Across the country, women a re paid lower wages than men in the
formal sector, and in the organ i sed sector, women a re m a inly confined to certai n types of work which cal l for
repetitive tasks, s i tt i ng at one p l a ce for long hours, or so-cal l ed softer o ptions l i ke tea ch i ng or n u rsi ng. For
t hose women who have the courage to breach the i nvisi ble barriers a n d ta ke u p ' a m a n 's job w h i ch wou l d
requ i re more decision-making or networking, t he glass cei l i ng p revents them from reaching the p i nnacles of
power.
E m p l oyment of women i n the orga n i sed pub l i c a n d private sector h a s gone u p w h i c h is evi dent for the fact
that in 1 990, there were 227.09 1 a k h m a l es and 36.49 1 a k h fem ales, out of a total workforce of 263 .53 I a k h .
I n 2002, the employment o f males went dow n to 222 . 7 1 a kh a n d fem a l e employment rose to 49.35 l a k h i n a
total workforce of 272.06 Iakh, accord i ng to the Econom i c Survey 2003-04.
The hos p i t a l i ty sector is a n other exa mple. Hotels h ave traditionally been a major employer of wome n , but
t hese a l s o give the o p portun i ty to women to c l i mb the corporate l adder. Accord i ng to I TC H ote l s , 45% of
their e m p l oyees a c ross different properties a re women. "We have women employees a t the top rungs too.
Ou r corporate pol icies encourage more women to a pply a n d try for the top posts, " says a company offic i a l .
(Worki ng women get a raw dea l , B a na shree Purkayastha , F E . B, 29.05 .05, E6 1 )
T h a n k s t o the cu rre n t boom i n t h e aviation i nd ustry, a l l ied sectors l i ke hospital ity a n d resta u ra n t s a re
experie n c i n g a surge, leading to a sudden ri se i n dema nd for wel l ·groomed hostesses. Hospital i ty sources
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say that most of t hese women a re being h i red for guest rel ations a n d sales executives. And finishing schools
l i ke A i rhostess Academy and the E l i te Model M a nage m e n t School , which offer a ra n ge of perso n a l i ty
development a n d visual g room i ng progra ms, a re flooded w i th offers from the hotel sector.
Whi l e the E l i te Model School ma i nta i ns t h a t they do not send out t h e i r models for hotel a ss i g n ments, a
company source said that young girls from the grooming a nd placement progra mmes are bei ng "accommodated"
i n l ifestyle·related jobs such as h igh·end retai l stores and five·star restau ra nts. However, many i n the restaurant
busi ness bel i eve that l ooks a re not the sole c riteria a nd ski l l s a re a s i mporta nt. (Models for Hote l s, N a m ita
Koh l i , I E. D, 06. 1 0 . 0 5 , E6 1 )
Even a s the Centre proposes pol icies to downsize the bureaucracy, the l a tter fi nds ways of spri ng i ng back i n
full force. This ti me, the bureaucra cy has fou n d ways of employi ng "idle wives" of service officers goi ng by the
sche me to be l a unched by the Tou ri s m M i n i stry.
Project P riyadars h i n i , a n i n i tiative of the Tou rism M i n i stry, i s a n endeavour to bri ng women i nto the core a rea
of the service sector, a nd take advantage of the tou ri s m boom in the country.
Addressing a p ress confe rence, Tourism Sec retary A K M i s hra outl i ned the projects where women cou l d be
employed from d riving taxis to running a taxi service, restau ra nts, i nformation a nd faci litation kiosks, cafeterias.
Mishra said the Tou rism M i n i stry would welcome wives of service officers with specia l ski l l s l i ke knowledge of
foreign l a nguages to a ct a s " p re m i u m gu i d e s . " So eve n a s the m i n i st ry's t ra i n i ng prog ra mme for tou ri st
guides l a ngui shes, it has decided to co· opt women to act a s spec i a l guides for high·end visitors "for tours a s
wel l a s shopping". With Project Priya d a rsh i n i , t h e Tou ri sm M i n i stry w i l l a l so fac i l itate self· e m p l oyment for
women under various schemes of the M i n i st ry of U rban Deve l o pment a nd a lso Poverty A l l ev i a t i o n . ( I d l e
wives a s guides, vri nda Gopi nath, I E.C, 09. 1 2 . 05, E6 l )
Yet a nother male bastion i s a l l set to crum ble. A i r I nd i a (AI ) , which so fa r had only m a l e i n·fl ight su pervi sors,
wi l l now a l l ow female crew members to take u p what t i l l now was an exclusive male doma i n . The order a l l owing
fema le c rew members to be considered for the post of i n ·fl i ght supervisor was signed by the C ha i rman a n d
Ma n agi ng D irector, M r V. Thulasidas.
An i n·fl ight supervi sor is a person to whom all the crew of the a i rc raft report. Genera l ly, cabi n c rew who have
put i n 25·30 years of service a re considered for the post of i n ·flight supe rvisor. I nd i a n Airli nes a l ready follows
t h i s system a n d has fema le i n ·fl i ght su pervisors. (Female i n ·f l i ght supervisors to ma ke debut o n A i r I nd i a ,
Ashwi n i Phad n i s, B L . B, 29. 1 2 .0 5 , E61 )
Usheri ng i n a major cha nge i n the Ca pita l 's hospita l i ty i ndustry lifted t he restriction on women servi ng l iquor
at p u b l i c places. Del iveri ng the order, whi c h a l so a p p l ies to men under 25, a d ivision Bench set aside curbs
i mposed by the P u nj a b Exci se Act, 1 9 1 4, w h i c h is a pp l ica ble in Del h i . "We d ec l a re that Section 30 of the
Punjab Exci se Act, 1 9 1 4 i s violative of Art i c l e 19 ( 1 ) (G 14 and 1 5 and u nconstituti o n a l a n d i no perative to
the extent that i t i m poses restrictions u pon the employment of women i n any part of the l i censed premises
in which l iquor or i ntoxicati ng d rugs are consu med by the publi c , " the Bench ruled.
The court, however, made i t clear that 'no women employee woul d be compel led to serve in a bar in case she
has objections in doing so. '
Al l owing t h e petition filed b y three hotel m anagement gra d uates, a long w i t h t h e Hotel Assoc iation of I nd i a ,
the Bench termed Section 30 a s a n "antithesis to the contempora ry e ra " .
O n the rising popul arity of the hospital i ty i ndustry a s a career choice a mong women, the court said, "I ncreasing
nu mbers of fem a l e ca ndi dates a ppea r and pass in the e nt ra n ce exa m i n ations conducted for a d m i ssions to
various hotel m anage me nt cou rses. E q u a l n u mber of fema l e a n d m a l e c a n d i dates c a n be foun d in c l a ss
rooms of a reputed i nstitution offering courses i n Hotel Management. This shows the enthusiasm of women to
take on a ny cha l lenge shown u p by the hotel i ndustry". (Women can serve l iquor i n hotels: HC, Tanu Sharma,
I E. B, 1 3 . 0 1 .06, E6 1 )
I Documenta tion Update 1 2 005 - 0 6
E63 Women Tou r i st
Keepi ng i n m i n d the two thi ngs that women trave l lers look for most safety a n d p rivacy, t hese new a l l-women
room s w i l l have female staff a n d spec i a l servi ces for women.
I TC G ra n d Ce ntra l S h e raton in M u mba i , for i n sta nce, has i ntroduced 15 exc l u s i ve rooms for women . The
Oberoi group a nd the Bharat Hotel s are conducting a feasibil ity study, while The Leel a group w i l l a l so i n troduce
a women only floor' i n its new Chennai property a n d other forthcom i ng projects. Hotels that do not offer these
floors a re mak i ng u p with extra attention in terms of safety a nd additional a menities for l u x u ry a n d comfort.
These rooms a re stocked with a n a rray of u p- ma rket a me ni t i es cate r i ng to the needs of the busy woma n .
Beyond s peci a l care a n d attention, the a menities provided a re priva cy-a nd-safety-focussed security systems,
l i ke door video p hone, sepa rate l ifts, i n· room check-i n , a n d workout steppe r, va lue addition s at Spa servi ces
l i ke massages. faci a l s , m a n i c u res, a n d body t rea ments besides sepa rate room service men u . The other
amenities i nclude full·length mi rrors, magnifying two-sided round makeup mi rrors, up-market bathroom toiletries
bes i des soft colou r scheme i n the rooms with s pecial bathroom l ighting. Guests on these floors a re served by
fem a le staff. The price tag for such p re m i u m rooms ra nge betwee n Rs 7 , 000-8,000 per n i ght. ( Hote l s d ress
up for fai re r sex , Rum i Dutta H a rdasma l a n i , TO I . D, 1 7.05.05 , E63)
E71 Nati ona l Pa rks and Sanctuaries
A t dusk, the State Tra nsport b u s d i sgorges people returni ng from work i n Khatkali vil l age i n t h e Melghat Tiger
Reserve. 'We go everywhere l ooki ng for work , " says G amba Belsa reo
Every year, with dwint i l i ng jobs, the people of Khatkal i clear forestland and p l a n t some crops. Very few have
l a n d rights_
Nea r the core a re a : Liv i ng i n the forest h a s problems too. Peo p l e have to stay u p a l l n i ght to e n s u re that
a n i m a l s d o n ot destroy t he i r crops. I f clearing forests is an i ssue in Khatka l i . t h e n in D ha rgad it is the
poi soning of deer. This vi l l age has been settled si nce 1 964 and it i s nea r the core a rea of the Reserve. "The
Forest Depa rtment gave us l a nd a n d b u i l t homes for u s to stay here a n d look after the forest. They a l so gave
us work. B u t after t h i s t i ge r p rojec t , there i s n ot h i ng for u s . We have to ste a l f i rewood a n d c l e a r l a nd for
a griculture. We a re treated unjustly, " says Pundal i k B a l i ra m Godmale.
The people feel t h ey have bigge r problems. They d o n ' t u nderstand why the Forest Depa rtment does not
perm i t the k i l l i ng of wild boa r, which destroys their crops. Bot h Khatka l i and D h a rgad a re part of the 19
vi l l a ges, which a re to be re located from the Melghat Tiger Reserve in M a h a ra s htra's A mravati d i strict. Three
vi l lages have a l ready been moved out a n d there a re m i xed reactions a mong the relocated people.
I n D h a rgad they have a l ready been s hown l a n d , which people have a pproved. "We a re quite kee n on l eavi ng
the forest. The Forest Depa rtment s u s pects us of k i l li ng a n i ma l s_ N ow t hey even have m i l i ta ry men to keep
vigi l on u s , " said G od m a l e. However, Vatsa l a Deokar fea rs that if they leave the forest, they may have to pay
for m a ny t h i ngs they n ow ta ke for gra nted.
Reserve i s understaffed: The Reserve, which h a s a bout 70 tigers , i s u nder staffed with 206 gu a rds a n d 7 2
foresters agai nst a sanctioned strength o f 600_ O f l ate t h e prey base i s t h e i ncreas i ng ta rget. One of t h e f i rst
n i ne Tige r Reserves i nc l uded i n Project T i ger in 1 97 3 , the 1 ,676 sq. km. Reserve comprises the Gugh a m a l
N ational Park, which i s t h e core a rea , t h e Melgl iat Tiger Sa nctuary a n d a denotified a rea of 500 sq km a rea
called the m u l t i ple use a re a . ( U neasy existence, Meena Menon, T H . D, 1 1 .09.0 5 , E7 1 )
.
2 0 05 - 0 6
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Documentation Update
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• G - COASTAL R E G I O N S .
GIO M a r i n e a n d C RZ Acts, Rules a n d Laws
The n a t i o n a l ma r i t i me pol i cy is yet to be fi n a l i sed, even though it w a s framed in August 2004. I n fact the
pol i cy was p asted o n the webs i te of the M i n i stry of S h i p p i ng, Roads a n d H i ghways and after i ncorporating
the i n puts from various stakeholders a modified d raft was aga i n put u p on the site i n February 2005. However
m i n i st ry offi c i a l s say t h a t o p i n i on s a re sti l l bei n g sought on t h e pol i cy, a n d soon i t wou l d be ready i n its
enti rety. Once the m i nistry prepares a final d raft, i t would be sent for the Cabi net's clea ra nce. However, t here
seems to be no c l e a r reas o n , as to why t he pol i cy h a s not been fi ne·tu ned . T h e m a ri t i me pol i cy i s bei n g
considered a s a significant step towa rds prov i d i ng better coord i nation with other modes of tra n sport a n d
a l so assisting i n the development of s h ipping and port i nfrastructure. ( N ational mariti me pol i cy yet to fi nd a n
a nchor, A n i mesh Singh, F E . B, 0 3 . 0 1 .06, G 1 0)
The M i n i stry of Environment and Forests w i l l shQrtly put in p l a ce a Coasta l Zone M a n a gement P l a n . It w i l l
replace the Coastal Regul ation Zone (CRZ).
The n ew pla n , w h i c h wi l l ta ke effect i n a few months. w i l l be based on the con cept of vul nera b i l ity l i ne.
Vul nerability l i ne will be the set back l ine demarcated along the coast. I t will be based on the hazard assessment
of each coastal a rea. The Space Applications Centre, Ahmedaba d , wil l be the nodal agency for m apping t h i s
l i ne. T h e m a p a n d data wou l d b e i n t h e p u b l i c doma i n o n ce i t i s c l e a red b y the M i n i stry o f Defe nce a n d
suitable a mendments were m a d e t o t h e legislation.
The M i n ist ry set up the Swa m inathan Committee in 2004 to review the CRZ a n d the report was submitted in
February 2005. 'the committee feels that the current practice of fixing CRZ based on h i gh tide l i ne is not the
best of pract i ces a n d i s less scientifi c . It h a s a l so widened the s cope of defi n ition of a coastal zone.
The coasta l zone is to now i nc l ude "an a rea from territorial l i mits ( 1 2 nautical m i l es). i ncluding its sea·bed to
t he a d mi n i strative bou n d a ri e s or the b i ol og i c a l bou ndaries dema rcated o n the l a n dw a rd s i d e of the sea
coa st. The coastal zone management will a l so "include the i n l a n d tidal water bodies i nfluenced by tidal action
a nd the land a rea a long such water bodies." M ost of the committee recommendations have been a ccepted.
The M i n i stry has had consultations with the Survey of India and other organisations to fin a lise the vul nera bi l ity
line.
Seven pa rameters: The Committee has recom mended seven para meters for m a p p i ng the vul nerabi l i ty l i n e
and h a s i ssued guideli ne s for t h i s . The pa ra meters a re elevation , geology, geomorphology, sea l evel trend s ,
horizonta l shorel i ne d i s p la cement, t i d a l ra nges a n d wave heights.
U n l i ke the CRZ, the p l a n w i l l be oriented tow a rds m a n ag i ng resources, deve l op me n t and regu l a t i o n . The
Committee h a s p roposed 4 Coasta l Management Zones (CMZ). CMZ I wou l d consist of a reas designated as
ecologically sensitive. CMZ I I would i nclude a reas i dentified as Areas of Pa rticular Concern such as economica l ly
i mportant a reas, high popu lation a reas and cultura l ly/strategica l ly i mportant a reas. CMZ· I I I wou l d i nclude of
a l l othe r open a reas, i nc l u d i ng the coastal a reas, exclud i ng those areas classified as CMZ· I , CMZ· I I I a n d CMZ
· I V. CMZ · I V perta i ns to the A n d a m a n a n d N i coba r I sl a nds a n d Lakshadweep. (Coasta l Zone M a n a ge ment
P l a n to replace CRZ, A Srivat h s a n , T H . B, 1 2 .03.06, G 1 0)
G30m Ta m i l N a d u
Even though t h e Government has ordered people l ivi ng a l ong t he tsunami·affected coast t o build houses 200
metres away from the ocean , fisher men are sti l l staying cl ose to the sea . They say that they do not have a n
option a s t h e i r l i ve l i hood i s at ri sk.
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Documenta tion Update
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2a05-06
The Gove r n ment Orde r N o . 1 72 l uc i d ly provi des g u i de l i nes for construct i n g houses. The GO states t h a t
accord i ng to t h e Coasta l Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications, fully damaged houses withi n 200 metres o f the
high tide l i ne w i l l have to be constructed beyond the 200·metre zone. If not the Government w i l l not provide
a ny a s s i sta nce.
Several people whose l ivel i hood depends on the sea express serious di spleasure aga i nst the GO. "We do not
fea r the onset of a nother tsuna m i . We need to stay near the ocean , because even the change i n the colour of
the sea or the nature of the wind a long the coast l i ne hel ps us i dentify what sort of fish we w i l l catch that day.
(Fi shermen say they c a n ' t hel p GO violation , Ta m i l N a d u Govt has p l a n s of expa n d i ng the fisheries sector,
Anupama Jayara m a n , I E. B, 06. 1 0.05, G30m)
G43 Ports
The 0 ri ssa government has decided to handover the loss· maki ng Gopa I pu r fai r·weather port to Orissa Stevedores
Li mited (OSL) for its develop ment. The deci sion to privatise the Gopa l p u r port was taken at a cabi net sub·
com mittee on i nfrastructu re development cha i red by Chief M i n i ster Nav i n Patna i k. As per the deci sion, OSL
woul d i nvest nea rly R s 750 crores i n two phase s for the development of the port u nder bu i lt, operate, own ,
share a nd tra n sfer (BOOST) basis. (OSL to develop Gopal p u r port, Akshaya Kum a r Sa hoo, AA .B, 27.02.06 ,
G43)
2 0 05
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06
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Documenta tion Update
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• H - H I LL AN D M O U N TA I N R EG I O N S .
H IO H i l l Tourism
A s temperatures i n the pla i n s a re hea d i ng skyward s , there's only o n e p l a ce that people a re hea d i n g to beat
the heat - h i l l s . But there's a s l i ght d ifference t h i s t i me. Whi l e Ooty, Kod a i k a n a l a nd M u n n a r a re sti l l hot
favourites, their a ppeal has been decl i n i ng with commerc i a lisation a n d l a rge c rowds . I nste a d , trave l lers a re
explori ng some of the state's own natu re desti nations. Some of them a re sti l l u nexplored a n d most of them
do not h ave m a ny tourists so people seem to p refer them .
Accord i ng to i n d u stry sou rces, though h igh·end travellers prefer to go out of the country during the summer
vacation, a host of other domestic travel lers, especia l ly from North I n d i a , choose to come down South. For
B a nga l orea n s , N a n d i h i l l s conti n u e to be a favourite week·end dest i n a t i o n , despite t h e ba d fa c i l i t i e s . For
l onge r hol idays, it's either Kodagu or C h i kmaga l u r a re the preferred desti nations, fol l owed by the Western
ghats. (Ooty, Kod a i passe, state's h i l l s beckon tourists, A n i ta Rao Kas h i , TOI . B, 1 9. 0 5 . 0 5 , H l O)
H20 N i l gi r i s
T h e a ncient a n d p i ct u resque N i lg i ri h i l l s here have come a l ive t o t h e s o u n d s thou s a n d s o f merry m a k i ng
tourists. But ca n its fragile ecosystem bea r the brunt? That i s the question envi ronmenta l i sts were asking a s
a s u m mer fest ki cked off i n t h i s h i I I resort a nd was offic i a l l y expected t o attract 1 .5 m i I I i o n v i s itors. The
n u m ber is more than double the 700,000 popul ation in the enti re N i lgi ri s d i strict, extend i ng across 3 ,000 sq
km. T h i s yea r espec i a lly due to the Dece m be r 26 tsuna m i , peo p l e have chosen to stay away from the coast
and the N i lgi ri resorts are overflowi ng. (Ca n N i lgiris bea r brunt of tourism? Pap ri Sri Ra m a n , AA. D, 1 6.05.05,
H20)
Why a nd how should h i l l stations/areas l i ke the N i lgiris be developed a n d for whom? These seemi ngly rhetorical ,
but vital and relevant, questions came u p for l ively deli berations a t a recent seminar o n "Planning for Development
with Conservation in H i l l Stations/Areas: A Case Study of N ilgiris" sponsored by the Union Planning Commiss ion
and organ ised by Save N ilgiris Campa i gn (SNC) at Udhagamandalam. The sem i n a r conveyed a si mple message
Mou ntai n a rea s a re d ifferent from the pla i ns a n d , therefore, deserve to be t reated d i fferently; otherw i se
d isa ster, which w i l l affect the pla i ns a l so, i s bound to fol low.
I nc l u s ive p l a n n i ng : D r. Jakka Parthasa rathy, D i rector, Tri ba l Research Centre, U d ha ga ma n d a l a m , sa i d that
w h i le tri ba l s in t he N i lgiris had a ccess to modern hou s i ng, education and loa ns from b a n ks, t hey sti l l faced
p ro b l e m s l i ke la nd a l i e n a t i o n , i ndebted ness, deprivation of rights over forest p rodu ce , a n d l a ck of ba s i c
a me n i ties l i ke d r i n k i ng water, electricity a n d hea lth fac i lities.
Suggesti n g "susta i n a bl e l i ve l i hood" for i n c l us ive p l a n n i ng, M . K . Prasad, Co·ord i nator of Envi ronment Centre,
Kera l a Sastra Sa h i tya Par i s h a d (KSSP), s a i d this concept i s an a dva nce from "susta i na b l e development".
Link with pla i ns
" H i l l areas, catchments areas, water storage and retention areas and the watershed a reas of p l a i n s a ssociated
w i t h h i l l sta t i o n s a l l need to be v i ewed as one contiguous feat u re for hol i s t i c pl a n n i ng , " s he a rgued . It i s ,
therefore, necessa ry t o i dentify the extent of the a rea i mpacted by the h i l ls , a n d p l a n s for h i l l statio n s must
be d rawn up keeping in m i nd this i nterco nnectedness.
Soci o l og i st S i dd h a rtha Kris h n a n , however, cal l ed for a speedy solution to the l ong· pe nd i ng J a n m a m l a nd /
forests di sputes i n t h e G u d a l u r a rea keepi ng i n m i nd t h e a s p i rations of t h e encroache rs/farmers i nvolved a nd
the concerns of conservation.
"The rea l problem in the N i lgi ris l ies in 40 % of the a rea , of which 90 % is occ u p i ed by the tea i ndustry, now
i n deep c ri s i s , " said Krishnan. N il gi ri s i s home to some 65,000 small tea growers. Moreover, a l most a l l belong
to the Badaga commun i ty, which i s the s i ngle l a rgest i nd i genous grou p i n the d i strict
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Docwnentation Update
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2 0 05 - 0 6
Loomi ng crisis
D r. Madhu of Centra l Soil and Water Conservation Research and Tra i n i ng I n stitute (CSWCRT I ) warned that
a n other c r i s i s was l ooming in the tea i ndust ry. Accord i ng to h i m , whi le tea is a fa r better soil b i nder on the
h i l l s compared to vegeta b l es l ike potato, tea gardens in the d istrict a re p rone to frequent l a ndsl i des because
of the l a c k of proper d ra i n a ge. I nadequ a te i nfrastructure, p rol i fe rat i o n of s l u ms , i na p l Jropriate tou rist
i nfrastruct u re , l a ck of l i q u i d and sol i d waste m a n agement systems, lack of coord i n ation and conf l i ct i ng
i nterest of government agencies plagu e the d istrict even after 1 40 years of a d m i n i st ration. A zero·tolera nce
a pproach to untreated waste a nd non·bi odegradable materia l s w i l l ensure the protection of fragil e ecosystems
l i ke the N i lgiris, a dded Ta ra M u ra l i . M ost s pea ke rs cited the recent successfu l ban on har mful plast i c bags i n
t h e d i st r i ct .
Tourism
Stating that a d i st r i ct so dependent on tourism does not have a ny idea a bout h ow to p romote it, Dr. Raza k
cal led for a Tou ri s m Development P l a n so that the tourism potential of the d i st r i ct c a n b e tapped p rofitably
i n con sonance with the needs of the enviro n ment.
Said Ta ra Mura li , "The day tourist i s often a person seeking amusement and who contri butes l i ttle to the l ocal
economy. . . . he i s a l so a major pol l uter because of the n u mber of buses a n d other motorised veh i cles that
come u p the h i l l s . Tou r i sm faci l it i es avai la b l e in h i l l a re a s m u st be restricted to those conformi ng to eco·
tourism a n d for the d i scern i ng eco·tourist."
D r. Sathyan a raya nan of the Anthropologic a l Su rvey of I n d i a , however, cautioned that eco·tourism coul d not
succeed without loca l p a rt i c i pation . Citi ng the exploitation of the Toda s in the n a me of cultural tourism, he
s a i d , "Great i nterference a n d c u l tu ra l i nj u ry h ave been caused to thei r priva cy. " ( N i lgi ris: An action p l a n to
save the h i l l s, Dharma l i ng a m Venugopa l , T H . B, 02. 1 0.05, H20)
H 30 H i ma l ayas
A gro u p of Asi a n and Eu ropea n mou ntai neers w i l l c l i mb Mount Everest t h i s s p r i n g t o c l e a n up ton nes of
garbage l eft on sl opes of the worl d's h i ghest mounta i n . The mou nta i neers from South Kore a , Japan, France,
I ta l y and Austria , hel ped by Nepalese Sherpa gui des, plan to begi n their mission in Apri l , duri ng the pop u l a r
spri ng c l i m b i ng season.
The tea m p l a n s to c l i m b to the South Cot at 8 ,000 meters, the l a st camp before the push to the 8,850
summit. Although esti mates vary, some say there are 50 ton nes of trash on the Nepalese side of the mountai n .
T h e tea m members a re a l l vol unteers who w i l l b e financi ng their own trips. (Clea n i ng u p Mount Everest, BL.B,
06.03.06, H30)
They trekked through the H i m a l ayas for weeks at a t i me, gatheri ng l oca l l o re, su rvey i ng the l a ndscape a nd
wildlife a n d harvesting ornamenta l touches for thei r vil lage from a rtisans i n the Kathmandu Val l ey.
After five trips to Chi na a n d Nepa l , the i r world sta rted to come a l ive i n the for m of Serka Zong, a myt h i c a l
Nepalese mounta i n vi l lage i n the heart of Wal t D i sney Wor l d 's A n i m a l Ki ngdom theme p a r k i n Florida . Serka
Zong is the "preamble" to Animal Ki ngdom's newest attra ction, Exped ition Everest, which offi c i a l ly opens on
Apri l 7 Visito rs strol l through Serka Zong, with its rea l museum a n d make·bel i eve I nternet cafe a n d trekki ng
su pply store, on t h e i r way to a rol l e r coaster ride t h rough the mou nta i n and an e n cou nter with a c reat u re
known as the Yeti , the mountai n's legendary protector. The settlement i s much l i ke a vil lage i n Nepa l . surrounded
by l u s h greenery, with bu i l d i ngs adorned with wood carvi ngs one wou l d see i n the H i ma laya s. ( H i ma l ayas i s
D i sney's newest attraction, B L . B, 1 9 . 3 .06, H30)
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2 0 05 - 0 6
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Documenta tion Update
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• K - KAR NATAKA •
Kll Planning
The Karnataka Government w i l l enforce a n action plan to check a n d p revent i l l egal trafficking i n c h i l d ren a n d
women i n s o m e parts o f the State, the M i n i ster f o r Women a n d C h i l d Deve l o p ment, T. B h a gi rathi
M a ru a l u s i d d a n agou d a , told the Legis lati ve Cou n c i l . The Govern me n t has form u l a ted the a ction plan after
holding many workshops on the issue in association with several non·govern ment organ i sations and with the
su pport of the U N IC E F.
T h e a c t i o n p l a n has e m phasi sed the need to const i tute watchdog committees a t d i strict , tal u k a nd v i l l age
l evel s to prevent i l l ega l trafficking i n c h i l d ren a n d wome n . Besides, the Gove r n ment i n its order on May 30,
2005, has formed watc h dog comm i ttees to p rotect a n d reh a b i l itate s uc h c h i l dren a n d wom e n . I t has a l so
constituted a State·level advisory committee. (Action p l a n aga inst trafficki ng i n c h i l d ren, women ready, T H . B,
1 9.07.05, K 1 1 )
K12 I nfrastructu re
Amidst the boom in aviation , fa l l i ng a i r fares a n d the a i r l i nes' tempt i ng seasona l offers, it l ooks l i ke the s m a l l
cities, too, ca n f i n a l ly enjoy their p l a ce u nder the sky.
I n Ka rnata ka a l one, the ha lf·dozen mi nor a i rports a re set to l a n d i n vestments of R s 200·250 crore d u ri ng
2005 a n d 2 006, for either facel ift or to b u i l d bra n d n ew connectivity.
Ma ngal ore's Bajpe i s goi n g to be made i nternational class by m i d ·2006. I n Mysore, a new operational runway
w i l l give a fresh lease of l ife to the i d l i ng a irport, a n d that shou l d some what u n s hackle it from Bangalore a nd
open u p new u pcountry l i n ks for it. Tra d i n g hub H u b l i has a lso got n ight l a n d i ng fac i l ities, which cou l d get a n
a i r· l i n k with M u m ba i o r tourist hotspot Goa . A t heritage centre H a m p i , t h e State G overn ment i s convert i ng
J i nd a l Vijaya n a ga r Steel Ltd 's p rivate a i rport operator's l i ce n ce i nto a p u b l i c one. As a bon u s , i t rec e nt ly
c l i nched a pprova l s for two G reenfield p rojects, at G u l ba rga a n d Hassan. Then there i s Belg a u m waiting for a
facel ift ; there i s a l so Bija pu r. (Aviation boom: Ai rports i n smal l cities reap i ng benefits, M adhumati D S, T H . B,
26.08 . 0 5 , K 1 2)
K34 Ba n ga l ore
The Taj G rou p p l a n s to add two more hotel s i n Bangal ore in the b u s i ness c l a s s a n d l u x u ry c ategory to
i nc rease its room i nventory from the c urre n t 393 . The Tata G rou p 's hospita l i ty a r m , which o pe rates t h ree
hotels in the bus i ness class and l u x u ry segment, p l a n s to set up one a t the I nternational Technology Park i n
Whitefield a n d a nother nea r the proposed Banga lore I nternational Ai rport a t Deva n a ha l l i . The Taj G roup was
a l so p l a n n i ng to p romote Bangalore as a l e i s u re dest i n a t i o n , as the c i ty a tt racts l a rgely busi ness vis itors .
(Taj gro u p p l a n s 2 more hotel s i n Bangalore, BL.B, 03.05.05, K34)
The prevai l i ng accommodation crunch i n the premium hotel category i n Bangalore may soon be a thi ng of the
p ast. About 3 , 5 00 l ux u ry hotel room s a re d ue to be c reated over the next two to t h ree years in the c i ty, a s
some of the biggest global b ra n d s a re p repa ring to set u p properties here. The city currently h a s 1 ,600·odd
rooms i n the five·sta r category but these have p roved to be tota l ly i nsuff i c ie n t . Rea l estate p l ayers h ave
sensed a huge busi ness opportun ity in the sector and a re b u i l d i ng world c l a ss properties for i nternationa l
bra n d s . Big p layers l i ke Sha ngri·La, M arriott, H i lton, a n d the C a rlson G rou p (with the bra n d Cou ntry I nn s &
S ites) w i l l m a ke the i r p resence felt soon .
H i l ton w i l l establ i s h a 300·room l u xury hotel on Ulsoor Road , Marriott i s putt i ng u p a 250·room hotel U B City,
while Hong Kong·based Shangri·La w i l l set u p three hotels i n Banga lore, a l l i n the premium bracket. Radi sson
I DOClimen ta tio 11 Update I 2 0 0 5 - 0 6
.
too i s a rriving with a 350-room hote l . B angal ore hote l s today enjoy same of the h ighest tariffs i n the cou ntry
but two years dow n , i t cou l d be a d i ffere n t story_ The customer cou l d then be e njoyi ng five sta r fac i l i ties at
rates far more afforda ble.
And the a ct i on is not j u st l i mi ted to the five-star segment. There a re t h ree- sta r a n d fou r- star p roperties
comi ng u p as wel l , with standards better than those ava i l a b l e today. ( Ba nga lore to get platter of new hotel s ;
Over 3 , 500 Luxu ry Rooms M ay P u t An End To Accom moda t i on Woes, D a r l i ngton Jose Hector & Suj i t Joh n ,
TOI . B, 20 .05.05, K34)
I nternational visitors a re i n creasi ngly prepared to pay more for hotel rooms in I n d i a , reflected i n the hospita l ity
i nd u stry's grow i ng forex earni ngs. B angalore, despi te fewer sta r rooms tha n D e l h i or M u m ba i , i s generating
far higher dol l a r yields from each guest. In fact, its hospital ity busi ness is sai d to often spi l l into neighbouring
Chenn a i d u e to room shorta ge a n d h ig h rates. I n the l a s t 1 2 months (Ju l y 04 to June 05), the hospita l i ty
i ndustry i n I nd i a 's s i l i con ca pital has earned more forex ($20. 7 m i l l ion) from global d i stri bution system (GDS)
sales than Delhi ($ 1 5.8 m i l l i on), Mumbai ($1 5.2 m i ll ion) or Chenn a i ($3.2 million). Bangalore's biggest advantage
i s the l a rge commu n i ty of i nternation a l tech corporate who regu l a rly fly i n to the city a n d patroni se i ts hotels.
At least 'for now thi s stre a m of business shows no signs drying u p, a n d is i n fact said to be only growi ng, year
on yea r. ( B 'lore tops i n hos p i ta l i ty dol lar earni ng, G i ri s h Rao, EI B, 30.07.05, K34)
The l a rgest a m u se me n t p a r k i n the cou n try 'Wonder· la ' , nestled i n the picturesque B i d a d i vi l l a ge on the
B anga l ore Mysore national h i ghway, 29 k m from Ba ngal ore, w il l be opened to the p u bl i c from October 1 . Mr
Kochouseph C hitti l a pi l ly said that after the success of Veega Lan d , a n ISO 1 400 1 certified a m u sement park
a t Koc h i , the V-G u a rd group had selected Banga l ore to p l ay host to 'Wonder- I a ' . He sa id the park, comi ng up
in a s p ra w l i ng 88 a c re s of l a nd , was bui l t a t an esti m ated cost of over Rs 77 crore i n the fi rst p h a se .
Con struction work started i n August 2003 a n d w a s completed w i t h a work force of over 1 ,400 , i nc l u d i ng
engi neers a n d tech nocrats. (V· Gu a rd 's a mu sement park 'Wonder- l a ' to open i n Bangalore, B L . B, 22 .09. 0 5 ,
K34 / D20b)
K40 Tou r i s m Po l icy and P l a n s
The Tou rism Depa rtment i s i n the process of const i tuting a n expert comm ittee t o look i nto ways a n d mean s
of i mp lementi n g t h e project, w h i c h i ncl udes a ropeway at a n a ltitude of 1 ,478 metres a t N a n d i H i l l s . J o i n t
Com m issioner, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), S N Gowrishankar, sa id t h a t the
com m i ttee woul d i ncl ude secretaries of various departments i nclud i ng horticulture and tourism, a n d woul d
be headed by the C h i ef Secretary The committee wi l l l ater s u b m i t a fea s i b i l i ty report t o t h e gove r n ment. A
N a n d i H i l l s Development Author i ty wou l d a l so b e set u p, a proposa l for wh i c h h a s been forw a rded to the
gove r n ment. ( N a n d i H i l l s ropeway on way, Tou r i s m department to set up comm i ttee soo n , S P raveen
D h a nesh ka r, VI B : 2 1 .06.05, K40)
Karnataka has d rawn u p p l a n s to i m prove the H a m p i heritage tou r i s m centre a n d the coasta l a reas i n the
State to i mprove the i nfrastructure to attract more foreign tou ri sts. The Government has a p p roached both
the Japan Bank for i nternational Cooperation (J B I C) a n d the Centra l Government to ra i se Rs 1 ,200 crore for
the proposed projects to be i mplemented over five years. The State had a l so sought a Rs 6 1 5 crore assistance
from the Centre for i mp rovi n g a nd strengthe n i ng coastal tou rism by provid i ng adequate i nfrastructure i n the
3 1 5 - k m l on g coastal areas of the State. (Karnata ka draws p l a n s to i mprove tou rism, TH . B, 28.07.05 , K40)
Although the Karnataka gove r n ment has identified more than 1 50 tourism desti nations i n c l u d i n g the famous
Mysore, H a m p i and B angalore, only few a ttract tou ri sts a roun d the yea r. Competition from the neighbouring
states h a s , however, forced the state government to give a facelift to the lesser known tou ri s m s pots i n the
state. It i s developi n g i nfrastruct u re in lesser known dest i nations l i ke Melekotte (where the Cha l u kya s had
constructed a fa mous C h e l uvaraya Swa my t e m p l e), Bel u r and H al e b i d u (the p l a ce s known for a n c i e nt
scul ptures), Badam i , Ai hole, Pattadakkal a n d Mahakutta . A project, I ntegrated Development of Chitradurga
Fort, i s a l so on i n south Kara n ataka. Gomateswar Temple in Sravan a bela gola has been i ncluded in the C i rcuit
Development Programme. The government pays special attention here as the Gomateswar festival i s celebrated
o n ce i n 1 2 yea rs a n d a tt ra cts l a k h s of J a i n s from a c ross I nd i a . Deve l opment work i s bei n g u n dertaken a t
Kokkrebe l l u r, u nder Rural Tou rism Development p rogra mme. St Ma ry's I sl a n d , M a l pe, U l l a l l a n d Ma ravante
' :-, ) r)
(1 6 1
J)()cu l1wnlul imz l Tpdu [c
I
beaches and Kodachandri h i l l s are other place that i s being devel oped. (Karnataka wakes u p to competition,
Jaishanka r J ayaram i a h , F E . D, 04.09.05, K40)
There i s a need to revi ew the taxation system i n the State to help p romote tourism, s a i d P K Mohan Kumar,
Regional D irector of t h e Taj G rou p of Hote l s . H e s a i d a s i ng l e for tax payment h a s to be p u t i n p l a ce of
multiple l evies l i ke sales tax, luxury tax a n d ente rtai n ment tax.
Sett i ng up a tourism police p latoon i n Karnataka on the l i nes of the ones in Goa, Rajasthan and Keral a woul d
a lso prove to h e of h e l p. Development a n d u pgrading o f i nfrastructure i n major cities across t h e state woul d
boost tourism, besides categoris i ng i nto medica l , shopping, weekend , cricket, s p a and s p i ritual tourism, h e
sai d . (Taxation review, a must t o i mp rove tourism, VTB, 1 7.09.05, K40)
The Karnataka High Court has u pheld the a mendment i n l uxury tax for the rooms of clubs which provide hotel
type comforts. J ustice 0 V Shailendra Kum a r, who heard the petition of several City·based c l u bs l i ke Century
C l u b, Bowring Institute, Bangalore Club, Bangalore Golf Club, sai d that the State Government has the right to
levy l uxury tax. The Karnataka Luxury Tax Act 1 977 was amended in 2000, which brought i n the p rov i s i on to
extend the luxury tax to the c l u b room s which was a p p l i cable to the hotel rooms. Accordi ngly, a 5 % tax was
levied on room s in the Rs 1 50·Rs 200 category, 1 0 % for room s with a tariff of R s 2 00 · R s 400 a n d a tax of
1 2 % for t h ose a bove Rs 400 . ( Luxury tax for c l u b s u ph e l d , VT.B, 1 0. 1 1 .0 5 , K40)
Karnataka government expects tourist flows i n the state to double within next 3·4 years helped by i ncreasing
p artnershi p w i th the private e ntrep re n eu rs to promote tou r i s m i n the state. T he a nn u a l tou ri st f l ow in the
state d u ri n g last year stood at 45 l a kh s, 1 0% of which comprised of foreigners. A beach resort is coming up
by the end of next month at Karwar w h i ch is a p rivate i n itiative to p romote beach touris m i n the state. The
government is a l so cons i dering the methodology by whi ch lands would be offered to the private entrepreneurs
for the development of i nfrastructure which, in tu rn, wi l l h el p the growth of to tourism i nd ustry.
I n fact, the state tou r i s m department has c hanged i t s theme f rom 'Theatre of I n s p i ra t i o n ' to 'One State,
Many Worlds' in a bid to p romote Karnataka as a major tou r i st desti nation i n the cou ntry. The total revenue
of Karnataka State Tourism Corporati on of I ndia stood at Rs 22 crore for the financial year 2004·05. (K'taka
banks o n P P P model to enhance tourist inflow, Somasroy Chakraborty, FE.C, 30. 1 1 . 0 5 , K40)
The State G overnment w i l l for m u late heritage regulations o n t h e conserva t i on a n d protect i o n of heritage
buildings in the State. The d raft prepared by t he a uthorities w i l l be tabled before the l egislature i n March, for
a pp rova l . It w i l l give control over a l l h eritage structures.
The Regulation of Heritage Structures Act wil l delegate powers to the government to decide on the renovation
and protection of heritage structures. H eritage commissioner K . R . Ramakrishna s a i d the government had
planned to bring Bidar, G u l ba rga, Bijapur, Kittur, Mysore and S ri ra nagpatna, Kudalasanga m a , Kagenale a nd
other a reas u nder the heritage a reas.
H e d i sclosed that the documentation of a l l heritage buildings with deta i l s on style, status, h istorical i mportance
a pa rt from conservation t i p s for i n d i vi d u a l h e r i tage b u i l d i n gs w i l l a lso be conducted . (Govt to for m u late
Heritage Act, I E. B, 06. 1 2.05, K40)
The Karnataka Gove r n ment would set up a 'thi n k tank committee' i nvolving experts in tou rism busi ness to
strengthen the cam pa ign to attract tourists i nto the State. The proposal was awaiting clea ra n ce the M i n i ster
for Tourism, M r D.T. Jaya ku ma r, said t he com m ittee would meet once in three months to give d irect i on to the
i ndustry.
The M i n i ster s a i d that though the budgetary a l l ocation ( plan and non · p lan) of R s 7 5 crore was inadequate,
efforts woul d be made to have proper coordi nation between various depart ments.
Plan deta i l s : G i ving deta i l s of the proposals, the Tourism Secretary, Ms S hanta Kumari , said the department
had embarked u pon a "tourism m i ssion" and it would involve the private sector, munici pal ities, public works
department etc. The l i st of road s , w h i c h needed i mmed i ate attention , had been sent to the p u b l i c works
department. The department had demarcated n i ne new tourist c i rcui ts to enhance tourism in Karnataka a n d
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entrepreneurs woul d be prov i ded l a n d at rea so n able rates (Ka rn ata ka to set u p committee to strengthen
tou r i s m campaign, B L . B, 14.01 .06, K40)
At a bra i nstorm i ng sessio n , i nvolvi n g entrepreneurs a n d government off i c i a l s a n d moderated by ' bra n d i ng'
s peci a l i st H a r i s h Bijoor, Tou r i s m m i n i ster D T J ayakumar s a i d the department p l a n s a p u bl i c · p rivate 'th i n k
tank' o r a dviso ry committee t o mon itor t h e sector.
New p l a ns : Th i s stress on ' pr ivati si ng' the sector fou n d echoes i n the views of Ju ngle Lodges a n d Resorts
(J LR) MD Vinay Luthra a nd principal secretary tou rism, S h a n ta ku m a r i . She sai d the department i s for m i n g
n i ne tourism c i rcuits: l i ke Malnad Coasta l Karnataka a n d H a m pi · Bada m i · Pattadakal·Aihol e. Luthra said J LR
and I nfrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka , wil l i n a month's time, fi n a l i se a study of u nopened
wilderness in Karnataka. "We w i l l categorise p l a ces i nto A, B a n d C zones. Only J L R w i l l operate i n 'A' zone;
in ' B, ' we w i l l set up i nfrastru cture but outsource management and in 'C', we w i l l a cq u i re the l a nd a nd give it
to private parties," he a dded. (Tourism on rebran d i ng mode; Ka rnataka w i l l Cash in on its Many Destinations,
TO I . B, 1 4.0 1 .06, K40)
The Karnata ka Gove r n ment, which has p l an ned va rious tourism development a ctivities, h a s submitted a Rs
6 1 1 ·crore proposa l to the Centre. Mr D.T. Jaya ku m a r, s a i d that the development of Ma rava nthe a n d Ma l pe
beaches i n U d u p i d i strict, Pa n a m b u r beac h i n Da ks h i n a Kan na d a d i st ri ct, a n d Goka rna beach i n Utta :a
Kan nada d istrict i s i nc l uded i n this propos a l .
H e sai d t h a t t h e project propos a l s a re l i kely t o b e i n c luded i n t h e forthcom i ng Budget. T h e Government h a s
req uested t h e Centre to rel a x coa sta l regu l ator z o n e n o r m s i n t h e State, a s they have c o m e i n t h e way of
beach tourism development. He said some private parties have s hown i nterest i n beach tourism. The M i n i ster
s a i d that t h ree house boats a re ready for i n auguration at Devbagh i n Karwar of U ttara K a n n a d a d i strict. Rs
6 1 1 crore proposal a l so i nc lu des the development of adve nture tourism i n the State. (Ka rnataka submits Rs
6 1 1 ·c r tour i s m p ropos a l to Centre, B L . B, 1 0 .02.06, K40)
Buoyed by the enhanced budgetary a l location for tourism (from Rs. 1 6 crores to Rs. 52 c rores), the Tou ri s m
Depa rtment h a s cha l ked o u t several p rogra mmes t o f i r m u p publ i c ·p rivate p a rtnerships. Confi r m i n g t h i s
stra tegy a t "Con nect ' 06 · Ka r n ataka Tou ri sm " orga n i sed b y t h e department, Deputy C h i ef M i ni ster B . S .
Yediyu rap pa a nd Tourism M i ni ster B . Sriramulu sai d finance wil l not b e a constrai n t t o ta p the tourism potenti a l
of Karnataka .
While the private sector l i sted out roadblocks i n d eveloping, tourism i n the State, government official s , led by
Pri ncipal Secreta ry L. Shanta kuma ri , held out pro m i ses, stati ng that these cha l l enges h ave to be overcome
togethe r. Acknowledgi ng the stu m bl i ng blocks in tourism, Ms. Sha nta ku ma ri said the Government w i l l come
up with a road ma p that w i l l be pro·active. The depa rtment has i dentified 700 km of roads lea d i ng to va rious
touri st destinations and these will be repai red/upgraded by z i l l a pa nchayats and the Public Works Department
at a cost of Rs. 50 c rores. Ms. S h a ntakumari sai d the other cha l l e nges i ncl ude strengthen i ng pu b l i c· private
partnersh i p, u pgradi ng touri sm· related i nfra structure, cleara nce of projects by si ngle wi ndow agency, i m provi ng
a i r a n d road connectivity, rel axation of taxation pol ic i es such as exe m ption from entry tax, a n d power a n d
water s u bs i dy for hotel s .
S h e sa i d t h e d e pa rtment h a s developed e i ght c i rc u i ts covering 98 tou ri st desti nations. They a re Belga u m
( 1 1 desti n a t i o n s ) , M a d i ke r i ( 1 1 ) , M a l na d ( 1 9) , B i j a p u r ( 1 7), M a i d a n ( 1 2), Southern I ( 7 ) a n d I I (6), a n d
Coasta l ( 1 5 ) .
A t these destin ations, t h e development will b e at three levels: strengthening basic facilities, providing a menities
for budget travel !ers a n d setti ng up three· star a n d five sta r accommodation. For the budget trave l l e r, it w i l l
i nvite priva te e ntrepre n e u rs t o develop a nd operate tourist complexes, restau ra nts a n d a m u se ment parks.
(Road map to develop tourism o n the card s , T H . B, 26. 0 3 . 06 , K40)
K50 Tou r i s m I ssues
The wave of new economy i s set to rouse Mysore i nto full wakefulness with a touri sm expert panel suggesti ng
more active nightl ife that wil l i nject a booster shot to the ready·to·soar tourism i n the city. An expert committee,
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w h i ch i s studying Mysore u n de r the ' Destination Tou rism' p roject for the l ast two days, sa i d the c ity "lacks
vi brancy". "Very l ittle of l ate eveni ng a n d n ight a ctivity" said Neeraj Bachkethi . V·P (consulta ncy a n d business
d eve l o p me nt), I n d i a Tou r i s m D eve l o pm e nt Corporati on . The comm i ttee held a meet i ng with the c i v i c
stakeholders t o boost tourism sector. T h e c ity h a s been swal l owing u p subu rban outback i n its growth i n the
l a st two d ecades, but n ightl i fe is con sp i c u o u s by its n e a r· a b s e n ce. A l so, the comm ittee suggested
strengthen i ng of tou r i st i nfrastruct u re, for which funds a ren't a p roblem , accord i n g to the p a ne l c h i ef. The
p anel w i l l s u b m i t its report in t h ree weeks a n d the p roject is l i kely to be sanctioned by Augu st, 0 5 .
Floatin g resta ura nt: The committee a l so suggested a 'floating restau ra nt' at Da lvoy La ke a n d fou ntai n s with
i l lu m ination at Kukkara h a l l i Lake to give a boost to tourism in Mysore. ( Mysore, time to rock! I T DC Suggests
N i ghtl ife, Bazaars, TOI . B, 1 9 . 04.05, K501 B3 1 )
Interview with Mahendra Jain, Tourism Commissioner, KSTDC
Q. W hy has Karnataka been u na ble to attract a s m a ny tourists a s h a s Kera l a ?
A. I n ove ra l l terms, our a rrival s a re o n ly m a rgi n a l ly l e s s t h a n Kera l a 's , both domestic a n d
fore i g n . However, consideri n g t h a t Karnataka i s f ive t i m e s b igger, i n t e r m s o f s ize a n d
popU l a t i o n , t h e n u m bers wi l l n ot seem i mpressive. Besides, Kera l a began consciously
promot i n g tourism 20 yea rs a go , whereas we began less than a decade back. However, our
efforts have begu n yield i ng results much faster.
Q. When i nfrastructure i s the key, why hasn't Karnata ka rea l i sed this?
A. That's n ot true. Over the last few yea rs, the state gover nment h a s u nderta ke n projects to
provide basic i nfrastructure to key destinations. Roads and w ays i de fac i l ities have been set·
up in many places. But we need private partners to set up hotel s a nd restaura nts. I n Pattadka l ,
ou r oth e r herita ge s i te , there i s no hotel a t a l l . It i s t h i s a rea that w e a re worki ng o n .
Q. When t h e rea l i sation i s there, why a re budgetary a l l ocations n ot m atched?
A. Each state sets i ts own priorities. U n l i ke Keral a , Karnatak a has other strong sectors l i ke
I T a n d BT which have brought the state revenues a nd n a me. For Kera l a , tou rism i s the m a i n
i ncome·generating sector a n d so i t i s a priority for the m . For u s , there a re other priorities a n d
h e n ce a l locations a re based o n p ri orities. W e have R s 1 6 . 5 c ro re for 2005·06 w h i l e they
h ave Rs 7 6 . 2 5 c rore. We have a bout R s 1 c rore for p u b l i c i ty a n d promot i o n where a s they
have more t h a n R s 1 2 c rore.
(Karnata ka tou r i s m , a tri p tease? Anita Rao Kashi , TOI . B, 29.04.05 , K50)
Tourism a rrivals i nto Karnataka went up by a bout 20 percent i n t he yea r of the coal i tion govern ment. But that
was n ot due to the new d i spensat i o n . In fact, Ka rnata ka is probably the o n l y state i n the country whose
touri s m a l l ocation has gone dow n . From Rs 17 crore in 2004·05, i t was cut to Rs 1 6 . 5 c rore for the current
year.
With less t h a n a c ro re for p u b l ic i ty a n d promotion l a st yea r, Ka rnata ka tourism fa i led to even p u b l i c i se its
tou r i st potentia l . Much of rest of the a l location has gone towa rds meet i ng a d m i nistrative expenses, leavi ng
very l ittl e for i n frastructure.
Worse sti l l , the state gove r n me nt h a s been u na b l e to meet t h e promi ses i t made in its budget. Though
tourism a p pe a red to be l ow on the coa lition govern ment's priorities, Deputy C hief M i n i ster Siddara ma i a h
a n nounced h i s (the govern ment's) i n terest i n p rese rvi n g the state's heritage i n h i s 04·05 budget.
Mysore was dec l a red a heritage city, while five others Srira ngapat n a , Bidar, Bijapu r, G u l ba rga a n d Kittur ­
were design ated heri tage tow n s , t he post of heritage commissioner was c reated , a sen i o r lAS officer w a s
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posted a nd w a s g iven a l l of Rs 3 crore. But l i ke a l l good t h i ngs, it w as short l ived . B a rely week s later, the
officer was out. The heritage pia n i s sti l l being for m u lated , while nobody has accounted for the Rs 3 crore.
Fortunately for Karnataka, the Centre d ra matical ly i ncreased fu n d i ng a nd provided the state over Rs 40 crore
l a st yea r, whi ch e n a bl e d the govern ment to i m prove fac i l ities at m a ny p laces. These i n c l ud e expa nsion of
some eco·to u ri s m activities, i n c l ud i ng the p reparation of a fea s i b i l i ty report, develop ment of Bannerghatta
Nation al Pa rk, development of Kodagu a nd a Kodava heritage centre in Mad i keri , i ntegrated development of
Chitra d u rga Fort, development of the northern and southern c ircuits, development of the Bhadra wi l derness
c a m p a nd a few othe r tourist centres. ( M onumenta l neglect of tou r i s m , Anita Rao Kas h i , TOI . B, 20.05.05,
K50)
The proposed e ntry of British A i rways, N orthwest A i r l i nes, A i r Fra nce a nd a d d i tional f l i ghts from Luft h a n sa
i nto B a n ga l o re has th rown some fresh busi ness opportu n i ties a n d grea ter p ress u re o n room s of five · sta r
hotels. Accord i ng to ma rket sources , Le Meri dien has managed to corner the l a rgest s hare of crew busi ness,
fo l l owed by the Leel a a nd Obero i . An est i ma ted 4, 200 seats a week ( 1 9 f l ights) w i l l he a dded to the c i ty's
i nventory from this N ovem ber. Even if a fifth of t he m opt for sta r hotel rooms, the additional demand· supply
ga p wi l l be a t l e a st 840 rooms weekly. F i n a l ly, there may not be e nough rooms to exp l o i t t h i s b u s i ne s s
opportu n i ty.
Whi le the crew busi ness does n ot necessa r i ly gua rantee the h ighest room ta riff, it defi n i tely p ro m i se s fixed
uti l i sation through the year for the hotels. It is however said by sources that Banga lore crew occupancy rates
a re h igher than other metros l i ke M u m ba i or Del hi given its higher average room rea l izations. Banga lore h a s
1 , 600 odd five sta r roo m s - a n u m be r which fa l l s s ho rt by a l most 1 00% d u ri ng pea k season. T he five sta r
hotel s i n B a ngal ore a re expected to register occupan cy i n excess of 88% this wi nter. S i nce weekends ta pe r
out, i t mea n s d ur i ng week days there m a y b e over 1 00% occupa ncy o r more t h a n o n e set of guest/guests
stayi ng a nd vacati ng the room on the s a me day_
I n c i denta l l y, the c ity's a i rport i s a l re a dy faci ng t remendous p re ss u re w i th i t s l i m i ted spa ce. The a i rport
handles a round 57 i nternational fl ights i n a week now, which w il l be raised to 76 from November. ( More a i rl i nes
spell money for u p m a rket hotels , G i ri s h Rao, ET. B, 20.08 .06, K50 / K34)
The Mysore d i strict a d m i n i stration has i ntroduced a "Home Stays P rogramme" to accommodate more fa r-off
tourists d u r i ng the Navaratri festivities. The p rogra m me, a l so known a s Ati t h i , has been i ntrodu ced for the
fi rst t i me to meet the s ho rtage of a ccommodation at hotel s a nd guest houses.
The Home Stays programme has a l so i nvited appl i cations from Karigatha i n Srirangapatna, Hootagal l i , Dattagal l i
a nd Belava d i o n t h e outski rts a n d o l d loca l ities l i ke Fort M o ha l l a a n d K ri s h n a ra gava n a m . Some resi d ents
have vol u nteered to host tourist s a nd serve m a l l ige i dly, masala dos a , Mysore pak.
Houses will be categorised a s A , B a n d C groups a n d tariff fixed a ccord i ng ly. Any h a ras sment to tourists w i l l
b e sternly dealt with. Offic i a l s wi l l l ist Mysorean fa m i l ies el igi ble to extend ' Home Stays ' . A brochu re w i l l be
publ i shed en l i sti ng detai l s of the houses; p hone n u m bers a n d the ta riff to enable tou ri sts find homely stays.
( Mysore homes o pen for tou ri sts, BY K Shiva k u m a r, I E.C, 22.09 . 05 , K50)
A tou r i sm pa rk w i l l be set up in 1 00 a c res of l a nd nea r the i nternation a l a i rport coming up at Deva n a ha l l i ,
nea r B a nga l o re , a t a n est i mated cost of Rs.50 crores, M i n i ster for Tou r i s m D.T. Jaya ch a nd ra h a s sa i d . A
master pl an h a s been p repa red for the p a rk , which i s proposed to be developed by the Centre a nd the State
Govern ment. It wi l l offer packaged tours covering leading tourist centres i n the State.
Fou rteen J u ngle Lodges a n d Resorts a re bei ng given a face· l ift. I t has been decided to hand over 18 hotels
ma i ntai ned by the Karnata ka State Tou ri s m Devel opment Corporation (KSTDC) to ONGC to develop them on
a B u i l d ·Own·Operate a n d Tra n sfer (BOOT) basis. (Rs.50-cro re
. tou ris m p a rk on the ca rds, T H . B , 1 8 . 0 1 .06,
K50)
Mysoreans a re of l ate bei ng d ubbed a s the wrong people i n the right p l a ce. For, they have miserably fa i led i n
playi ng host to the f low of tourists, which has touched a n a l l ·time high i n recent times. The home·stay concept
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i ntrodu ced by Tourism Department has met with cold response from the l ocal s. I ntroduced during last Dasara,
at p resent j ust two households in the entire city is offeri ng home·stay facil ity.
I nteresti ngly, the co n ce pt has worked out wel l i n the neigh bo u ri ng d i st rict of Kod a g u . Here, nea rly 400
households a re running the business, eve n pos i ng a threat to l ocal hotel s . (Stay· home tourism fai l s to i nterest
Mysoreans, P M Raghunandan, D H . B, 07.02 . 06, K50)
I n a j udgment of far· reachi ng consequences, the Supreme Cour t has held running a hotel in a residential a rea
is i mpermiss i b le. A Division Bench com p ri s i ng Justice S B S i nha a n d J ust ice P K Balasubra m a nya m hel d
such change of l a n d use (to hote l s) cannot b e permitted u nder the p rovi sions of Town a n d Country P l a n n i ng
Act.
The r u l i ng was give n in a case w he re a person had purchased a house in Jaya n agar, a resi d ential a rea. He
a p p l ied with the BOA for change of land use, which was subsequently gra n ted. However, when he started a
restau ra n t o n the l a n d , reside nts of Jaya nagar 5th Block cha l lenged the s ame.
The Kar nataka H igh Cou rt, however rejected , their petition sayi ng o bjecti ons had been ca l led for from the
Welfare Association which had sai d it had no objection.
Aggri eved res i dents then a p proached the S u p re me Court. The A pex co u r t , w hi l e sett i ng a s i d e the H i gh
Court order, hel d that r u n n i ng a hotel i n a res i dential a rea i s not per m i s s i b l e havi ng regard to the zoni ng
regulations.
Cha nge in Land u se
Section 1 4·A of the Town and Country P l a n n i ng Act states change i n l a n d u se
•
Shou l d be one i n p ub li c i nterest
•
Cha nge shoul d not contravene a ny provisions of the Act
•
P roosed cha nges s hou l d be i nti mated i n one or more d a i ly newspaper
•
( N o h otels i n residenti a l areas, VT. B, 08. 03 . 06 , K50)
K51 Coastal Tou rism
U d u pi M LA K. Ragh u pa t h i B h a t h a s o p posed the move to privatise M a / pe Beach i n the name o f tour i s m
d eve l opment. B h a t s a i d at a news conferen ce that promoters o f Para d i se I sl e Beach Resort, deve l o ped a t
M a l pe Beach, have bee n t ryi ng to ta ke possession of t h e beach deprivi ng the p u b l i c o f t h e right t o u s e i t .
They have a l so been pressuring the Government t o vacate fi shermen's houses from t h e vici n ity, a l leging CRZ
violations. Bhat opposed the move of bio fencing the beach a nd a l l otti ng the beach area to a p rivate par ty.
( Pr ivatisation of M a l pe Beach o pposed , I E . B, 06.04.0 5 , K5 1 )
The M i n i ster for Tourism, D.T. Jayakumar, has sa i d that the government i s pla n n i ng to promote beach tou rism
in a big way in the State. Add ressi ng p resspe rsons, M r. Jaya k u m a r said the State has 3 1 5 k m of p r i st i n e
beaches i n Uttara Ka nnada and Dakshina Kannada d i stricts. The Government i ntends t o b u i l d a road close to
the coast u nder its "Marine Drive" project. The Government w i l l a p proach e ither the World Ban k or the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) to fina nce t he development of the marine d rive. The potential of beach tourism i n
the State is i m mense, h e said.
States such a s Goa a n d Kera l a have p romoted beach tou r i s m in a b i g way. There a re more than 1 8 , 00 0
roo m s by the side of the beaches i n Ke ra l a a n d n earl y 3 0 ,0 0 0 i n Goa. S i nce the Coastal Reg u l ation Z o n e
(CRZ) nor ms make it d ifficult to bui l d hotels near the seashore, the Government wi l l encourage fam ilies havi ng
beachside houses to b u i l d add itiona l rooms.
This wil l so lve the problem of room shortage and also generate additional revenue for the fa m i l ies concerned,
besides hel pi ng tourism i n the State. Towards this end, the Government w i l l promote the concepts of "fa m i ly
tourism" and "vi l lage tourism." The cooperation of the people i s essential for the success of tourism, he said.
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Sea eros i o n : O n tacki ng sea e rosi o n , the M i ni ster said the m a ri n e d rive p roject m ight a l so hel p solve the sea
erosion problem in some a reas of the coastdl d i stricts. Sea erosion i s a recu r ri ng probl e m . Efforts w il l be
made to find a lasting solution to it, M r. Jayakumar said. (Ka rnataka to p romote beach tourism, T H . D, 05.06.05,
K5 1 )
T h e former C h i ef M i n i ster of Ka rnataka , M r Veerappa Moi ly, h a s s a i d that i nd u st ri a l ists have n ot come
forw a rd to esta b l i s h a ny i nd u stry in the coasta l d i stri cts of Ka rnataka for t h e l a s t several years due to
res i stance by envi ronmental i sts. He said that envi ronmenta l orga nisations a re opposing the i m p lementation
of sma l l , med i u m and l a rge industries in the name of envi ron ment protection . The d i strict a d m i n i strations of
D a ks h i n a Ka n na d a a n d U d u p i shou l d t a ke strict action to p revent any i nconve n i e n ce to i nvestor s . C Eco
activists i m pedi ng i nd ustri a l a ctivity i n coastal Ka rnata ka' , T H . B, 29.08.05, K5 1 )
The Ka rnata ka H i gh Court ord ered the remova l of a l l i l l egal e n c roachments a nd constructions o n M al pe
beach i n U d u p i , which violated the coastal regul ation zone (CRZ) notificati o n .
I n i t s order, a Division Bench, compri s i ng Just i ce B . Pad m a raj a n d Justice V. Jaga n nathan , sa i d the beac h wi l l
have t o be kept clean a n d that the CRZ notification had been i ssued t o protect the ecology a n d e nvi ronment
i n coastal a reas . Constructions raised in violation of such regu l ations coul d not be condoned a n d a l l such
structu res woul d have to go.
The Bench passed the order o n pub l i c i nterest l itigati on ( P I L) petition by Murthy K. of B a ngalore seeki ng a
d i recti o n to rem ove e ncroachments, i l legal structu res a n d s l u ms o n t h e bea c h . (Clear e ncroachments on
M a l pe bea c h , says court, T H . B, 1 9. 1 1 . 0 5 , K5 1 )
K53 Heritage Tou rism
The Archaeologica l Su rvey of I nd i a (ASI ) a n d t h e Karnata ka State Road Tra n sport Corporation (KSRTC) a re
l i ke l y to s i g n a M o U on plyi ng buses wit h i n the Wor l d H eritage S i te of H a m p i . The p roposa l i s a i med a t
providing transportation t o tou rists t o g o from one h i storical monu ment t o a n other. The idea, if i m plemented,
wi l l p revent the movement of p r i vate veh icles w i th i n the heritage s i te to a g reat exten t . The pl a n i s to p l y
b u s e s between Viru pa ksha Tem p le a n d the Vijaya Vitha l a temple complex , v i a ' Ka d l e ka l ' , a nd 'Sasivekal '
G anesh idols, U gra N a ra s i m h a , Queen's bath , M a h a n avami Di bba, Lotus M a h a l , the elepha nt stables, a n d
Haza ra Rama Tem p l e . T h e tou ri sts ca n boa rd these buses, w h i c h w i l l m a ke c i rc u i t trips, a n d a l i ght a t t h e
places of thei r choice before moving o n to a nother monument. ( P l a n to make tourists' Hampi visit memorable,
M A h i raj, TH . B, 08.04 . 05 , K53)
The world's ta l lest monol ithic statue, towering 58 ft i nto the sky, is the cynosu re of a l l eyes in this celebrated
pilgri mage centre a s it awaits the gra nd M a h a masta kabhi sheka i n Febru a ry 06 .
Wh i l e t he authorities d raw u p p l a n s t o h a n d l e m i l li on s of people expected t o a rrive i n t h e days leading t o the
mai n event, the Archa eological Su rvey of I nd i a (AS I ), Bangalore C i rcle, has ta ken up conservation measure s
on the 1 ,000-ye a r· o l d Gomateshwara statue atop the I nd ragi ri H i l l s whose b e n i g n s m i l e seems t o b e
a p p reciative o f t h e work i n p rogress.
Conservation measures: The S u perintendi n g A rchaeologist of the ASI, B anga lore C i rcle, S.V. P. H a l katti said
the statue itself is in good con d i t i o n , but the sup port i ng structure s need to be stre ngthened in view of the
massive turnout expected from a l l over I nd i a and the wor l d .
The A S I h a s fol lowed scientific conservation principles i n t h e process. Tra ditional construction materials that
went i nto the m a ki ng of the monu ment and its surrounding structures h ave been used , " he said. The ASI h a s
outsourced some of the services a n d roped i n conservation a rchitects specia lisi ng i n restoration of monuments
a n d heritage structures. D r. H a l katti s a i d conservation efforts were u n d e rtaken by the depa rtment in the
past, but now there a re spec i a l i sts who u n dersta n d the p r i n c i ples of herita ge conservation a n d a re a bl e to
meet our requ i reme nts. (Sh ravanabe l a gola being spruced u p fast by ASI , R. Krishna Kumar, TH . B, 14.06.05,
K53)
A comprehensive vi l lage development project in a l ittl e v i l l a ge ca l l ed Anegu n d i , a stone's throw from H a m p i ,
i s a l l set t o become t h e nation's model for r u r a l tou ri s m . Consta ntly u nder H a m p i 's shadow, Anegu n d i h a s
:�) C (J ,') -
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never ga i ned p rominence. However, the l i ttle vi l l age i s a home to n umerous tem ples a n d a rchitecture which
pre·date Hampi. As part of the central government sponsored rura l tourism, Anegundi is now gaining i mportance
on its own steam .
" I n a ssoc i a tio n with a local N G O Ki s h k i nd a Trust, m u lt ifaceted d evelopment h a s been tak i n g place. Apart
from essenti a l i nfrastruct u re , a lot of ski l l s a n d e m ployment generation p rogra mmes h a ve been l a u n ched .
Loc a l women h a ve been t a u ght to u t i l i s e l oc a l ly ava i l a bl e mate r i a l to m a ke a variety of a rt i c l es a nd sel l
them, " Tourism Comm i ssioner Mahendra J a i n .
However, more nove l s a re the concept o f converti ng a ncient houses i nto guest roa m s for tou rists, w h i c h a re
m a i nta i ned a n d m a na ged by the loca l s. I n t a n d e m , the Trust h a s u ndertake n a va riety of conserva t i o n
measures encompa ss i ng both a rc hi tecture a n d cultu re. a nd showcased for tourists. Anegu ndi is a mong five
rural tou r i s m projects that the central government has chosen for fun d i n g i n Karnataka. Of the other fou r i n
Karnataka, Ba navasi nea r Sirs i a nd N a laknadu pa lace i n Kodagu are being taken u p a s a rchitectura l l ocations.
The rem a i n i ng two desti nations a re eco·tourism spots: Kokkarebell u r nea r Mandya a nd Attiveri b i rd sanctuary
i n Uttara Kan nada district. ( Ru ra l tou ri s m to change Anegun d i 's face, Anita Rao Kash i , TOI . B, 1 9. 07 .05, K53
/ K54)
The dangers of pol lution a re hovering over the Hampi world heritage site. 'The Centra l government fu nded Rs
2 , 1 00 crore Bel i a ry Ther m a l Power Station is bei n g set u p o n N H· 63 nea r Thora naga l l u on 1 ,767 a c res of
l a n d . The fi rst p h a se of t h i s 500 mega w a tt power p l a nt i s schedu led to be completed by October 2006.
Envi ronmenta l i sts a re of the opi nion that once the power plant i s in place , the va rious gases emitted from the
p l a nt , such as s u l p h u r oxide, nitric oxide a n d other gases w i l l s i lently pol l u te the H a m pi s i te.
Ka rnataka Power Corporation L i m i ted Executive D i rector Jayaprakash has, however said that a l l mea sures
a re being taken to e n s u re that the H a m p i s i te i s not a ffected by the sett i ng up of the power p l a nt. He said
that RS .600 erore has been spent towa rds this and as per the Centre rules; the c hi m ney is being set u p at
a h e i gh t of over 2 7 5 metres.
No i mpact study done: The State Archaeology Department has not shown a ny attention to the possible ha rm
that may be caused to the H a m p i r u i n s by the emissions of the thermal power station. A senior offi c i a l of the
depa rtment s a i d that a n i mpact study' on the h a r m to H a m p i by the power p l a nt has not yet been done.
State Archaeo l og i c a l Department Deputy D i rector' C h i kk a m a regow d a sa i d that fol l ow i n g comp l a i nts by
concerned citizens a bout the pos s i b l e h a r m to H a m p i , the reperc u s s i o n s a re bei n g l ooked i nto. H a m p i
Deve lopment Authori ty C h a i r m a n a n d Bel l a ry Deputy Com m i ss i oner A rv i nd Srivastava sa i d t h a t t h e enti re
p roject h a s to h e reviewed before it i s executed. C H a m p i faces d a nge r ! T h i s t i me from thermal p l a n t, M T
Shivakumar, D H . B, 02.08.05, K53)
The Arc haeological Survey of I n d i a (ASI ) has formulated a major p l a n to conduct an � i m pact study' of m i n i ng
on h i stori c a l m o n u ments i n a n d a ro u n d H a m p i . The d raft p l a n c a l l ed ' ri s k p rep a redness' i s ready fo r
i mp l ementa t i o n . Archaeologists of n a t i on a l a n d i ntern ational repute w i l l conduct a t horough research o n
d a m a ge caused t o monuments b y floods i n the Tu nga bh a d ra , natural c a l a mities, m i n i ng a n d other causes.
They w i l l then s u b m i t a d et a iled report on the steps to be taken towards conservi ng the Ha mpi monuments
to the Centra l government through the AS! . This measure i s s a i d to be one of the ra rest a ctions ta ken by the
ASI i n protect i ng historical monuments.
Most of the struct u res in H a m pi a re weake n i ng after bei n g exposed to the elements for centuries together.
The Vijaya Vitthala temple has deve loped hundreds of cracks fol l owing enemy attacks a n d a rson . The ASI has
su pport beams a n d p i l l a rs to p rotect the monument. But a s m a l l a cc i d e n t i s a l l it ta kes to ca u se grave
d a ma ge to the temp l e.
Apart from t h i s , h u nd reds of s m a l l temples, mantaps, bast i o n s et al a re i n d a nger of col la psi ng. M ost of
them s port shru bs growi ng out of the crevices, nooks a n d corners. Though l a c k of protection for centuries
togethe r i s s a i d to be the m a i n cau se , i t maybe noted here that m i n i ng has a lso contri buted majorly to the
situation. M i n i ng i s carri ed on a t Sandur and Hos pet which a re close by; l a rge a mount of explosives are bei n g
u sed on a d a i ly b a s i s . Even bui l d ings o f t h e Hampi Kan nada University have not escaped the da mage caused
by these exp l osions, a ccord i ng to Vice·Chancellor Dr BA Vivek Rai .
I f the risk p repa red ness plan kicks off, experts wi l l be able to give su itable opi n i on a nd guida nce on va rious
topics, i nc l ud i ng regu lating m i n i ng, scientific conservation of the structures, cl ea ring the encroachments in
several monu ments etc. (Study on m i n i ng i m pact i n Hampi, M T Shiva ku m a r, D H . B, 2 1 . 1 1 .05, K53)
I f this materialises, then the heritage of Sriranga patna , renowned for its tryst with foreign powers u nder T ipu
Sulta n i n his fight aga i nst the B ritish, w i l l receive a thrust from the automobile major Mercedes·Benz. It is stil l
ea rly days, but the l egenda ry c a r man ufa ctu rer i n the l uxu ry segment with a n enviable heritage of its own ,
has expressed i nterest i n restoration of the heritage sites in S ri ra nga patn a . S i m i l a rly, experts from England
and Fra nce a re keen to revive the heritage of S ri ra nga patna as both the countries have a h i storic association
with the island. (Auto major keen to restore heritage of S ri ranga patna; Mercedes·Benz expresses i nterest i n
con servation efforts i n T i pu Su ltan's ca pita l , T H . B, 06. 1 2 .05, K53)
Buddha is on the rocks again: the Centre has u pb raided Karnata ka for its d iametrical ly opposite views on the
proposed statue of Buddha at Ramanaga ra m . .
D i d ecological wisdom dawn on the state government by accident? That is the sti n ker the Centre has sent to
the state. I n a letter dated Decem ber 6, 2005 , the U n ion M i n istry of Envi ronment and Forests has l a m basted
the state's forest, environment and ecology depa rtment for changing its stance overnight on ecological issues
vis·a·vis the 7 1 2·foot Buddha statue to be ca rved out of the H a n d igond i rock .
Do thorough field verification rather tha n take su perfic i a l sta n d s that can b e a ltered a t a l ater d ate, i s t h e
Centres ' pa rti ng s h ot. For n ow, on pa per t h e B u d d h a p roject i s s i m p l y off bec a u se the state w h i ch h a d
a pproved t h e behemoth p lan reversed i t s sta nce on the project a n d recom mended that it b e shelved. Sou rces
i n the Sanghamitra Foundati on, the orga nisation that has been fighti ng to seethe project take off, say they will
fight it out i n the court.
W h i l e forwa rd i n g the Buddha p roject pro posa l to the Centra l govern ment, a uthorities c ertified that "the
project woul d not affect any monument of hi storica l , rel igious, a rchaeological or recreationa l i m portance . . .
The project wou l d not cause any envi ronmental damage . . .
"
This a pprova l was granted i n November 2004. I n August 2005, the very department that granted unconditional
a pprova l did a 360 degrees shift and wrote to the Centre seeking withd rawal on grou nds of "antiqu ity of the
rock , its a rchaeologica l and heritage va l ue, l a rge va ri ety of fl o ra and fa u n a , critica l ly enda ngered b i rd a nd
mammal species". (Buddha statue row gets l ife, Centre Sends Stinker to State for Changing Stance Overnight,
Smitha Ra o, TOI . B, 1 2 . 1 2.05, K53)
The Gul barga fort is fighting unsuccessfu lly to keep the encroachers at bay. The approach road to this historical
place has been reduced to a pothole fi l l ed cart·way. Even though the fort and its buildings have been recognised
as national monu ments by the A rchaeologi cal Su rvey of I nd i a a nd is on the tou rist map, nothi ng has been
d one by the AS I to p rotect this 'magn ificent b ri dge' , except hoa rd s proc l a i m i n g that these b u i l d i ngs a re
guided by The Ancient M o n u ments a nd A rchaeological Rema i n s Act of 1 958 (24 of 1 9 58). M a ny h ave
en croached u pon this l a n d now. Li nes of nea rly 200 ' i ! !ega l ' houses d ot the va st expa nse of the fort a rea
withi n , i ncluding kuccha· pucca , and RCC·roofed houses. (G ulb arga fort now fights encroach ment, Ananad V
Ya m n u r, D H . B, 09. 0 1 .06, K53)
With ma ny of the pilgrims and tourists attending the mil lennium first Mahamastaka bhi sheka at S hravan belgoa
a l so vi siting Mysore to see its famous tou rist spots, the local Ja in Samaj is gearing up to provide free lodging
and boardi ng for pi lgrims passing through.. More tha n 40 ,00'0 pilgrims visiting Mysore wil l be se rved traditional
Rajasth a n i d i s hes a n d south 1 t'lt!H�n d�li ca cies. In 21,[:1 , more than 200 N'RI's from USA, Germany and other
cou ntries visited the city a n d proceeded towards Sharava nbelgola to take part i n the festival . (Mysore plays
h ost to Jai n pilgrims, K S hiva Ku mar, I E. B, 1 0 . 0 1 .06, K53)
The 700·foot ta l l monolith i c B udd ha statue plan ned to be carved out of the rocks at Ra managa ra m by the
Ba nga l ore·based Sangharn itra Fou ndation, is not l ikely to material ise. A year ago, the foundation held a major
fund ra ising progra m me featuring Bollywood actors. When deta i l s of the statue project came to l i ght, it wa s
i mmed i ately opposed by envi ronmenta l i sts. The statue was to come u p at Handigon d i , where a n u m be r of
these giant rock formati ons sta nd. The fou ndation had offered to buy 1 0 a cres of l a nd a rou nd the rocks. The
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U nion M i n i stry of Environ ment and Forests i s reported to h ave withdrawn the permission give n for the statue
to be carved out. The U n i on M i n i stry h a s a l s o a s ked the State G ove rn ment to cons ider decl a r i n g the a rea a
w i l d l ife sanctuary. (Buddha statue project d ropped, U n i on M i n i stry of Environ me nt a nd Forests withdraws
permi s sion , T H . B, 1 8 . 0 1 .06. K53)
A team f ro m U n i ted Nations Educationa l , Scientific and C ultural O rga n isation ( U N ESCO) is l i kely to v i s it the
Hampi World Heritage Site. The p u rpose i s to review the i mplementation of suggestions a nd gui deli nes i ssued
by U N ESCO after Hampi was p laced i n the " List of World Heritage Site s in Danger". The tea m w i l l d i scuss the
ste p s taken to f i n a l i se the I n tegrated S i te M an agement P l a n ( I S MP) prepare d for the m a nagement of the
Hampi World Heritage S i te a n d guide l ines being p repa red for v i l lages in the h e ri tage s i te a rea.
H ampi i s the only World Heritage Site in the country to have a n I S M P for conservation, protection, management
a n d deve l op me n t . The I S M P h a s been p re p a re d by a tea m of experts from t h e School of P l a n n i ng a n d
Arc h itecture, New Del h i , headed by N a l i n i Thakur. The d raft ISMP was d iscussed at the stake· holders' meeting
in H o s pet l a st yea r. Rep resentative s of U N ESCO p a r t i c i pated i n the meet i ng. ( U N ESCO tea m to i ns pect
Hampi this mont h , T H . B, 05.02 .06, K53)
With only two days to go for the Mahamastaka bh i s heka to begin , a l l rooms i n hote l s a nd lodges i n the d istrict
headquarters a re f u l l . Jai n p i l gr i m s from north I nd i a had booked hotel rooms two months i n a dvance.
With acc ommodation bei ng l i mited i n a n d a round S h rava n a be lagola , tour i sts a n d p il gr i m s have chosen to
camp in Hassa n , which is a bout 50 k m from the pi lgrim tow n . With the KSRTC deploying additional buses to
Shrava na belagola from Hassan , m a ny people feel commuting woul d not be a p roblem.
H oysal a Vil lage on the outskirts of the city has 33 rooms, a n d they had been booked in N ovem ber i tself said
Sabu Varghese, m a nager of the resort The situation is s i m i l a r in Southern Star. The hotel management has
reported full occupancy for three days from Feb rua ry 8th . Rooms had been booked some six months ago. The
hotel has h i red people to cook J a i n food for entire February.
Accordi ng to sou rces i n M a h a m asta ka b h i s h e ka Committee ( M MC), S h rava n a be lagola i s a s ma l l town
a d m i n i stered by the gra m p a n chayat a n d i t has g a i ned a s em i - u rb a n stat u s by v i r t u e of bei ng a p i l g r i m
centre a n d a tou ri st desti nation. Though i t has good accommodation fac i li ties with guesthouse i t i s d ifficult t o
provide accommodation for everyone. The sate l lite towns that have come u p a re expected to accommodate
more than 30,000 visitors. Efforts have been made to p rovi de a l l fac i lities in these towns. The re h a s bee n a
delay i n comp l et i ng t h e work o n the five types of cottages. The cottages a re expected to accom modate
nearly 300 people. But the delay i n completion of the work has c reated p roblems for t he M MC. However, the
comm i ttee is h opeful of getti ng at least 10 cottages ready. ( H otels report f u l l occupancy of rooms, T H . B,
06. 02 .06, K53)
J i ndal South West Fou ndatio n , the CSR arm of the JSW Steel Ltd . , has take n up the restoration of the World
Heritage Site, Hampi in Vijayanagar. The restoration work has begun with the Sri Chandramouleshwara temple
l ocated o n the n o r t h e a st of H a m p i , o n t h e ba n k s 0 of the river Tun ga b h a d ra w h i c h is o n the i sl a n d of
Rishikmukh.
The H a m p i Foun d a t i on , the p h i l a nthropic a r m of the J SW, was formed i n 2000. I t s igned a MoU with the
G over n ment of Karnataka l a st November. The Foundation i s working with G loba l Heritage Fund (G H F) in San
Fra ncisco a n d the World Monuments Fund in N ew York. The restorat i on process wi l l be done i n two p hases.
The f i rst p h a se i nvolve s condition ma p p i ng, the struct u ra l c o n sol i d at i o n of the tem p l e a n d the stone
e m ba n kments, a n d a l so the a rchi tectu ra l restorat i o n of stones, bri c kwork and l i me stucco. The seco n d
p h a se i nvolve s the i l l u m i nation o f t h e t e m p l e a nd t h e site. T h e w h o l e p rocess i s l i kely to be f i n i shed i n two
yea rs. The company is spending a p p roxi m ately Rs 1 , crore i n t he restoration p roject. ( Ra i s i ng a c i ty from
rui ns , S u l e kh a N a i r, FE.D, 1 9.02.06, K53)
Srikantadatta N a rasim h a raja Wadiyar wants to convert heritage properties i nto five-star hote l s in Kerala and
Kar nataka. Wad iyar, who owns the Fer n h i l l Pal a ce in Ooty a nd the u nd e r· ren ovation Raj e n d ra Vil a s Pal ace,
has i dentified a few heritage properties that c a n be converted i n to hotels in Leh, M u n n a r, Koval a m , Kochi a nd
Coorg i n South India.
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He has a lso p l a ns to adopt few properties i n Rajasth a n , Gujara t , Pune and other States . The Wadiya rs have
purchased Woodcock Hal l , a heritage property, Pa lace of Hyderabad, a nd Prime M i ni ster Sola rgi um i n Ooty.
The heritage property s p reads over 2.5 acres a nd has 25 rooms with wooden floori ng. The Regency Vi l l a i s
a l so owned by the roya l fa m i ly, Wad iya r d i sclosed t h a t t h e renovated heri tage properties i n Kera l a a re very
popular a mong tou rists. There a re pla ns to i nvest $90 m i l l ion i nc luding $50 m i l l ion on the a i rl i nes project and
$40 m i l l ion to convert heritage properties i nto hotels, which would add a nother 800 rooms in the next three
years. Wad i ya r sa i d that he has a p pl i ed for ' N o Dues' certificate and w i l l fi l e wea lth tax w i t h i n a cou pl e of
weeks. He has a l so sought residentia l certificate from Home M i n istry to a pp ly for l icence to run a i r services
within a year. His wife Promada Devi w i l l redesign the heritage hotels a nd the i nteriors of the a i rcraft. (Wadiya r
t o convert heritage sites i nto hote l s . , I E. B, 22.03.06 , K53)
K55 Eco a n d Wi l d l ife Tou rism
I nd i a n People's Tri bunal (l PT), a n o n govern mental orga nisation ( N GO) dedicated t o the ca use o f envi ronment
and h u m a n rights, has u rged both centra l and state governments to ca ncel the enti re Kud remukh nationa l
pa rk project i n the best i nterest of the t r i ba l s of the regio n . B r i efi ng reporters a bout the contents of the
report, Suresh s a i d the genesi s of a l l the t roubles faced by the t r i b a l s and the u n rest in the M a l nad region
was the conversion of forest a rea i n ha bited by the tribals i nto the nationa l pa rk. ( N GO dema nds scrapping of
Kud remukh nationa l pa rk, VT. B, 20 .04.05, K55)
Cou ntry C l u b ( I ) Ltd (CCl l) has a cq u i red i ts fi rst w i l d l ife property ' B u s h - Betta ' located in the B a n d i p u r
w i l d l i fe nation a l p a r k nea r Mysore. The acq u i s i tion o f t h e w i l d l ife resort l ocated on a 20-ac re expa nse was
a n nou nced by M r Y. Rajeev Reddy, Cha i r m a n a nd M a na gi ng Di rector of CCl l . The company has i nvested Rs
20 crore both for acqui sition a nd renovation of the property. The 'Cou ntry Club Bush- Betta Resort' cu rrently
has 60 cottages. Country C l u b p l a n s to add a nother a bout 1 00 rooms in the B u s h - Betta resort in the next
two yea rs .
To propel its growth i n t h i s booming wildlife tourism, Country Cl u b would be i nvesti ng R s 1 00 c rore i n the next
two yea rs. It p l a n s to add s i x more properties i n Ooty, Goa , Kha n d a l a , Koda i ka n a l , S h i m l a a nd Kera l a . I t
wou l d s o o n o p e n its offices i n N ew Yor k , U K, a nd major c i t i e s i n northern I n d i a t o ma rket its ti mes h a re
properties. (Cou ntry C l u b acquisition, B l . B, 04.05.05, K55)
Developing tourism in Kodagu to boost its economy, otherw ise dependent on coffee, has been the favou rite
rhetoric with the d i strict a d m i n i st ratio n , tou ri st o perators, a n d tou ri s m a uthorities. No serious effort h a s
gone i nto ma king Kodagu a co mmerc i a l ly v i a b l e tou ri st desti nation, i rres pective of opposition from some
q u a rters t h a t commerc i a l i sm can s p o i l the regio n . let h a rgy a n d l a c k of response have l eft the i ssue of
touri s m development in Kodagu rema i n only on pa per.
Systemi s i ng trekki ng: The proposed moves of the Ju ngle lodges a nd Resorts (JlR) to systematise trekki ng
in the chosen locations of the Western G hats, a ppea r to be the right decision to attract nature lovers to the
d i strict. The J lR has reportedly asked the Forest Depa rtment to prepa re a p l a n to sta rt t rekk i ng operations
i n a systematic ma nner and to constitute village forest committees comprisi ng vil lagers a nd Forest Depa rtment
person nel in N a l a d i , Yava ka padi a nd Ku nj i la v i l lages for popu l a ri s i ng trekki ng in Kodagu.
I n the a bsence of Government-s ponsored tou rism and u n res ponsive private operators, home stay concept
has become very pop u l a r i n Kod a g u . However, home stay fac i l it i es cou l d come u n d e r the sca n ne r of the
d i strict a d m i n i st ration in the com i n g days beca use some have sta rted expres s i ng reservations over thei r
fu nctioni ng. (Attracting nature lovers to 'God's own para d i se' , T H . B, 02.09.05, K55)
The Ban nerghatta N ationa l Pa rk, parts of which is now designated a Biological Park, is going to get a facel ift.
An average of 5000 tou rists a nd loca l s visit B a n nerghatta every day a nd a round 30 % more on weekends.
With such a l a rge nu m ber of visitors throughout the yea r, the park authorities face the problem of disposi ng
of pa per, plastic a n d other i norga n i c wa ste. With few good eateries in the v i c i n i ty, most visitors bri ng p i c n i c
l u nches w i t h pa per a n d p l a st i c pl ates. Accord i ng to Fo rest Depa rtment offi c i a l s , the wa ste lying a ro u n d
poses a serious hea lth haza rd to a n i ma l s. (Facel ift for Ban nerghatta Park soo n , T H . B, 25. 1 2.05, K55)
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The t h i c k forest a rea i n C h a m a rajanagar d i st r i ct , e a r l i e r u n d e r the "contro l " of Veera p p a n , i s n ow bei ng
deve loped i nto a tou ri s m hot s pot by the State Gove r n ment a nd i s expected to d raw the attention of tourists
i n a big way. The Government launched the ambitious project " Mystery tra i ls" with the local G irijans roped i n
t o serve a s guides t o the tourists. A n d with a nom i n a l fee o f R s . 400 per day towa rds t h e trekking, the rich
C h a m araja nagar forests a re e xpected to be a big d ra w n ot merely to the local tou rists but a l so those from
a broa d who enjoy t re k k i ng i n the Wester n G hats. Fi rst t i me i n over 25 yea rs that the Gove r n m e n t had
decided to promote Chamarajanagar tou r i s m destination. (Chama raja nagar forest a rea to be d eveloped as
tourism hot s pot, T H . B, 0 3 . 0 1 .06, K55)
Karnataka i s taking a lead role in developing eco-tou rism in the country by gui d i ng other states a bout the
n i tty-gritty of the projects. The government h a s set up a separate w i ng under the u m b rella of the Karnataka
Tourism Department cal led Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) to offer the conSUltan cy services to other states
to develop eco-to u r i s m . Currently, J LR is providi ng consu lta ncy services to Orissa a n d J a m m u & Kas h m i r,
w h i l e north easte r n states a n d Madhya P radesh a re i n the p i pe l ine. (Karnataka to h e l p other states i n eco­
tour i s m , Som a sroy Cha kraborty, F E . B, 20.01 .06, K55)
The Forest Department is pla n n i n g to b r i n g B i l igiri Ra nga n a H i l l s once part of the forest briga n d s ' a rea of
o peration , u nder the p u rview of P roject Tige r. The department has p ro posed to launch what it cal l ed B i ligiri
Rangana Temple Wild Life Sanctua ry ( B RTWLS) a nd is optim i stic about the proposal being made part of the
forthcoming t i ge r census. Karnataka h a s a l ready three - Nagarhole N ational Par k , Ba n d i pu r a n d B ha d ra
tige r reserve - out of a tota l 28 t iger reserve s i n the country a n d a l l th ree were i n c luded under Project Tiger.
Accordi ng to offic i a l s , tige r reserve h a s a spec i a l status w i t h its protection a n d m a i ntena nce a s wel l a s the
sal aries of the staff bei ng met by the Central Government. (BR h i l l s may be i n cl uded in P roject Tiger, Subhash
Chandra, VT. B, 1 9.02.06, K55)
In order to protect the water b i rd pop u l at i on in Bangalore, the department has mooted an i dea of declaring
certa i n wetla n d s i n the c ity a s bi rd con servation zones. The i d e a , a fi rst of i ts k i n d , w i l l n ot o n ly h e l p i n
i m p rovi ng the b i rd habitat i n the City but enable b i rd lovers t o partici pate i n conservation programmes. The
Forest departme n t has a l ready begun work in t h i s d i rection. Work on the mapping of the wetlands where the
b i rds a rrive, has begun , while b i rd-rich a reas l i ke Madi va l a l a ke , P utten h a l l i Lake , J a k k u r and Byra m a ngal a
lake which attract thousands of birds a re being monitored. Once the water bodies a re decla red a s conservation
zones, they wi l l be brought under the lega l p rovisions a n d deve l o ped to protect the l a n d scape a n d the flora
and fau n a of the l a ke s and surroundi ng a reas. (Propos a l to convert wetlands i nto b i rd conservation zones,
Subhash Cha ndra , VT. B, 2 7.03.06, K55)
K56 Naga ra h o l e
I t ' s a classic exa m p l e o f how t h e I nd i a n bureaucracy works d u r i n g a crisis a n d what it d oes when t h e cris i s
i s past. For o n ce t he tiger cris i s ' w h i c h shook t h e country van is hed from t h e medi a spot l i ght, t h e P roject
T iger Di rectorate has resu med i ts old ways of fun ctio n i ng.
N ot h i n g coul d p rove the poi n t better than the i ssue of tribal resettlement from N agarahole National Park.
Though 300 tribal fa mil ies a re keen o n ava i l i n g of the rehab scheme a n d the Forest Depa rtment h a s a l ready
bu ilt over 1 0 5 hou ses, the Project Tige r D i rectorate has dec l i ned to rel e a se funds for the resettlement.
The resettlement scheme for tri ba l s of N agarahole and B h a d ra fou n d a mention i n the T i ge r Tas k Force
constituted by the P r i m e M i n i ster to look i nto the t iger c r i s i s . The Tas k Force h a d a l so recommended that
such models cou l d be emulated i n other a reas a s wel l . But, the Directorate is taking s he lter beh i nd the fact
that the f u n d s were not comp letely u sed d u ri ng t h e l a st f i n a n c i a l yea r a n d i s t h u s thwa r t i n g the ent i re
resettlement process. The tri ba l s who h ave registered for the reha bil itation scheme a re feel i ng let down by
the Government.
The o n l y t h i ng t h e Department is waiti n g for is Central f u n d s as it h a s to g ive R s . o n e l a k h in c a s h to the
fa m i l ies which want to move out. The triba l s should have moved l a st March. Since the construction of houses
nod the identification the land was delayed, the Rs, 1 ,55 crore received from the Centre, which was earmarked
for t h i s purpose, w a s sent back. N ow, the repeated pleas of the Forest Department h ave fai le d to move the
Project Tiger Di rectorate which has not released the money. ( Red tape sta l l s Nagarahole tribal s ' resettlement,
Vi n ay Madhav, I E. B, 1 3. 1 1 .0 5 , K56)
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K57 H i l l Tou r i sm
C h i kmaga l u r's d istrict a d m i n i stration i s a f i r m bel i ever i n the sel f- h e l p concept , at least where tou ri sm i s
concerned_ M iffed by the l ow i nterest l evel s i n Chi kmaga l u r, espec i a l ly the l a c k of focussed promot i o n , the
d i strict is atte m pt in g an a mbitious ca m pa i g n on its own, l i n ki ng up with i nternati o n a l travel operators and
agents_ The emphasis will be on nature a nd wildlife. Chikmaga l ur has breathtakingly beautiful range of mountai n s
studded w i t h coffee plantations. He agreed that m i n i m u m fac i l ities were lacking i n some o f the destinations.
but i n d i cated that efforts a re on to address those i ssues in p h a ses. (Ch i kmagal ur set to l u re globa l tourists,
Anita Rao Kas h i , TOI . B, 2 2 . 06.05, K57)
Asia 's l a rgest coffee p l a ntation company Tata Coffee Ltd . has d iversified i nto the hospita l ity sector with the
l aunch of " P l a ntation Tra i l s, " a cl uster of holiday homes in Kodagu, set a m i d st i dyll i c coffee g rowin g estates
i n a n d a round Pol l ibetta, once renowned for its h i gh yield i ng a n d fine flavoured Coorg mandarins that were
grown a s a n i nter crop.
Tata Coffee's hol iday homes a re origi n a l estate homes or bunga l ows that were occu pied by the planters of
Tata Coffee Ltd . i n Kodagu . ' P l a ntat i on Tra i l s w i l l be i niti a l ly confined to 36 roo m s spread over e ight estates
in Kodagu. (Tatas launch ' Pl a ntation Tra i l s ' , It w i l l i nitia l ly be confined to 36 rooms i n eight estates in Kodagu,
T H . B, 23.02.06, K57)
K59 Gol f Tou ri s m
T h i s c i ty i s i d ea l ly s it uated t o deve l o p a green belt o f golf courses a l l a ro u n d i t , says o n e o f t h e wor l d 's
l ea d i ng "golf a rc hi tect s . " Golf courses w i l l c reate j o bs for h u n d re d s a nd ea r n some h a rd c urre n cy for the
gove r n ment, says Ronald W. Frea m of the U.S. based Fream and Dale Golf Plan, which provides golf course
a rc h i tecture. A pa r t from v i s i to rs, the c ity has h u n d re d s i n the h i g h - i ncome bra c ket for whom golf c a n be
recreati o n , l ifestyle and even a status sym bol . Another suggestion he h a s i s for golf courses to be developed
a s pa rt of the tech parks. ( Ba ngalore idea l for golf tou rism: expert, T H . B, 06.09 .05, K59)
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Ll0 Pol i cy, Economy
The Kera l a G ove r n me nt has d rawn u p an action p l a n with an outlay of Rs 1 3 ,495 c rore to i mp lement the
projects i de ntified for its 'Vision 20 1 0' progra mme. The Governor, M r R . L. Bhat i a , said that five task forces
had i dentified the p rojects t h a t wou l d be i m pl e me nted over t he next five years. The s h a re of the State
Government i n the outlay w i l l be 1 6 %, w h i l e the Centre w i l l contri bute 6 % . I nvestments from p rivate sector
a n d fi n a n c i a l i n stitutions w i l l account for the bal ance a mount. (Rs 1 3 ,495-cr action p l a n for 'Vision 20 1 0' ,
B L . B, 04.02 .06, L l O)
Lll Planning
Keral a wou l d bring i n a compreh ens ive legislation to b a n c h i l d l a bo u r i n the state , Labour M i n ister Babu
Divakara n said. The d raft for the legi s l ation was being considered by the cabi net, M r D ivakaran sai d . Though
c h i ld re n under 14 yea rs of age were nor engaged in ' hazardous' jobs, as defined by the I nternational Labour
Organ isation in the state , a ny k i n d of h a rd work i mposed o n them wou l d be ba n ned u nder the new act, he
said. (Keral a m u l l s B i l l to b a n chi l d l a bour, F E . B, 1 3.06.05, L l 1 )
L12 I nfrastructu re
The State Government w i l l seek f i n an c ia l a s s i stance of Rs 528 crore from the World B a n k to complete the
Kera l a State Tran sport p roject that envisage s devel opment of State h i ghways a n d other i mportant roads.
The Chief M i n i ster, Mr Oommen Chandy, said after the Cabi net meeting that the Cabi net resolved to go a head
w i t h the project, a s it d i d n ot m a ke sense to a b a ndon i t m i d -w ay. The Government. h owever, w i l l try to
complete the work without I ncurring excess expenditure. (Keral a to seek Rs 528 c r from World B a n k for road
project, B L . B, 06. 1 0. 0 5 , L l 2)
Leel a Ventures i s p l an n i ng to set u p a n a irport at Kannur i n Kera l a which wou ld ta ke shape withi n three yea rs .
"Ka n n u r has a gar ment p a rk, IT p a rk a n d horticultu re p a rk a n d i t needs a n a i rport. Leela w i l l be sett i n g u p
t h e p roject here w h i c h w i l l b e t h e fi rst 1 00% p rivate a i rport i n t he country, " C P K r i s h n a n N a i r, c ha i rm a n ,
Lee l a Ven t u re s a i d . N a i r stated that 300 a c res of l a nd h a s a l re a dy been a cq u i red for the project i n north
Keral a a nd a nother 1 ,000 acre of l a nd woul d be acquired after state legislative Assembly elections schedu led
in M ay. " ( Leela p l a ns a i rport at Kan nu r, FE, 04.02.06, L l O)
The N a t i o n a l Tran sportation P l a n n i ng a n d Resea rch Centre ( N AT PAC) h a s j u st concl uded a study for the
secon d phase of the h i l l h i ghway p roject, p a s s i n g t h rough the high ra nges i n Keral a , s uggesti n g that the
i mp lementation of the project be taken up in stages due to l arge development costs. The study pointed out
that the development of the second phase of the highway for a route length of 627.40 km from Pal a kkad to
Thiruva nanthapura m wou l d cost around Rs 3 1 ,087 I akh. The order of priority woul d be developing the m i ssing
l inks first and then u pg rading major d i strict roads to State h ighways sta ndards. ( Highway to development , V.
Sajeev Kum a r, B L . B, 1 3.03.06 , L 1 2)
The Cochi n Port i s float i ng gl obal expres s i on of i nterest (Eol) to a ppoi nt consulta nts for design i ng a world
c l a ss c ru ise term i n a l on the port p re mi ses. Accord i ng t o port a uthorities, t h e p roject is envisaged o n a
p u bl i c- private pa rtners h i p a n d wi l l i nc l u d e construction of a modem c r u i s e jetty a nd a world c l a s s crui se
term i n a l complex-cu m · p u b l i c plaza . To make the project f i n a n ci a l ly viable, the port i s p l a n n i ng to deve l o p
p a r t o f the ter m i n a l com p l ex a s a n a ccessi ble p u b l i c desti n a ti o n , a ra nge o f fac i l it i es for entertai n me nt ,
hosp i ta l i ty s ho p p i ng ma l l s a nd b u s i ness a n d confere n c i n g a n d trade exh i b i t i o n s. (Coch i n Port seeks
consu lta nts for cruise term i na l , F E . B, 2 1 .03.06, L l 2)
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L20 Environmenta l I ssues
The H i nd u sta n Coca-Cola Beverages (P) Ltd . was permitted by a Division Bench of the Kera la H igh Court to
resu me production at its P l achi mada plant i n Pa l a kkad d istrict, d rawing ground water up to five l a kh l itres
per day, the maxi m u m l i mit fixed by a team of expe rts of the Centra l Water Resources Deve l o p ment a n d
M a nagement (CWRDM).
The compa ny had not been fu nction i ng a s the Perumatty g ra m pa nchayat had refused to renew the l i cence
gra nted by it on the grounds that the company was over-exploiti ng ground water resulting in water sca rcity in
the a rea, a nd was causi ng envi ronmental pol l ution.
D isposi ng of three writ a ppeal s, the court sa i d the pa nchayat was not j ustified i n rejecti ng the a ppl ication for
renewal of l i cence before a scientific assessment of the ground water potential was made. The panchayat had
no lega l authority to ca ncel the l icence for fu nction ing with i n the panchayat a rea for a ny of these reasons. The
pa nchayat was, therefore, di rected to consider withi n two weeks the a ppl ication for renewa l of l icence for the
coming yea r, or a ny block yea rs, if such a n a ppl i cation i s received i n two weeks.
The compa ny has the obl igation to a ppra ise the panchayat that it has l i cence i ssued under the Factories Act
and clearance from the Pol lution Control Boa rd . If the panchayat is satisfied that the company is in possession
of these two docu ments, i t should gra nt l icence.
It i s not w i t h i n the j u ri s d i ction of the p a n c hayat to i nq u i re a bout the deta i l s of the m a c h i nery i n sta l l ed ,
borewe l l s etc, a s s u ch matters fa l l with i n the j u ri s d i ction of the enforcement officer u nder the Factories Act.
After the gra nti ng of I i cence, the panchayat ca n make i nspecti ons so as to see whether a ny further l i cence
fee is paya ble. ( HC gives nod to Coke's P l a c h i mada p l a nt, I E. B, 08.04. 05, L20)
Susta i ned multi ple assa u l ts on envi ro n ment s i g n a l an emergi ng c r i s i s for Kera l a as l a rge a reas across the
State struggle to cope with r i s i n g pol l ution l evel s , c l i mate c h a n ge a nd i nc rea sed v u l nera b i l i ty to n atura l
d i sa sters. The fi rst 'State of the Envi ron ment' report for Keral a which i s schedu led to be relea sed by C h i ef
M i n i ster Oommen Chandy, provides a n i nsight i nto the st�ess factors responsi ble for the i mpend i ng threats.
The report states that u n p l a n ned u rb a n growth , conversion of wetl a n d s a nd fiel d s , coasta l erosion a n d
i ncrea si n g consu mpt i on of petro l e u m products have p l a ced t remendous p ressure on t h e l i mited natura l
resources i n the State. The report i s the c u l m i nation of a two-yea r progra mme l a u n ched by the Kera la State
Council for Science, Technology and Envi ronment (KSCSTE) with assista nce from the M i n i stry of Envi ron ment
a n d Forests. (Kera l a beco m i n g wa rmer, says envi ronment su rvey, Tou ri sm growth pos i ng threat to coasta l
degradation, T. N a ndakumar, T H _ B, 05.06.05, L20)
Last week the Perumatty panchayat refused , for a second ti me, permission to Coca Cola to d raw water for its
Plachi mada pla nt. As envi ronment stories go, the one a bout thi s p l a nt in Kera l a is a n i nternationa l favou rite
that refuses to fade away. The story i s one of both ground water depletion and surfa ce pol l ution that i s ma king
the water in well s i n the vicin ity of the plant undri n ka ble. Coke says its d i rect cul pa b i l i ty i n the matter has not
been esta b l i s hed.
The p l a nt was closed after the pa nchayat ca ncel l ed the l i cence of H i nd u sta n Coca Col a Beverages Private
Ltd to use groundwater from here in M a rch 2004. The panchayat has si nce rejected the compa ny's a ppl ication
twice.
The P l a c h i mada protest i s led by Dal its a nd a d ivasis. The pol l ution comes from the s l udge Coke du mped i n
t h e a rea s u rrou n d i n g i t s p l a n t w h i c h t h e B B C tested a nd decl a red t o have a h i g h content of cad m i u m a nd
n i ckel . Coke was pass i ng it off a s a ferti l izer. (The P l ac himada saga, Seva nti N i n a n , TH . B, 1 9.06.05, L20)
The Kera l a Forest Depa rtment woul d promote a project to develop wooded a reas i n cities a n d v i l l ages, the
M i n i ster for Water Resources and Forests, Thi ruva nchoor Rad ha kris hn an , a n nounced . At a press conference,
the M i n i ster s a i d the objective wou l d be to i ncrea se the forest cover of the State by 5 percent i l e poi nts. He
said 28 % of the State's terri tory w a s forests. Thi s need ed to be i ncreased to 33 %. The M i n i ster s a i d that
the envi ron menta l and other orga n i sations would be i nvolved in the effort to u se fa l low a reas in cities, towns
2 0 05 - 0 6
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a n d vil l ages for p l a nting. Aroun d 20 lakh seedl i ngs wou l d be distributed i n the first stage of the afforestation
programme. ( P roject to deve l o p green cover in Kera l a cities, T H . B, 29.06.05, L20)
La n d gra b b i n g by 'the rich, the powerful a n d the i nfl uenti a l ' is conti n u i ng u na bated in the Cardamom H i l l
Reserves ( C H R) of Idukki district i n Keral a , a ccordi ng a recent report of the Centra l Empowered Com m i ttee
( C EC) of the Supreme Court. The C EC s u b m itted its report to the S u p reme Court l ast month acti n g on a n
a p pl ication filed before i t by a n environmental group called O n e Earth O n e Life seeking the court's i ntervention
in p reven t i ng l a rge·sca le encroachment of forests i n the C H R w i t h the s u p port of b u re a ucrats a nd
establ i sh ment.
During the i r probe, the CEC members came across a staggerin g n umber of cases i nvolving "il legal a ssignment
of l a nd s a n d gra nt of t i t l e deeds . . . a n d conse q ue nt deforestat i o n " i n t h e C H R , w h i c h is l ega l l y ' reserved
forests. ' (Forest encroac hment u n a bated in I du k k i , says panel report, P. Venugopal , T H . B, 06. 1 0.05, L20)
Keral a M i n i ster for Water Resources Thiruva nchoor Radhakri shna n sai d that the Government would not agree
to i nterl i n k the Pa m pa a n d t h e Acha ncoi l rivers to the Vyp a r i n Tam i l N a d u u n d e r a ny c i rcumstances. The
M i n i ster said Keral a had a l ready l ost water from five rivers to Ta m i l N a d u . The Centre had no l egal powers to
ask the State that it should a l l ow further diversion of its waters. Mr. Radhakri s h n a n said the Government had,
in principle, a pproved a propos a l for the formation of a river deve lopment authority. He said his department
was of the view that it s hou l d have a say in the use of the River M a n a ge ment F u n d . The use of the F u n d
s h o u l d n o t b e l im ited t o construction works. Conservation o f water resources s h o u l d b e t h e focus. ( Keral a
n ot t o a l l ow d ivers i on o f rive r waters, T H . B, 03. 1 2 . 0 5 , L20)
The State Government has proposed shifting the controversial Coca·Cola bottling plant at Perumatty in Pa la kkad
d istrict to some other l oc a t i o n where it w i l l not e ncoun ter p u bl i c resi sta nce. The Gove r nment made t h i s
proposa l at a meeting convened by Principal Secretary for I ndustries T. Ba l a k ri s hn a n . The meeting was part
of conti n u i ng efforts to find a sol ution to the d ispute over the Coca·Co l a bottl i ng pla nt, which remains closed
since March 2004 following public agitation and court cases over the a l l eged overexploitation of the groundwater
resou rces of the a rea by the company. Accord i ng to i nformation received by this newspa per on what transpi red
at the meeting, the compa ny's officials did not respond either posi tively or negatively to the suggestion. They
s a i d they wanted t i me to study the propos a l from a l l a ngles. (Coke reserves res ponse on G ove r n m e n t
suggestion, T H . B, 04. 0 1 .06, L20)
L30 Non-Tourism I ssues
I t could be a small but significa nt victory for the green brigade, vi n d i cating yea rs of struggle. As the debate
rages whether tribals shou l d be granted res i dency rights i n forests, Keral a coul d show the way. The Supreme
Court a ppoi nted Central E mpowered Comm i ttee i n its report s a i d forest l a n d coul d be tra n sferred if
compensated with afforestation progra mmes. I n a report s u b mitted to the S C on Apri l 29, the committee
s a i d the State G overnment ca n tra n sfer forest l a nd to tri b a l s so that it is used o n ly for forestry. I n effect, it
has wa ived the ea rlier condition of payment of net p resent val u e of l a nd by the State Govern ments.
Kera l a has been e a ge r ly w a i ti ng for the a pex cou rts d ec i s i o n . After a v i o l ent struggle by tri b a l s for t h e i r
traditional l ights, the State government i s making efforts t o resettle 5 3 , 0 0 0 tribal fa m i l i es i n the forests of
Muthanga Sanctu a ry by tran sferrin g nearly 7,000 hectares of forest l a n d . If it comes through, this wil l be the
first victory for tri bal rights in the country. (Keral a leads the way in tri bal forest rights c ru sade, Yoga Ra ngatia ,
T P. D, 03.05.05, L30)
L40 Tou rism Pol i cy a n d Plans
I n a series o f road shows Kera l a tourism i s atte m pti ng t o tem pt t h e domestic trave l ler with a l l thi ngs that the
ti ny state is famous for a s wel l as some vi rgi n , offbeat dest i n a t i o n s . Last yea r foreign a rriva l s i n to Kera l a
stood a t 3 . 2 5 l a k h s w h i l e d o mestic tourists crossed 60 l a khs.
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Interview Kerala Tourism Principal Secretary, E V Bhara t Bhushan
Q. Keral a i s fam i l i a r with tour ists, so what a re you atte m pting with t h i s cam pa ign?
A . We a re taking a d i fferent l i ne thi s time. Our focu s is o n sustai na b i l i ty because we bel i eve
u nless tourism can sustai n itself; i t cann ot provide a n u nforgettable experience.
Q. Are n ' t the two contra d i ctory?
A. It may seem contrad ictory our c a m pa i g n to a ttract more touri sts a n d the s usta i n a b i l i ty
line but there i s n o d i chotomy. Only if its susta i n a ble can more tourists enjoy the experience.
It's chal lenging but we' re gea ri ng for it.
Q. How do you p ropose to do t h i s?
A. The Keral a Assembly passed a legis lation recently providi ng for demarcating tourist zones,
where the governme nt w i l l have wide-ra ngi ng control. Such is the scope of the legislation that
it lays down stri ngent guidelines for waste d is posa l of houseboats and control of e m i ssions_
Q. But why the strong foc u s on d omestic tourists?
A. Beca use more a nd more I nd i a ns a re begi n n i ng to travel , a n d we wa n t them to travel to
Kera l a . In addition to a l l the USPs, we a re a l so promoting some of the u nexplored territories
for those domestic tourists who p refer solitude. The new set of commerc i a l s shot by Santosh
Sivan a ptly convey a l l that Kera l a is a bout.
( Keral a targets domestic tou r i sts, Anita Rao Kas h i , TOI . B, 26.04.05, L40)
Keral a Tourism has prepa red a preli m in a ry set of guideli ne s for the conservation and preservation of the four
s pec i a l tourism zones i n the State. The d raft guideli n es for the conservation a n d p reservation of Koval a m ,
M u n n a r, Kum a ra kom a n d Fort Koch i a re ava i l able for com me n t o n the Kera l a Tou r i s m Website, s a i d M r B.
S u m a n , D i rector, Department of Tourism, Government of Keral a . These four regions were recently decl a red
specia I tourism zones by t he State Government u nder the Keral a Tou rism (Conservation a n d P reservation of
A reas) Act 2005. W h i l e preservation, conservation a nd i ntegrated development of the special tourism zones
is the m a i n objective, sepa rate guideli nes have been prepared for each zone. ( Keral a Tou rism p repares d raft
norms for s pec i a l zones, Sankar Radhakri s h n a n , BLC, 03.06.05 , L40)
Tel evision sta rs S m ri t i I ra n i a n d Mona Vasu wi l l endorse Keral a as a holi d ay desti nation i n a series of ads to
be tel ecast on Sta r P l u s . Confirming the development, Keral a Tou rism M i n i ster Mr K.C. Ven ugopal sai d that
the promotion is part of Kerala Tou rism's efforts to p romote the State i n the domestic ma rket. Kera la Tou rism
also hopes t h e a dvertisements w i l l boost v i s i tor i nflows d u ri ng t h e 'off season' and stre n gthen the State's
positioni ng as a year- roun d tou r i st dest i n ation. One a dvertisement will feature Mona Vas u , who acts in the
serial M i i l ee, talk a bout how ayurvedic hol idays in Kerala revital i se her and help her cope with a busy schedule.
Accord i ng to a senior tou rism offi c i a l , the three - a d campa ign wi l l a p pe a r on Sta r P l us i n a few weeks. The
cam pa i gn is part of an overa l l medi a package with Star P l us a n d has been shot by t he chan nel , he said. The
m a i n objective of the c a m pa ign is to reach out to people i n N orthern I nd i a and a l so in states such as Gujarat
and M a ha rashtra , s a i d the offici a l . Researc h has show n that women i n these a reas have a significa nt role i n
dete r m in i ng where the fam i ly holi days, h e expla i ned. (TV stars to promote Keral a touris m , B L . B, 24.06.05,
L40)
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Interview with B Suman, Director, Kerala Tourism
Q. With the boom i n civi l aviation thanks to the arrival of a n u mber of l ow·cost a i r l i nes, has
there been a n i ncrease in the n u m be r of domestic tour i sts c om i ng to Kera l a ?
A . As o f n ow there a re n o low·cost a i r l i nes flyi ng i nto Kera l a . H owever two l ow cost a i rl i nes,
Air Deccan a nd Paramou nt, a re sched uled to fly to Kerala in September. I t i s a nticip ated that
there w il l be an i ncrease in the domest i c tourist a rriva l s once they sta rt flying i n .
Q. Keral a i s right o n top of every tourist's i t i nerary. However, why i s t hat most private a i r l i nes
a re averse to fly i ng to Keral a ?
A . Keral a i s without doubt the most sought after tour i st destination i n t h e country. However,
Keral a 's geogra p h i ca l l ocation of bei ng l ocated i n o n e corner of t h e cou n t ry i s to o u r
d isadvantage. Currently most of t h e capacity i s f i lled by bus iness travel lers w h o fly t o Kera l a
due t o t h e h i g h p ri c i ng that conventional a i rl i nes h ave at p resent. T h e leisure travel segment
is q uite p ri ce·sensitive , u n l i ke the b u s i n es s t ravel segment. O u r d isadvan tage is that the
h i gh p ri c i n g to an extent deters l e i s u re trave l l e rs from flyi ng i n .
Q . H igh cost i s o n e major factor t hat puts off d omesti c tourists. What a re you r strategies to
a d d ress t h i s crucia l i ssue?
A. I t is agreed that high cost deters d omestic tour i sts. Keral a Tour i sm is p resently look i n g at
a h ost of pol i cy opti o n s , w h i c h cou l d be u sed to i n ce n tives a i r l i ne a rriva l s i nto the state.
Some of them coul d be reducing the leve l s of taxati o n on ATF, subsi di s i ng g ro u n d h a nd l i ng
c h a rges, etc. A decis i o n on t h i s w i l l have to be taken a t a h igher l evel kee p i ng i n m i nd the
trade·off between the loss of reven ue a nd a nticipated gains in d o i ng so.
( ' H ig h val ue tourism is i ntri nsica l ly l i nked to a i r l i ne a rriva ls ' , F E . D, 27.09.05, L40)
As Keral a becomes a hot tour i st spot for more trave l lers from E u rope, backwaters a n d ayurveda may n ot be
the only attractions to l u re them. The State Tourism Department is pla n n i ng to promote 'experience touri sm'
which enable the tou rists to i nteract with the l oc a l s a nd enjoy the a mbience. The concept brings in additional
i n come for the fa rmers . The state i s targeti ng h i gh·end tour i sts with experience tourism. Along with that the
Tou rism Department is goi ng to u nl ea sh a tourism p romot iona l c a m pa ign in the U S joi ntly with the Taj and
Oberoi groups in M a rc h . U n l i ke E u rope a n s , Keral a has not become must·see p lace for the Ameri c a n s . The
tourist i nflow from the US i s sti ll l im ited . Another trend observed in the current season is t he rise in i ndividual
tourists. There is less demand for p resched u le d and ta i l or-made p rogram mes. A l so the touri sts see m more
o riented towa rds culture than beaches, perhaps becau se at the t i m e of the booki ng a ro u n d six months ago,
tsu n a m i coul d have been at the back of the i r m inds. (After backwaters a nd ayurveda, it's experience tou ris m
i n Kera l a , P K K r i s h n a Kum a r, I E .C, 07 . 1 2 . 0 5 , L40)
Tou r o p e rators a n d t ravel a gents w i l l soon have to s h i ft t he i r ba se out of t h e state or j u st s h u t s hop. T he
Tour i s m Depa rtment i s i n the process of transfor m i ng its websi te www. kera l atou ri s m.org i nto a "one stop
s hop" for a l l tourism needs. I f the idea becomes a rea lity, a touri st can not only get i nfor mation o n the tourist
spots i n the state a n d but a l s o book h i s flight tickets, a r ra nge h i s a irport tra n sfer, p l a n h i s itinera ry a n d even
book a seat i n a l onely beach-side restau rant through the 20· i nch fra me of the website. ( ke ra latouris m . org i n
for a major reva m p, R Ayya p p a n , I E.C, 06.02. 06, L40)
The Centre has given the green signal to the p roposed ' Kadal ora Tou ri s m Ci rcuit', a tou rism p roject connecting
beaches in Kera l a , the State Tou ris m M i n i ster, Mr K.C. Venugopal , s a i d .
I n a written reply, he said t h e R s 7 .98·crore project wou l d be i mplemented t h rough t h e Keral a I nd u stri a l a nd
Tec h n i ca l Consu ltan cy O rga n isation i n San k u mugha m , Cherayi , N a tt i k a , Payya m b a l a m , Meenkun nu a n d
Muzhuppil a ngad beaches.
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Mr Venugopal said though the Govern ment had not received a ny compla i nts of sex tou rism, it woul d exa mine
the matter a n d ste rn action wou l d be t a ken aga i nst those i nvol ved . He sa id e m p l oyment opport u n ities
through touri s m was i ncreasing each yea r and according to the report by the Travel and Tourism Counci l , 7 .8
l a kh jobs were created d u ri ng 2005-06 and by 20 1 3 i t wou l d touch 22 l a kh .
Forest p rotecti o n : The State Forest M i ni ster, M r A . Suja napa l , told the Assembly the Government p roposed
to a p point s pec i a l p rosecutors for s peedy settl ement of cases rel a ted to forest p rotect io n . Mr Suja n a p a l
said three projects for forest protection had been i m pl emented w i t h World Ba n k a i d . No outsiders woul d be
engaged for forest protection a n d this work wou l d be entrusted to tri bals l ivi ng i n forest a reas. Accord i ng to
ava il a b l e statistics, there were 80,000 tri b a l s l ivi ng in forests. Mr Suja napal said not an inch of forest l a nd
wou l d be privati s e d . The State a n d Centra l Govern ments' decl a red pol i cy was to p rotect forest. (Centre
okays Kera la coasta l tou rism c i rcuit, B L . B, 1 5 .02.06, L40)
As part of its efforts to p romote res ponsi bl e tou ri s m , Kera l a Tou ri s m has unve i l ed a set of g u i d e l i nes for
t rave l l ers a nd tour operators in the State. The gui del i nes a re part of a multi- pronged strategy to move the
touris m i ndustry in Keral a towards respons i ble tourism based on conservation a nd preservation.
One a s pect of the tou rism depa rtment's responsible tou rism strategy i s to work with the hotel i ndustry to
promote this concept. I n t i me, ecological considerations w i l l be i ncorporated i nto the hotel classifi cation and
i ncentives system currently fol lowed i n the State. As part of its responsible tou rism strategy, Kera l a Tourism
also p l a ns to create a certification scheme for tour operators.
S i mi la rly, the tou rism department plans to sensitise tou rists to the need for respons i ble tou rism th rough an
i nformation campaign. The guideli nes, which a re posted on the Keral a Tou ri s m Web site, touch on a nu mber
of s i m ple but effective thi ngs that both tou rists a nd tou r operators can do to promote respons i ble tou rism.
(Kera l a Tou ri s m u nve i l s norms for tourists, operators Sa n ka r Ra dhakri s h n a n , BL.C, 22.02.06, L40)
Kera l a Tou ri s m h a s d rawn up a Rs 5 · c rore project to develop Vel i a n d A k ku l a m i n the city i nto i m portant
desti nations for domestic tourists. The Kera l a Tou ri s m M i n ister M r. K.G. Venugopa l a n nou nced t h i s at the
i na ugu ration of a new floating resta u ra nt at the Vel i tou ri s m v i l lage. A section of the wa l kway from Vel i to
Akku l a m a nd a renovated project at the Vel i tou rism vi l lage we re a l so i n a ugu rated . B u i l t by the city-ba sed
Fl oate l s I n d i a Pvt Ltd , the two-storey float i n g resta u ra n t w i l l be ru n by the Kera l a Tou ri s m Development
Corporation. ( Floati ng resta urant, B L. B, 24.02.06, L40)
LSO Tou rism Issues
Setting itself u p a s a paradigm for home-spun success, God 's Own Cou ntry has registered a record nu mber
of tou rist a rriva l s . From January to December 2004, domestic tou rist a rriva l s touched a high of 59,7 5,000,
which is more than 1 1 a kh in compa rison with the audited figures of 2003. I nternational a rriva l s a l so recorded
a growth of 1 6.69 perce nt. This would p roba bly have gone up by a nother 4 to 5 percent had it not been for
the tsunami scare, said Kera l a Tourism officia l s. (Kera l a registers record tourists, I E.B, 27 . 04.05, L50)
The Kera la govern ment w i l l steel its cla i ms on Halcyon Castle, but the encroachi ng M - Fa r G roup ( I ndian arm
of M uscat-based G u lfar G ro u p) is not h i ng l ess t h a n an honou ra ble i nvestor; accord i ng to C h i ef M i n i ster
Oommen C h a n dy. The state Cabi net decided to p ro m u l gate an ord i n a nce to t a ke ove r H a l cyon Castle. A
directive by Kera la H igh Cou rt had overruled a special order by Kerala govern ment. To strengthen the cla i ms
the Cabi net decided to go for a n o rd i n a nce. I n the eye of a l ega l storm now, H a l cyon Castle on Kova l a m
sta n d s h a s a h i storic dazzle that ra kes u p bot h t h e business a n d t h e heritage memories. The fi rst recent
controve rsy f l a re · u p was over the token p ri ce ( reportedly R s 40 crore) for w h i c h I T DC had tran sferred its
bea ch p roperty to M · Fa r G roup. The a djacent H a l cyon Castle, o rigi na l ly a holiday-home for erstw h i l e roya l
fa m i l y of Trava ncore, i s now hotly c l a i med a s p a rt of M - Fa r G roup's buy. (Ord i nance to ta ke over H a l cyon
Castle, FE. B, 0 5 . 05 .0 5 , L50)
Kera la ayu rveda is desperately searching for a good va i dya to c u re i t of a l l sed i mented i l l s . T h i s bra nch of
medici ne i s on a s l i ppery s l ope towa rds l o s i ng a l l its tra d i t i o n a l respect a nd repute after being pestled to
thrash i n the tourism morta r. The fi rst signs of its fast-losing value a re al ready visible with many i nternational
tour agencies writing to the Kerala Government a bout mou nti ng complaints agai nst quacks and ra n k amateu rs
who masq uerade as professional masseurs.
2 005 - 06
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Documenta t ion Upda t e
I
I n fact, a sa m p l i ng of feedback books i n resorts a n d houseboats reflects how a l lergic the backpackers a re
towards t h i s which a utomatical ly fou n d s pa ce o n a l l b i l lboards l u ri ng foreign trave l lers. With no monitoring
mechan i s m in p l ace, capsu le ayurvedi c package s a re today seen a s n ight m a r i s h experiences which sca re
vi sitors.
The government h a s a l ready prepa red a d raft B il l to tame mushroom i n g massage and ayurveda centres. All
centres wi l l be i nspected by a team of experts from Health a nd Tourism Departments before they a re accorded
'A: ' B ' or 'C' certificates. Sources sai d the draft B i l l woul d be tabled i n t h e Assembly i n the n ext sessio n for
adopt i o n . ( Keral a ayu rveda on a s l i p pe ry s lope; scares tourists, I E.C, 1 4.06.05, L50)
Foreigners v i s i t i n g For t Koc h i i n the nea r futu re woul d have hel p com i ng i n the form of touri st-frie n d ly
a utorickshaws d riven by women. Spurred by the i ncreas i ng i ncidents of m i sbehaviour a nd fleeci ng of foreign
tou ri st s by a section of auto d rivers, the Fort Cochi n Tou rist Home Owners Association is p l a n n i ng to operate
rickshaws that would cha rge on ly a reasonable fare. The women d rivers, of these vehicles wou l d a l so double
up as guides and p rovide tourists t he i nformation they requi re. The Tourist Home Owners Association, which
h a s a ro u n d 35 members, was formed to s erve the i ntere st of susta i nable tourism i n Fort Koc h i . The other
objective s of the a ssociation i n cl ude preservi n g Fort Kochi a s a h eritage zone and keepi ng it c l e a n . (Soon,
tourist-friendly a utos i n Koc h i , I E.C, 2 5 .06.05, L50)
The p a r t i c i pants at a sem i n a r o n 'Cochi n Por t - A N ew D i rection' o rgan i sed by the Cochi n C h a m be r of
Commerce and I ndustry suggested converting the Wi l l i ngdon I sl a n d i nto a city centre of Koch i with fac i l ities
for recreation a nd shoppi ng. To push t h i s p ro posa l a head, the c h a m be r has decided to req uest the U nion
Government to set u p a n empowered taskforce to study the issue and provide-With l a nd use recommendation
to attract long-term i nvestments. The taskforce can have rep resentatives from the M i n i st ry of Shi pping, the
Keral a Government, the port a n d fro m t rade and commerce, the chamber s a i d . (Plea to convert Wi l l i ngdon
I sl and i nto Kochi centre , B L . B, 1 3.09.05, L50)
After ayurveda tou rism a nd backwater tou rism, Keral a tourism i s set to l a u nch its fa rm tourism product. The
p roject cata p u l ts a ny fa rmer with 1 0 a cres cultivated l a n d holding to the tou rism i ndust ry's a mbit.
Coffee and tea p l a ntations, goi ng t h rough deep gloom because of WTO-driven ma rket depress i on , will a lso
be a l lowed to spread t he i r i nvestment through p l a ntation touri sm. The state government wou l d give su bsidy
support equiva lent to 25% of the a mo u nt the farmer i nvests i n hospital ity fac i lities. This a mount w i l l be u pto
Rs 5 l a k h . Keral a Tou r i s m i s a lso worki ng out a credi t package with ban kers to m a ke loans ava i l a b l e for the
far m tourism fac i l i ty.
I n return for subsidy a n d loan s u p port, the farmer is expected to create a m i n i mu m hospita l i ty i nfrastructure,
conforming to Keral a Tou ri s m standards. A farm-tourism doma i n , accord i ng to the scheme, should i nc lude a
d rawing room fac i l i ty, s ma l l restaurant, and smal l shopp i n g a rea, parking a rea a nd roads with rural a mbience,
a l l with i n the far m l a n d . There shou l d a l so be gui de-arra n gement to give detai l s of planting methods of the
crop i n c u ltivat i o n , speci a l it i e s of the crop va r i a nts and h a rvest i n g tec h n iq u e s . ( Fa rmers to get a bite of
Kera l a tourism p i e by J a n , FE.C, 24. 1 0.05, L50)
Keral a Tou ri s m is worki ng on an i nitiative to give a boost to med ical tourism i n the State. Accordi ng to Mr B.
Suman, Director of the State's Department of Tourism, the ava i labil ity of h i gh-quality hea lthcare i nfrastructure
a t rea sonable prices makes Keral a a n i d ea l desti nat i on for medi ca l tourism. Kera l a Tou ri s m i s wor k i ng o n a
m arket i n g c a mp a i gn to p romote the State a s a med i c a l tou rism desti nation. On the a nvi l a re p romot i o n a l
events i n Sri Lanka, M a l dives, Europe and i n West A s i a . The tourism department i s a l so work i n g o n c reat i ng
partnershi ps between hospitals i n Keral a and i nsurance com pa n i es i n Eu rope, espec i a l l y i n the U K. (Move to
boost medi ca l tourism in Kera l a , San ka r Radhakrishn a n , B L . B, 1 0 . 1 2 . 0 5 , L50)
With t h e o nset of Kera l a b ra n d of Ayu rved a a n d newly fou n d c ru i se tou ri s m , the state has been s u rg i n g
a head by establ i s h i n g a n iche for itsel f i n t h e global tourism m a p. Blending t h e cruise and ayurveda tourism
potentia l s of Kera l a , Ayurvoyages Pvt. Ltd is venturi ng i nto a l onesome path by setti ng o n sai l Ayu r N a u ka .
Ayu r N a u ka i s a u n i que conce pt i n health touris m , conceived by the Thrissur based Ayu ryogas h ra m . I t is a
float i n g hea lth c a re centre offeri ng tou ri sts a plethora of faci l i ties for a b l i ssfu l cruise i n the bac kwaters with
the accompa n i ment of ayurvecdic rej uvenation therapy. (A blend of crui se and ayurveda , I E .C, 29. 1 2.0 5 ,
L50)
I
Documenta t ion Upda te
I 2005 - 06
Kochi · ba sed H ighway G a rden Pvt Ltd h a s emba rked on having properties i n the major tourism dest i n ations
l i ke Thekkady, Wayanad, Kumarakkom , Alappuzha and Kan n u r in a yea r a n d a half. Company d i rector KE Roy
sa i d i n most pl aces the sites h a d been i dentified a nd negotiations were i n the f i n a l stage s . The g ro u p w a s
setting u p a four· sta r business hotel a t a n i nvestmen t o f R s 1 5 crore i n Thi ruva na nthapu ra m . T h e gro u p has
a resort i n M u n n a r cal led ' Fore st Haven' . It had p u m ped i n Rs 3 crore to renovate a nd u pgrade its H ighway
Garden to a three·sta r hotel . ( Highway Garden to acq u i re new a sset for tourism c i rcuit, FE.C, 0 7 . 0 1 .06, L50)
Jose Domin i c , ma naging d i rector of Kerala·based CGH Earth group of resorts sa i d , "The demographics of the
i nternational travel ler a re undergoing a noticeable change. The top end of the market is getti ng more involved
with the l ocal commu nity at thei r destination. The new crop of travel lers is thus setting a trend of respons i bl e
trave l l i ng, trying t o learn more a bout the society a round a n d see k i ng more fulfi l ment from their holi day rather
than j u st h ea d i ng for some bea c h . The pronounced s hift towa rds such res po n s i b le tou r i s m seems to have
caught on with a nu mber of tou r operators, travel agents a nd even the state government"
Perha ps the most significant of the venture s a i med at tourism promotion with an emphasis on comm u n i ty
d eve l opment i s the L u l l a by·at-Varkala project, a venture l a u n c hed by l ea d i ng tour a n d trave l sector p l ayer
Kera la Travels by promoting Pro·Chi l d , an NGO that works towards empowering the c h ildre n of an entire a rea
in Varkala. The project covers seven panchayats, one municipal ity and 1 40 anganwadi s i n Varkala, an emergi ng
beach desti nation i n Kera la a n d is e m powering n ot o n ly the 3,320 c h i l d ren a ttend i ng the a nga nwa d i s , but
even the women i n fa m i l ie s a ro u n d them. (To u r i st s cost u p to Kera la vibes, J oe A Scar i a , ETC, 2 5 . 0 1 .06,
L50)
Kerala has become one of the three fi n a l i sts i n the Destination Category for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
2006 i nstituted by the World Travel a nd Tourism Council (WTTC). Kera la made it to the l ist a long with Greece
a nd M exi co from out of 1 00 a pp l i ca nts from more than 30 countries, a spokesman for Kera l a Tou ri s m s a i d .
The award w i l l recog n i s e 'the dedication a n d success i n m a i nta i n i ng a pol i cy o f s u sta i n ab l e management
i ncorporating socia l , cultura l , e nvironmental and economic a spects of the dest ination . ' In the next stage, a n
on·site eva l uation p rocess w i l l b e carried o u t t o select t h e n um be r o n e desti nation. A WTTC rep resentative
i s c u r re n tly i n the State to a ssess t h e properties fi rsthand a nd meet w i t h ma nagers, staff, com m u n i ty
rep resentatives a nd others i nvol ved i n the p roject Based on t h i s , a f i n a l report w i l l be made to the j udgi n g
com mittee. ( Ke ra l a m a kes it t o t h e fi n a l l i st for WTTC award , B L . B, 06.02.06, L50)
In Koch i , the ma i n busi ness a n d tourism h u b of the state, leadi ng builders started off the concept of service
a pa rtments - a concept widely endorsed by the tourism ci rcuit. However, a pa rtments a re now bei ng uttered
n ot j u st by b u i l ders but even by the ord i nary i nvest i ng public. I n fact, for the N on Resident Kera l i tes (N R K's),
who booke d a pa rtments in Koc h i , the service a pa rtments have opened up a n ew i ncome stre a m . Today,
Kochi h a s some of the best service a pa rtments l i ke The Riviera Suites, Star H omes, a nd Mermaid Days I n n .
M a ny l e s s k n ow n a pa rtments a re a lso b e i n g offered i n t h e c ity t o t h e busi ness a nd l e i s u re trave l l e r s. The
concept has been so w idely accepted that even some of the tour operators h ave sta rted offe r i n g service
apartments. Some hotels a re a l so tying up with a partment owners in pri me local ities to provide accommodation
for the i r c u stomers. (Apartments at you r service, Tha run Kumar, TO I . B, 03.03. 06, L50)
Kera la received ' best tou ri s m state' award w h i le the ' best hote l ' a wa rds were bagged by Obero i ' s Ama rvi l l a
i n Agra a nd t h e Taj Resi d e n cy i n Ba ngal ore. B e s i d e s w i n n i ng the best perfo r m i n g tour i st state award for
outstanding achievements in the tourism sector, Keral a a lso won 'best maintai ned tourism friendly monuments'
award for its Sakthan Tham pu ra n palace. ( Kerala receives best touri s m state award , F E . B , 1 8.03.06, L50)
L51 Coa sta l Tou r i s m
T h e l a rgest p rivate yacht with over 1 00 c u stom·designed res i d e n ce s a nd a menities o f a l uxu ry resort o n
board, T h e World, has a n c hored at Koch i Port. The vessel , a rrived for the fi rst t i m e i n I nd i a , w i l l spend three·
days at Koch i before leaving for Goa a nd Mumbai. Travel Corporation of I nd i a , the travel agents for passengers
on board, h a s a rra nged sightseei ng tours, backwater crui ses a nd vi l lage visits for the m .
Conceive d b y a m e m be r o f a N o rwegia n m a r i t i me fa m i ly, T h e Wor l d i s t h e o n l y resort com m u ni ty
c i rc u m naviga t i n g the globe. You ca n either own a home on boa rd the vessel or enjoy a vacation at sea by
rent i ng a n apartment provided you r pockets a re deep enough. (The World a nchors at Kochi , BL.B, 02 .04.05,
L5 1 )
2005 - 0 6
I
Documenta t ion Update
I
The Kera l a Cabi net ha s sanctioned Rs 4.3 1 crore for c on struction of seaw a l l s to protect people affected by
the recent swe l l waves on the coastal a reas. The C h i ef M i n i ster s a i d that the peo p l e l iving on the coast of 9
d istricts had been affected by the waves. M r C h a n dy sai d that a forest station a nd pol i ce a i d post wou l d be
set up at Kadavari Val sa petty to prevent ganja cultivation . As the a rea was i na ccessi ble, concrete footpaths
and steps woul d be bui lt. ( Keral a Govt san ctions Rs 4.31 cr to bui ld seawal l s , I rrigation Department e ntrusted
with the task, B L . B, 2 6 . 0 5 . 0 5 , L5 1 )
•
An ocea n park wi l l be set u p at M uzhi p i l a ngad , know n as ' drive·i n· bea c h ' , to give a boost to t h e i ntegrated
tourism development in the N orth M a l abar region. The Tou rism Department had a l ready submitted a deta i led
project report on Ocean Park with an estimated cost of R s 1 c ro re to the State G overnment for its a p p roval .
A detai led su rvey for the setti ng u p of aquarium , ma ritime museu m , c h i l d ren'S park, water s ports a n d a m i n i
ocea narium w a s a lso conducted . M r Ravindran s a i d t h e ocean p a rk i n t h e M uzbi p i l angad·Dharmadom a rea
woul d be a major develop ment, bringing socio-economic changes th rough i ntegrated tourism development i n
the a re a . Muzhi pi l a ngad , a consol i d ated beach w h i c h !s motora b l e even i n the severe monsoon mont h s ,
attracts a l a rge n u m be r o f touri sts. A 4 - k m d rive a long t h e beach i s a n enthra l li ng experience. (Ocean park
mooted in Kan n u r, B L . B, 1 1 . 07 . 0 5 , L5 1 )
L51a Backwater Tou r i s m
To cater t o t h e i ncreas i ng n u m ber o f t h e tou rists vi sit i ng Kum a ra kom a n d near·by tou ri s m s pots, Lakevi ew
House Boats has l a unched a houseboat n amed ' Pa lazhi ' with three-sta r fac i l ities. The 6·hour Kum a ra kom .
Alappuzha cruise provides food, i ncluding buffet l unch. The cost of the trip i s Rs 650 a person. This i s the first
t i m e that a l ux u ry c r u i s e boat h a s been l a u n c h ed excl u s i ve ly to p romote l a ke tou r i s m w i t h d a i l y t r i ps to
touri sts s pots i n t h e Kum a ra ko m . A l a p puzha belt, s a i d Mr Sreek u m a r, M a naging D i rector of L a ke View
House Boats. (Luxury boat l a unched, B L . B, 28. 1 0 .0 5 , L5 1 a )
Kum a ra ko m i s once a ga i n witnessi ng a heavy i nflow of tou rists, m a i n ly from Fra nce, Switzerla n d , Germa ny
a n d Ru ssi a . I n Coconut Lagoon , there i s u nu s u a l rush a s they cou l d n ot even offer l u xu ry suits to those who
have not made a ny a dvan ce reservation. For pool vil l a and sta ndard bu ngalow they charge Rs 27 ,000 a nd Rs
1 7 , 00 0 res p ective ly. Ku m a ra ko m L a ke Resort i s c h a rg i ng R s 9 , 500 exc l u s ive of tax for sta n d a rd
a ccommod a t i o n . But for l u x u ry s u i ts they c h a rge u p to Rs 3 5 , 000.There a re a l so resorts that c h a rge Rs
50,000, i nc l u s ive of food, for a s i ngle d ay accommodatio n . The tou r i sts who do not get a ccommodation a re
s pending the d ay a n d n ight i n houseboats provided by the resorts. A day's rent for houseboats ra nges from
Rs. 5000 to Rs. 2 5 ,000 . Some a re compl a i n i ng a bout the exorbitant rates c h a rged by leadi ng resorts. They
even described it as 'exploitation' a n d asked, " How many I nd i a ns coul d pay such rates?" (Foreigners crowd
Kumara ko m , Aravi ndan , BL.C, 28. 1 1 .05, L5 1 a)
L52 Pi l gr i m Tou r i sm
As part of its efforts to i m prove i n frastructure i n tou rist destinations i n the State, Kera l a Tou ri s m i s cha l k i ng
out a p l a n to u pgrade fac i l ities at i m porta nt p i lgri m s pots. The tou ri s m department, i n a ssociation with the
temple, mosque or church management, wi l l i mplement this scheme to i mp rove basic a menities at pilgri mage
centres. Dist ri ct level committees w i l l supervise the operation a n d mai ntenance of the fac i l ities set u p u nder
this scheme.
Meanwhil e, the tourism department has i nvited a pplications from p rivate entrepre neurs for its 'Vazhiyora m '
p roject to provid e b a s i c a menities for tra ve l lers a long i m portant h ighways i n t h e State. Accord i ng t o t h e
gu ideli nes o f t h i s scheme, 2 5 0 Vazhiyoram u nits w i l l b e set u p across Kerala at a n est imated R s 6 1 crore. Of
the total i nvestment, the State Govern ment w i l l contri bute Rs 1 3 c rore, w h i l e the p rivate sector is expected
to i nvest the rem a i n i ng Rs 48 crore. Each 'Vazh i yora m ' u n it wi l l have a ra nge of faci lities a n d services such
as, resta u ra nt , toi l ets, telephone booths, souve n i r s h o ps and AT M s . The u nits wi l l be set up a ccord i ng to
design specifications provided by the Department of Tourism. (Kerala Tourism draws plan to u pgrade pi lgr i m
spots, B L . B, 09.06 . 0 5 , L52)
L52a Sabarima l a
The U n i on Government has a pp roved the release of 1 2.675 h ecta res of forestl a n d for d evelopme nt of t he
S a b a ri m a l a h i l l s h r i ne. The Keral a Tourism a n d Devaswom M i n ister, M r K C Venugo pa l , s a i d the S u p reme
I
Documentation Update
1 200 0 6
5
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.
Cou rt wou l d have to a pp rove the rel ea se of forestla nd. The release of forestland w i l l provide a boost to the
development of Saba rimala . I t wil l a lso help l a unch various activities connected with the Pa mba Action P l a n ,
he sai d . A l l devel opment i n i tiatives at Sa ba rimala w i l l be carried o u t a s p e r eco·friendly norms conta i ned i n
the master plan prepared for the region. (Centre okays a llotment of forestland for Sabarimala, BL.B, 24.05.05,
L52a)
More fac i li ti es wil l be p rovided for Saba ri m a l a p ilgri ms this yea r in the land made ava il able for the purpose a t
N i l a kkal . A h igh·level meeting convened by Chief M i n i ster Oommen Chandy t o review the a rrangements being
made for the p ilgrims d u r i n g the comi ng season decided to p rovi de electricity con nection to N il akkal using
u nderg rou nd cable, d i g three bore well s and ponds to provide d ri n king water, const ruct 400 new toi l ets and
renovate the old ones and con struct pa rki n g for 1 0, 000 vehi c l e s . Fifty cents of l a nd a t N i l a k ka l wou l d be
made ava ilable to the Ayya ppa Seva Sa ngham for its activities as part of the Master Plan. (More faci l ities for
Sabarimala p ilgrims, TH. B, 1 4. 10.05 , L52a)
Hoteliers, snack sta l l owners a nd i nstant coffee vendors at Sannidhanam and Pa mpa a re fleeci ng the p ilgrims
to t h e Lord Ayya p pa t e m p l e in a b i g way. Often they h i ke the prices of coffee, tea and food i tems by 5 0
percent. They cha rge R s 7 f o r a c u p o f coffee a n d Rs 6 for a c u p tea at S a n n i d h a n a m though t h e d i strict
a d m i nistration a l l ows them to cha rge o n ly Rs 6 and Rs 5 res pectively. Though the hote l s / s hop-owners a re
requ i red to show the price list for the convenience of the pi lgri ms, most of them a re not adhering to the rule.
The exp l oitation by hotels between La ha a nd Vadasseri kara is worse. ( H otel iers in Sabari mala fleecing the
p ilgri ms, I E.C, 20. 1 1 .05 , L52a)
L54 C u l ture Tou rism
The Guruvayoor Temple, I ndia's second-ri chest shrine after Tirumala Tiru pathi Devasthanam h a s revoked the
new d ress code it i ntroduced l ast month fol l owing p ressu re from devotees. Tem pl e rul es i ntroduced in Apri l
s a i d t h a t for secu rity rea s o n s , men woul d have to enter t h e s a n c t u m without thei r s h i rts. E a r l i er, ma l e
devotees were a ll owed t o ta ke off thei r shi rts a nd s l i ng i t over their shoulders. Another temple order ban n i ng
children above the age of five from wea ri ng short pants has a lso been withdrawn after protests from devotees.
Though fema le devotees have been demanding the right to wear d resses of their choice, the temple a uthorities
conti nue to i nsist that they either wea r saris or pavadas (long s ki rts) withi n the complex P i l grims from other
parts of the count ry have registered com p l a ints a bout the u ncomfortable d ress code for women , but for the
moment, the status q u o rema i ns . (Tem ple revokes d ress code, T R D, 1 3.05.05 , L54)
Cultural and environmental tourism a re the new growth a reas global ly, a nd Kerala is wel l positioned to capita lize
on t h i s t re n d , sa i d Ms Jenny S h i p l ey, former Pri me M i nister of N ew Zea l a n d .
M s S h i pl ey, who vi s i ted Kera l a , recently, t o l d t h a t tou ri sts today l ook for a uthentic experiences t h a t h e l p
t h e m u n dersta nd t h e c u l t u re and l i festyles o f different nations. T h i s i s a g reat t h i ng, even i n foreign pol i cy
terms , a s i t enha nces global understandi ng. So, i n stead of trying to be l i ke other tourist desti nations, Keral a
shou l d look at h i g h l ight i n g w hat makes it d ifferent. ( , Kera l a m u st p romote c u l t u ra l , eco touri s m ' , S a n k a r
Radha krishnan , B L.B, 1 2.07 .05 , L54/ L55)
L55 Eco and W i l d l i fe Tou ri s m
The Keral a's eco tou ri sm department wi l l soon sta rt work o n a new p roject at Chadaya ma nga l a m i n Koll a m
district. Cal l ed t h e 'Jadayu Para Development Project' , the venture ta kes its name from a huge rock formation.
I n keepi ng with the rock·strewn nature of the project zone, the plan is to develop i t with ' rocks' as the m a i n
theme. At the s a m e ti me, Jadayu Para wil l a lso b e a n eco·friendly tourist desti nation. T h e total i nvestment i n
t h e project i s expected to be Rs 2 . 5 crore.
The eco·tourism department w i l l design a series of activities that highl ight the natura l features of the rock
formation; walkways that ta ke visitors to the top of the rock and overnight stay in tents w i l l be a pa rt of this
expe ri e n ce. Si mul ta neously, the eco-touri s m depa rtment wi l l develop Jadayu Pa ra a s a picnic s pot. Also on
the cards i s a p roposal to develop a tra d i ti on a l rura l marketplace wit h i n the Jadayu Para project a rea . (Eco­
touri s m project for Chadaya ma nga l a m , Sanka r Radhakrishnan, B L. B , 06.05.05, L55)
2 0 05
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Docu men ta t ion 1 Jpdal e
I
Over the past few yea rs , eco-tourism h a s become a key focus a rea for Keral a 's tourism authorities. The eco·
tourism wing of the Department of Tourism has identified 56 places in the State that have the potential to be
developed a s eco·tourism centres. While six of these sites a re a l ready functional eco·tou rism p rojects, work
on a nother 1 0 projects has been sta rted .
All these projects are being implemented with partic i pation from the local community and the forest department.
Another u n iq u e eco-tourism p roject c u rrently bei n g i m p l emented is at Kon n i i n the State's Pathanamthitta
d i strict. I ns p i red by the regi on's association with e l ep h a nt s a nd e l e p h a n t · rel ated fol kl ore, the Kon n i eco­
touri s m p roject focu se s o n e l e p h a nts. When com pl eted , t h i s p roject i s expected to i n c l u d e an e l e p h a n t
museu m , e l e p h a n t r i d e s a nd vi sits to a tra i n i n g c a m p for e l e ph a nts. ( 5 6 s i t e s ident ified f o r eco·tou r i s m i n
Kera l a , Sanka r Radhakrishna n , B L . B, 26. 1 2.05, L55)
The Kerala G overnment has given its nod for setti ng up Periya r River Authority so as t o con d u ct reg u l a r
monitori ng a n d suggest measure s to i m prove the q u a l ity o f the river. T h e authority, w h i c h w a s constituted
considering the suggestions from the Periyar Action Plan, wi l l i nitiate steps to formulate action plans on a reas
such as afforestation, rehab i l i tation and resettlement, s u rvey of river b a s in s , poll ution m o n i toring centres,
and sewage treatment plants, p rovision of septic tanks and i nstal l ation of slaughter houses. I t wil l a l so ca rry
out resea rc h on the ecologi c a l status of the river period i c a l ly a n d w i l l coordi nate the activities of various
gover nment departments, N GOs, and other orga n i sations i nvolved in river protection. The authority will ca rry
out m a i ntena n ce of e mba n k me nt s a n d wi l l s u ggest measu re s for t h e i mp rovement of the riverban k s . A
comprehensive action p l a n for protecti ng the river w i l l be evolved. Act i o n p l a n s o n eco·tourism a nd i nl a n d
navigation , prevention o f sal i ni ty i ncursion, watershed management and a wa reness program me s wil l a l so be
p repared as part of p rotecti n g the rivers. ( Kera l a Govt a p prove s proposal to set up Per iyar river a u t hority,
BL.C, 1 6.02.06, L55)
L57 H i l l Tou rism
Munnar; Kerala's premier h i l l resort may b e widely acclaimed for i t s salubrious climate a n d scenic tea plantations
but certai n ly not for i t s desired. Regarded as one of the c l ea ne st h i l l · stations in the country u n t i l the m i d ·
1 970s, today t h i s tou rist hotspot could wel l figure at bottom o f the l i st. S urpris i ngly, few s e e m concerned
about the town's squalor. I nstead everyone is preoccupied with exploiting its tou r i s m boom. So vital basics
l i ke c l ea n l i ness a n d hygiene t a ke a back seat. Garbage i s m i n d l es s ly strewn everywh e re. P l a st i c c u ps,
plates, bottles and bags l itter t he town a n d i ts environs which is, i ronical ly enough, a plastic-free zone. The
market i s an eyesore. Cluttered u p and fi lthy, it's i nvariably l i ttered with trash. There's degeneration everywhere.
A l oca l N G O does val i a n t ly strive to set m a tters right, but i t s i nf l u en c e i s l i m ited . T h u s t h e widespread
da mage to the town's envi ronment goes largely u nchecked. One wonders whether M u n na r i s tryi ng to attract
or repel tour i sts - i ts undoubted m a i nstay. ( H i l l s go down h i l l , I E. D, 03.03.06, L57)
L58 S pec i a l Tou r i sm Area
Despite i nitial h itches, the Bekal tourism project in Kasaragod d i strict has gai n ed moment with a UAE·based
hotel group sta rting work on a sea·facing resort. Though the Leela Palaces and Resorts has backtracked from
the p roject citi ng i n frastructure reasons, the a m bitious project is to develop a c h a i n of resorts at the famed
beach d est ination i n north Kera l a is back o n rai l s.
The two plots that had been a l lotted to the Leel a Group h ad a l ready been taken back from them a n d given to
other hotel groups for deve l op ment, t he Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) Managi ng D i rector,
M r P K. Kesava n , said. H e said the UAE·based Hol i d ay G ro u p of Hote l s , which was a l lotted 32 acres of l a n d
at Chembarika village, has star ted t h e layout a nd bea utification work at the site. ( Bekal tourism project gai n s
momentum , B L . B , 1 1 .07.05, L58)
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• M - TAM IL NADU •
M l l Plann i ng
The Tam i l N a d u Government u nvei led i n the Assembly, a poli cy a i med at red u c i ng the negative i mpact of a l l
kinds of d i s a sters th rough 'vibrant d i saster ma nagement machinery ' .
The policy envisages converge nce o f disaster management and development planni ng. Comprehensive disaster
management p l a n s w i l l be formulated at a l l leve l s after taking i nto account the local conditions. The focus w i l l
b e o n reduci ng t h e vulne ra b i lity of communities i n stead of merely p roviding d i saster rel i ef. The need for the
pol i cy was felt , a s the State h a s been prone to cycl ones a nd d rought. In December, a tsunami hit the coastal
d i stricts.
In the tra d itional system , such activities are u nd ertaken in a phased sequence plan. But the new model cal l s
for a conti n u o u s process. The m a nagement wi l l b e done i n three phase s - p re- d i sa ster, i mpact phase and
post-disaster phase. A Dis a ster M a nagement Authority ( D MA), i s to be establi shed by the Gove r n ment, w i l l
b e t h e nodal agency t o guide, fac i l itate, coordi na te and monitor various aspects o f d i saster ma nagement.
(State Gove r n ment unve i l s p l a n to mitigate d i s a sters, T H . B, 07 .04.05, M 1 1 )
M20 E nvi ronmenta l I ssues
The State Gove r n ment w i l l rai se m a ngrove forests a nd bio-shie l d s i n coasta l d i stricts at a total cost of Rs 8
crore, Ta m i l N a d u Chief M i n i ster J. Jaya l a l ithaa told the State Assembly. During t he debate on deman d s for
gra nts for Forest a n d E nv i ro n m e nt Department, Jaya l a l itha sa i d the m a ngrove forests woul d be raised i n
Thiruval lu r, Cuddalore, N agappatti n a m a n d Ramanathapuram d istricts i n a n a rea of 1 ,000 a cres a t a cost of
Rs 1 c rore a nd the b i o - s h i e l d wou l d come u p at a cost of Rs 7 c rore i n 5 , 0 0 0 a c re s of l a n d i n C he n n a i ,
T h i ruva l l u r, Kancheepura m , Vi l l u p u r a m , C u d d a l o re , N a ga ppatti n a m , Thi ruva r u r, Tha njavur, Pudu kott a i ,
Ramanathapura m , Thoothuku d i , Thirunelveli a nd Kanya k umari districts. ( T N t o grow mangroves, bio-shields,
I E. B, 0 5.04.05, M20)
The Rs.2,000-crore Sethu Samudh ra m S h i p Can a l Project, off the Tam i l Nadu coast, can now be put o n t he
fast tra c k a s t he U n ion Envi ronment and Forests Mi n i stry h a s given it "envi ron mental c l ea ra nce" u nder the
E nvi ro nmenta l ( I m pa ct) Assessment N otification, 1 994_ However t he p roject m u st comply with 22 specific
con d i t i o n s a n d 1 9 general conditions. I f everyt h i n g goes wel l , the cou ntry's l o ng· pe n d i n g d ream p roject
slated to operate s h i p services to a d i stance of 1 67 .22 km. i n the G u l f of M a n n a r, w i l l be completed in four
years. (Seth u project gets green Signa l ; It is s u bject to comp l i ance of 22 specific cond itions, J Balaj i , I E . B,
07.04 . 0 5 , M20)
Tigers in Tamil Nadu a re safer than in most other States, according to the Tiger Taskforce, which is i nvestigating
the status of the big cat in I nd i a n forests. The "i n n ovative p ractices" a dopted by the State such as recruiting
ex-poachers as forest gua rd s a ugured wel l for the tiger, sa i d Sunita N a ra i n , D irector, Centre for Science a n d
E nvi ronment, who i s cha i r m a n o f t he taskforce. ' O u t o f 1 1 4 tige r deaths i n t h e country between 1 999 a n d
2003, o n l y 5 were from Ta m i l N a d u . Also, o u t o f 2 1 1 seizures o f tige r parts m a d e by law·enforc i ng agencies
in this period , o n ly 4 were from Ta m i l N a d u . Some of the a p proaches adopted by Ta m i l Nadu n eeds to be
expl ored by other States. " Experts poi nted out how exc l u d i ng local communities in forest management and
wildl ife conservation affected the gatheri ng of i ntel l igence and i nformation, critical to preve nti ng poa c h i ng,"
she said. Wildlife managers in the State see the taskforce's commendation a s a vindication of their decade's
long ca mpaign to i n c lude tribals in conservation efforts. "The eco-development programme we put together i n
the Kala kkad- M u n d a nthura i Tiger Reserve w a s hai led by the World B a n k as o n e o f t h e best i n the wor l d . We
have been a b l e to bring down the fel l i n g of trees for firewood by 95 % a n d grazi ng by 7 0 %. N ea rly 7 0 % of
the benefic i a ries of the p rogra mme a re women. Tri ba l s have thus been given a partici patory role i n forest
management, " D r. Sukhdev, Chief Wi l d l ife Warden, sai d . ( I f you ' re a big cat, you ' re better off i n Tamil Nadu,
Van i Dora i sa my, T H . D, 2 1 .05.05, M20)
2 0 0S
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I
Documentation Upda te
I
The Centra l Government decision to appoint an eight-member committee to study the environment i m pact of
the Sethusamud ra m c a n a l a n d advise the authorities peri odically i s a step i n the right d i rection , given the
a p prehensions expressed in severa l q u arters a bout the project. D redgi ng for the c a n a l w i l l be u n dertaken
betwe e n t h e Pal k Bay a n d G u l f of M a n n a r, and the Centre h a s a c k n ow ledged that t he a rea i s h ighly eco­
sensitive, w i th m a ny forms of m a ri ne l ife a nd coral reef. Envi ron m ental i sts say the waters a ro u n d Adam's
Bridge a re home to one of the world 's richest biosphere reserves, with 3600 types of marine l ife, i n c l ud i ng
a bout 400 e n d angered species. There h a s a l rea dy been a controversy a bout the p roject gett i n g h asty
envi ron mental clea ra nce from the U nion Env i ronment M i nistry, bypass i ng the Tam i l Nadu gove r n ment. There
have a l so been suggestions that there a re deficiencies i n the report of the National Environmenta l Engineering
Rese a rc h I n stitute ( N E E R I ). Late last month Tam i l Nadu Chief M i nister Jaya l a li thaa expressed fears that the
project might affect the l ivel ihood of fishermen because of the d redging.
With the project facing major controversies even before it takes off, it is qu ite l i kely that these w i l l contin u e to
dog the canal even after it opens. Fishermen have been quite concerned about the i mpact of the canal. They
say that the project w i l l p rovid e jobs to only 5 ,000 persons , w h i le 3 . 5 l a k h fishermen w i l l l ose t he i r l ivel ihood.
Envi ronmental activists have been goadi ng fishermen to agitate aga inst t he project, a nd here aga i n how much
of the doomsday scenario will come through is a big question mark. The social a nd envi ronment costs of big
dam p rojects h ave been fou n d to be far higher than the benefits t hey p rovided. The Seth u s a m u d ra m c a n a l
shou l d n o t g o the same w ay. (Sethu project fears, Centre a ppoi n ts panel t o study i m pa ct , I E. B, 1 2. 0 7 . 0 5 ,
M20)
The gove r n ment h a s s a i d that S r i La n k a ' s concern a bout the envi ron menta l p ro b l e m s a ri si ng out of the
Sethusamudra m channel project a re u nfounded. Top shi pping m i n i stry offic i a l s said that the project had been
a pp roved after goi ng t h rough a l l t h e p ros a nd cons rel ated to t he e nvironmental i ssues a n d l ong-ter m
repercussions. Last week t h e La n k a n Foreign M i ni ster La k s h m a n Kad i rg a m a r h a d mentioned d u ri n g a
di scussion on the p roject that it may consider tak i ng I nd i a to i nternational court if the envi ronmental issues
rel ated to the p roject a re n ot solved . As the p roject i nvolves d redging a n d sett i ng u p of other faci l it i e s
through a n eco·sensitive zone, t h e m i n i stry h a s constituted a monitoring committee t o assess t he i m pact of
e nvi ronment a n d s uitably a dvise the p roject a uthorities. The officia l s s a i d that Lan k a 's m a i n conce r n s a re
related to its coast l i n e , cora l reef a nd fis h i ng activities. A l so , the i sl a n d nation feel s that its n eighbour i ng
territory would be i n undated if the p roject i s i m p l emented. However, sources say that i n fact, if the project i s
not i m p lemented, then there a re more chan ces of S r i Lanka's territory getti ng i nundated. (Sethusamudra m
p roject: I nd i a terms Lanka's concern baseless, Ani mesh Singh, FE.B, 1 5.07.05, M 20)
M 30 Non-tourism I ssues
For t h e first t i me i n Tam i l N a d u , t h e Self·H e l p G roups (SHGs), mostly from t h e tribal commun ities, are being
brought under one u m brel l a for a novel a n d i nn ovative p rogramme to p rotect the Pachamalai forests, where
i l legal tree fel l i ng has been ram pa nt. When the forest cover deteriora ted a l l over the count ry due to various
factors, the gove r n ment had i n t roduced m a ny schemes to e ncourage the loca l s from p rotecting the forest
a rea . Several afforestation p rojects of the Depa rtment of Forests i n Tam i l N a d u i ntroduced i n the past had
fetched results today. The state average of forest cover of around 25 % is wel l above the national average of
16· 1 7 percent. D i strict Forest Office r K V Gi ridhar s a i d , rea l i s i ng that people's partici pation was essential
for the s u ccess of a ny project; people h ave been i nvolved in forest m a n agement in some way or the other
from the time of i m plementing SOC i a l forestry schemes. (SHGs converge to p rotec t Pac h a m a l a i forest, L
S ri krishna , I E.C, 29.03.05, M30)
M40 Tou r i s m Pol i cy and P l a n s
Dest i nation developme nt o f eco·to u r i s m s pots, u pgra d i ng i nfrastructure a nd i m plementation of P h a se - I I
i n tegrated M a m a l la p u ra m deve l op ment are t h e a reas of focu s for t h e Tam i l N a d u Tou r i s m Deve l opment
Corporation (TTDC). On destin ation development i n Yerca ud, Sha ktikanta Das, TTDC Managi ng D i rector said
that work on desi lti ng of the l a ke, i m p rovement of the surroundings i nc lud in g l a ndsca pi ng and i l l umi nation
and p rovision of publi c conveniences woul d be done at a cost of Rs. 4.48 c rores. Thi s yea r the Point Cali mere
w i l d l ife sanctua ry, Muthupet, a n d Pic hava ram woul d be the spots for desti nation development works being
carried out i n Nagapatti n a m , Thiruvarur a nd Cudda lore d i st ri cts. (TTDC foc u s o n desti nation tour i s m , IS.
Shankar TH.C, 20. 04.05 , M40)
I
Documenta t io1l Update
I 2 0 05- 0 6
With 1 26 d evelopment works having been comp l eted i n the past three years on a n outlay of Rs. 2.48 crores,
Courta l l a m , which w i l l attract tourists from va rious parts of the country d u r i ng the next three months, i s a l l
set t o add few more faci l i ties for i t s guests a t t h e cost of R s . 1 .04 crores before t h e sea son sta rts t h i s yea r.
Whi le the Department of Tourism has a greed to a l l ocate Rs. 4 1 l a k hs, the Courta l l a m special panchayat, the
ri chest a mong the s pe ci a l p a n c hayats i n the d i strict. wi l l give Rs. 36 l a k h s . ( Cou rta l l a m rea dy to receive
guests with more facil ities, 1 26 development works have been completed i n the past three years, P. Sudhakar,
T H . C , 04.06.05, M40)
I n an attempt to boost touri sm. the Ta m i l Nadu Tou rism Development Corporation is marketi ng the state a s
a n a l l season desti nation , through a campa ig n titled Enchanti ng Ta mil N a d u , Experience You rself. T h e state
which is k n ow n for its tower i n g tem ples, h i storic forts a nd beaches, is promot i n g rel atively l e sser k nown
regions l i ke Tra nqueba r, P u l i cat and Chetti nad . Besides that, Tam i l Nadu's gateway Chennai and Coim batore
wi l l be u pgraded to conduct world class conferences backed by better roadways. Health tourism too w i l l be
given a boost.
The average l ength of stay of tourists has been 2 . 1 days a n d last yea r, the tourist a rriva l s were 300,76,832.
It has attracted an i nvestment of Rs 7 , 725 crores d i rectly or i nd i rectly. "
I t has bee n , fou n d that 23 % of foreign tourists stay at sta r h ote l s , a nd now attem pts a re on to recog n i se
guest houses for tou rists. Statist i cs i nd i cate that there were 1 0. 58 1 a khs foreign tou rists l ast yea r. (T N set
for a touris m boost, AA. B, 3 1 .08.05, M40)
C h i ef M i n i ster J Jaya l a l ithaa said the State Government proposed to promote 'tw i n n i ng of desti nations' by
"closely synerg i s i n g our efforts with neigh bou ring countries and states , a n d d eveloping common c i rc uits. "
Pointing out that this was one of the 7'po i nt plan that the state had for promoting tourism, she said that Tam i l
Nadu and S r i Lan ka were today emerging as twi n destinations for a l arge numbe r o f visitors from E u rope and
e lsewhere. (TN , La n ka emergi n g a s twin tourist s pots, I E.C, 1 6 . 1 0.05, M40 )
The Tam i l N a d u Tourism Department h a s decided to l a u nch Adi San ka ra a nd J a i n tem ples c i rcuits to attra ct
more tourists, particularly the domestic ones, State tou rism Secreta ry V Varaprasad Rao said. A 'Vivekananda
tour i s m c i rcuit' woul d a l so be i ntroduced with i n the next cou ple of mont h s , he added. H e said whi le Rs 4.3
c rore has been a l l ocated for deve l o p i ng a menities for the 'Adi S a n ka ra ' c i rc u i t , u pto R s 3 crore h a s been
a l l ocated for the J a i n tou r i s m c i rc u i t . P rivate sector should partici pate in a big way to deve l o p these three
c i rc uits. (Ad i San ka ra , Jain tem p l e c i rcu i ts in TN on ca rd s , FE. B, 28. 0 1 .06, M40)
MSO Tou rism Issues
Rama natha p u ra m d i strict, w h i c h , unti l a few yea rs a go, rem a i ned a hazy grey patch o n the tourist m a p of
Tam i l N a d u , i s now emerging as a favoured destination for both foreign a nd local tou ri sts. Thi s , i n addition to
the t housands of pi lgrims who visit this d i stri ct everyday to offer wors h i p at the va rious well · kn own shri nes of
a l l fa i t h s. I n o rder to attract tou rists, the gove r n ment has u nfol ded a n u m be r of p rojects, w h i c h i s fast
c h a ngi ng the profi l e of this d i strict. A n u m ber of parks a nd entertai n ment centres now dot the long coast of
the d i strict. ( R a m n a d fast emergi n g a s favou red tourist s pot, S Raj a , I E . C , 1 6 . 1 0. 0 5 , M50)
Qua l ity i n frastruct u re , a vibrant hospita l i ty i nd ustry a nd easy con nectivity with exot i c tou ri st s pots make
Chennai a n i ncreasi ngly favourite destination for M I CE (Meeti ngs, I n centives, Conferences a n d Exhibitions).
The n u m bers of i nternational conferences, each of which are attended by at least 2,000 to 5 , 000 delegates,
have gone up over the yea rs. With the season a l ready o n , several i nternational g ro u ps have written to major
hote l s a nd hospita l i ty agencies. h a nd l i ng M I C E, confi r m i ng dates to host conferences. Hi Tou rs, an a ge n cy
w h i c h handles M I C E , h a s received the i nti mation to a rrange for confe re n ces a s late a s 2007 . And the trend
is considered a good sign at a ti me when the tourism boa rds of Sri Lanka and South- East Asian countries a re
aggressively marketing thei r home countries for M I CE. (Chennai emerges as a hot spot for M ICE, V Ayyap pa n ,
I E . C , 2 1 . 1 1 .0 5 , M50)
The temple town of Bhadrachalam could soon offer you this rare mix of a purifyi ng pilgrimage a nd a soothi ng
tou ris m experience. A five-acre Ramaya na Theme Par k , the new- look Pa r n a s a l a , boati ng to Papi H i l ls a nd
packaged tours a re i n the offi ng. A l l these i nitiatives a re a resu l t of the recent visit of the Central Tou ri sm
2 0 05 - 0 6
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Docurnenta tion Update
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Department off i ci a l s to the temple tow n . The tea m p roposed a Rs 1 4- c rore p a c ka ge for a ctua l i si n g the
tourism potential of Bhadrachal a m , with Rs 8 crore in the first phase. (Spiritual tourism at Bhadrachal a m , B
Satya na raya n a Reddy, I E.C, 1 8 . 1 2 . 0 5 , M 50)
For the hos p i t a l i ty majors s u c h as I nd i a n Hote l s C o m p a ny Ltd , Hote l Leel a ve n t u re, H i lton , M a rriott a n d
others, Che n n a i i s fast beco m i ng a hot s pot After lying low for over the yea rs , Chennai i s suddenly turni ng to
be the most happening c ity i n I ndia as compared to Bangalore, Hydera bad a n d Pune. With view to cash ing i n
o n the expected gap i n dema n d a n d supply t h a n ks t o i nc rea s i n g business a ctivities i n both ma n ufact u ri ng
a n d services sectors, a n d a lso major i n vestment proposals from both m u ltinationa l a n d domestic compan ies
cou pled with e ncouraging average room rate, hospital ity majors a re vyi ng for a big pie i n the major southern
metro, a ccord i ng to i ndustry sources. "There i s goi ng to be an addition of over 1 ,000 rooms i n the next 2·3
yea rs with an estimated i nvestment of over Rs 1 ,000 crore , " sai d a sen ior offic i a l of the Federation of Hotel
& Resta u ra n t Association of I nd i a ( F H RA I ) . ( H otel m ajors f i r m up C he n n a i p l a n s , R Ravi c h a n d ra n , F E . B ,
03. 0 1 .06, M50)
M 5 1 Coasta l Tou rism
The recently-opened beach park at M a ndapam, h a s turned out to be a top tourist attraction of Rameswaram,
t h a n ks to i ts design a nd locati on . The park was established at a cost of Rs. 24.30 l a khs on 40 a cres of l a nd
belonging to the M a ndapam Speci a l Vi l l age Panchayat. I t was designed to meet the expectations of tourists,
who were often d i s a p pointed over the i nadeq uate tourist spots at Rameswaram. The m ajor attractio n at the
pa rk is the chi l d ren's swi m m i ng pool , j ust 50 metres off the sea . An a dded attraction is the glass·bottom
boats operated by the Forest department, w h i c h gives a sight of the cora l reef for m a t i o n s u n de rw a te r.
(Ma n d a p a m Beach Park a h i t with tou rists, T H . B, 1 7 .0 5 . 0 5 , M 5 1 )
Tou r i st desti nations i n Ka nya kumari w i l l get a facel ift. A tot a l of R s 1 4.82 crore i s bei ng s pent for tour i s m
promotion activities such a s provid i ng new i nfrastructure, ren ovation work a n d provid i ng for more faci l i ties i n
various tourism centres i n Kanyakumari district. Deta i l i ng the various ongoing tourism promotion activities i n
the d i strict, the Col l ector s a i d a tota l of R s 2 5 1 a k h i s being s pent t o p rovi d e ways i d e a men ities s u c h a s
l andscapi ng, gardeni ng a n d new pathways to the beach at Vattakotta i i n Ka nyakumari , where the circular fort
i s situated . A parki ng lot i s bei n g deve l o ped at the s u n set poi nt at Kanyakumari by the PWD at a cost of Rs
1 c rore. A Tourism Reception Centre at Kanya kumari is bei ng built at a cost of Rs 60 l a k h , Pal iw a l sai d . Flood
l ighting at Vivekananda Roc k by Centra l PWD is bei ng provi ded at a cost of Rs 32. 1 3 1 a kh w h i l e the 'Sound
and Light S how' on Swa m i Vivekananda i s bei ng set u p at a cost of 2.25 crore. I nd i a n Tou ri s m Development
Corporation has ta ken up p romotion works a t a cost of Rs 2 . 5 5 crore for developing five cottages, in open a i r
th, atre, Vivekananda Rock jetty improvement works, generator i nstal lation a n d sunset poi nt deve lopment at
Ka '1ya k u m a r i . Muttom Beach a nd Thekkuruchi beach a re being deve l o ped at a cost of Rs 1 .5 crore. (Multi·
crore p l a n to deve l o p tourism in Kanya k u m a r i , I E.C, 05.07.05, M5 1 )
M 5 3 Herita ge Tou r i s m
The N i lgiri Mou nta i n Rai lway which connects Mettupalayam (326 metres) to Ooty (2 ,203 metros), is now a
world heritage site for its outstan d i ng contri bution to keeping steam heritage tourism a live. Thi s was decided
by U N ESCO's world heritage comm i ttee i n D urba n . The U N ESCO i n sc r i ption is an exte n s i o n of the earlier
nomi nation of D a rjee l i ng H ima l ayan Rai lway a s a heritage site. NMR, along with Darjee l i n g ra i l , i s now part of
U N ESCO's Mountai n Rai lways of I nd i a . ( N i lgiri rai l chugs its way i nto U N ESCO heritage l ist, TOI . B, 1 7 .07.05,
M53)
Arika medu . a n archaeological site, which serves a n i ndex for South I n d i a n H istory wi l l soon be developed i nto
a heritage tou ri st spot with the a i d of H UDCO, said Dr. T Sathya murthy, s u pe ri ntendent, Che n n a i C i rc l e of
the Archaeological Survey of I n d i a (ASI). H U DCO, which had been entrusted with the task of bea utifyi ng the
site, had earlier evolved a blue pri nt for the project and was a l l set to take it up for i mplementation duri ng l a st
yea r itself. But, it was delayed d u e to tsunami a n d there were a l so a pp rehensions that a portion of the site
was d a m aged . B u t , it was l ater fou n d out that there was n o d a mage to the site. The p roject wou l d be
i m p lemented in J a n u a ry: tourists wou l d be a ble to reach Arikamedu a l ong the Ari a n ku ppam River through a
boat from Ariankuppam. (Ari kamedu to be made heritage spot, I E. C , 1 7 . 1 0 . 0 5 , M53)
I DOCll111eniatiol1 Update I 2 0 0 5 - 0 6
M57 H i l l Tourism
With t h e tea i ndustry facing a crisis for t h e past few yea rs, Val pa ra i town i n t h e Anamalais i s p i n n i ng i t s hopes
on tou rism. Thousands of estate workers have sta rted movi ng to the p l a i ns a nd busi ness a ctivities have hit
a n a l l -time low. The town does not have much private land for construction of hotel s a nd other commercial
esta b l i s h me nts. Most of the l a nd has been leased out to priva te estates w h i l e the rest i s a reserve forest.
The m u n i c i p a l i ty h a s sent a p roposal fo r bu i l d i ng 1 00 resorts and a ch i l d re n 's p a rk on the ba n ks of the
proposed check-dam across the N a l l a kathuod a i , a ju ngle strea m .
Once tou rists start comi ng, tea sale wi l l go up, benefiting the estates, says H a meed , a n AIADM K fu nctionary.
However, environmenta l activists a re cautious. "Al ready it has been opened up for tourism. Regulated tourism
i s all right that too, for w i l d l ife enthusiasts a n d nature lovers. Mass tou rism will be haza rdous to t h i s fragi l e
place," says a n a ctivist. T h e poor, especia l ly t h e estate workers, w i l l b e affected as t h e cost of l ivi ng wi l l go
u p once tourist f l ow i ncreases, says a nother. (Va l pa ra i p i n n i n g hopes on tou r i s m , M . G u n aseka ra n , T H .C,
1 9 . 1 0 .05, M57)
M57b Koda i ka n a l
The sal ubrious, 24-hecta re Kod a i ka n a l Lake wou ld tempt a nybody to take the plu nge without a thought. But
a ppea ra nces can be deceptive, as is sadly the case with the l a ke. Thi ngs have deteriorated to the extent that
visitors throngi ng lodges or cotta ges may be su scept i b l e to bot h w a ter-borne and skin d i seases if these
establ ishments ha ppen to use wate r from the l a ke for drinking or other pu rposes.
According to a report prepared by the Ta m i l N adu Water Supply a nd Dra i nage Boa rd , the l a ke is dyi ng a slow
deat h . A s a m p l e test conducted by its water a n a lysis l a boratory recently revea led that the l a ke water has
been conta m i n ated to a great exte nt. The l evel of e-coli bacteri a , respo n s i b l e for c a u s i ng d i a rrhoea and
u ri n a ry tract i nfect i o n , was fou nd to be 1 , 1 0 0 ti mes higher than the l i mit sti pu l ated by the Centra l P u b l i c
Hea lth Engi neeri ng Envi ron menta l Orga n i sa t i o n . T h e l evel o f faeca l streptococcus , t h a t ca uses a moebi c
dyse ntery, w a s fou nd to b e 2 3 0 p e r 1 00 m l of water a s agai nst ' n i l ' s pecified exa mi nation of t h e water
revea led that the t u rbi d i ty u n its and ferrous content exceeded the maxi m u m permissi ble l i mi t of 10 u n its
a n d 1 mg per l itre res pectively.
Envi ron menta l i sts a re putti ng the blame on sewage released i nto the l a ke by some hotels a nd lodges. A Boat
C l u b member a l leges that the water is bei ng i l lega l ly tapped a n d s u ppl ied to some u n l i censed l odges usi ng
ta nkers . An official of the Kodai Municipal Cou nci l revea l s that water ta n kers tra nsporti ng water from the l a ke
were seized at n ight a few days ago, ad mits Mu nicipal Cha i rman Kurien Abraham, ' U n l i censed hotels i ndulgi ng
in these i l l ega l a ctivities bring a bad name to the good establ ishments, too. The mu nici pa l administration has
i ssued noti ces to these l odges a nd hote l s . " Abra h a m poi nts out that the l a ke de-weedi ng a n d d e - s i l t i n g
p roject, fo r w h i ch Rs 1 0 . 3 3 crore had been sa nct i o n e d , i f i m p l e me nted , can p rovi d e a sol ution to t h e
conta mi nation problem. " B u t a local foru m h a s obtai ned stay from court." (Conta mi nation ki l l i ng Kodai Lake,
A R Meyya m m a i , I E. C , 05.05.05, M57b)
M58 S peci a l Tou rism Area s
Two more temples have bee n discovered i n M a h a b a l i p u ra m by the A rchaeol ogi cal Su rvey of I n d i a d u ri ng
excava t i o n . A l s o , u n d e rwater exploration has i n d i cated that there may be more m a n - ma d e struct u re s
(pre s u m a bly te mples) submerged u n d e r t h e sea . Though there i s excitement of rea l iz i ng t h e exi stence of
legendary 'seven pagod a s ' , the ASI is bou nd by a resou rce cru nch. ASI Di rector Genera l C Babu Rajeev sa id
t h a t the ASI p roposed to stre ngthen tourist fa c i l i ties a t M a h a ba l i pu ra m . (More temples d i scovered in
Mahaba l i pura m , Swati Das, TOI . M, 02.04.05 , M58)
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• N - A N D H RA PRADESH .
Pol i cy a nd Plann i ng
The Federation of I nd i a n Chambers of Commerce a nd I ndustry has asked the And hra P radesh Government
to develop a free zone at Visakhapatnam port on the l i nes of Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. The free zone woul d
trigge r econom i c growth by givi ng i m petu s t o i ntense manufacturi ng a n d p rocessi ng a ctivity. The Jebel A l i
Free Zone charged n o duties on a l l i mports a nd exports with i n the free zone. There was n o need for entering
tie·ups with local com p a n ies. Mr Kanwar said the free zone coul d offer flexi b l e l a bour ru les. FICCI w i l l l a u nc h
t h e ' De st ination And h ra P rades h ' c a m pa ign t o attract i nvestments i nto the State. ( F I CC I for setting u p free
zone at Vizag port, B loB, 03.05.05, NOO )
I nf ra st ru ct u re
In a b i d to enha n ce a i r connecti vity t h e Andhra government h a s decided to develop a i rports i n s m a l l towns
a n d cities. It h a s i n iti ated t a l ks with the A i rports Authority of I nd i a (AAI ) to modern i se existi n g a i rport
i nfrastructure i nc l u d i ng n ight- l a n d i n g faci l ities. A req uest has bee n made to the Civi l Aviation M i n i stry a n d
A A I to u pgrade the Vijayawa d a a nd T i ru pati a n d s peed u p u p-gradation o f the Visakhapatnam a ir port. The
gove r n ment has a l so wanted to convert exi sti ng runaway strip s at M a n g i n apudi near Raj a m u n d ry, N e l lore,
Puttaparthi a n d Cuddap a .
Meanwh i le, the government has d rafted a n Avi ation Pol i cy t o b e c a rried o u t for the next 1 0 yea rs. U nder t h i s ,
t he government p l a n s t o h ave a i rstrips i n each of t h e district headquarters among others. (AP plans a i rstrips
in a l l d i stri ct headquarters, S atya N a agesh Ayyaga ry & KVVV C h a rya , F E . B, 1 3. 0 2 .06, NOO)
Tou r i s m Po l icy a n d P l a n s
T h e Government of A P h a s t a ke n steps for promotion o f tou r i sm by providi n g accommodation , cateri ng,
tra nsport a n d recreational fac i lities at various touri st places. G reater emphasi s is given for rural com m u n i ty
based, fa m i ly oriente d , p i l gri m , adventure, eco, l e i s u re tou r i s m a n d now on c ru i se tou r i s m , cha rters a n d
c i rcu l a r t ra i n . Response f ro m private sector f o r i nvestment i n tou r i s m rela ted activiti e s - beac h resorts,
water s ports, theme p a rks, a mu sement p arks, trekki ng, golf, convention centres etc has been good .
With the cont inuous efforts of the Tou rism Department, domestic tourist a rriva l s have i ncreased significantly
from 63.3 m i l lion i n 2002 to 74. 1 m i llion in 2003 a n d 84.9 m i l l ion in 2004. Si m i l a rly the i nternational tourist
a rriva l s a l so i nc reased from 2 . 1 0 l a k h in 2002 to 4.80 l a k h i n 2003 and 5 . 0 1 1 a k h i n 2004. ( Buttressi ng the
tou rism potent i a l , I E.D, 27.09.05, NOO)
N ea rly 18 months after getti ng a p ro m i se from the U ni o n M i n i ster of Tou r i s m . M s Ren u ka Chowdh ary, the
tourism i nd u stry i n Andhra Pradesh can now expect a 'night bazaa r' in a few months_ The U nion Government
has chosen Hyderabad as one of the two s i tes to test the concept. The R s 5-crore n ight bazaa r woul d come
at S h i l pa ra ma m , surrounded by i nformation technology a nd I TES companies i n the H i-Tec City, at Madhapur.
The proposed night baza a r woul d not be on the l ines of the popular perception on the bazaars. The Government
p ro posed to broaden the idea of baz a a rs to go beyon d the popu l a r notion t h at t hey wou l d be dotted with
pubs_ The aim of setting up such a bazaa r at the H i ·Tech City was to cater to the h u n d reds of I T pros, who
worked l ate i n the eveni ngs. The bazaar wou l d house eateries a nd shops specifical ly targeti ng them. ( ' N i ght
baza a r ' soon to boost tourism in A p, B l. B, 06. 1 2 .0 5 , NOO)
Recognising tourism as a major growth engi ne for i ncreased employment generation and boosti ng economic
growth , Andhra Pradesh i s positioni ng itself as a favoured i n ternational a n d domesti c desti nati o n . For t h i s ,
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the state government i s chal k i ng out a l ong·term strategy, i nc l ud i ng the public·private partners h i p model , for
promoti ng the state as a favoura ble a n d u l ti mate destination both for domestic a nd i nternational touri sts.
Starti ng from the basics which i nc l ude roa d , rai l network, a i r con nectivity, wayside a men ities, conve ntion
centres, the Department of Touris m i s leaving no stone u nturned to ma rket the state in tota l ity. This stem s
from t h e fact that t h e state government has taken a ss i stance from t h e World Tourism Organ i sation t o c a r t out
a l ong term strategy to boost the sector.
Besides, i t i s a l so the o n l y state to offer s i ngle-wi ndow c l e a ra nce for tou rism p rojects t h u s fac i l i tati ng the
P P P model . O n i ts pa rt, the government is partne r i ng with private parties for setti ng sta r h ote l s . Further,
d istrict collectors wi l l be given Rs. 1 c rore each t o make the master p l a n a viab l e proposition .
I n order to give an a l l ocation for the tourism depa rtment has been i ncreased to Rs 77 crore for this fiscal from
the earlier government's Rs 36 crore. I ni ti a l ly as part of providing ways i de a me nities, the state govern ment
i s worki ng with I nd i a n Oi l a n d Rel ia nce to house rest a u ra nts with all a menities in their petrol stations on the
state's h ighways at 1 2 s i tes.
As part of rural development. the state government i s focusing on tier· 1 1 cities such as Puttaparthi , Konaseema
i n the east coast whose ba ckwaters a re bei ng aggressively promoted. However, the biggest s p i ri tu a l tourism
event bei ng planned in the state i s J anuary 3 · 1 4, 2006, which envisages two l akh Buddhists to visit Amaravathi.
Fi n a l ly, to develop a pol i cy framework for sustai n a bl e development a n d to deve l o p human resou rce in the
touris m sector development. AP governme nt has established the National I nstitute of Touris m and Hospitality
Management in Hyderabad. (AP government i nitiatives to strengthen touri s m sector, Satya Naagesh Ayyagarv
& BV M a hatakshm i , F E , B , 0 7 . 1 1 .0 5 , NOO)
M s Geeta Reddy, Andhra P radesh Tou rism M i n i ster said, "The Government of Andhra Pradesh decided to put
the State on par with other southern states l i ke Tam i l N a d u , Ka rnataka and Keral a i n attracting tou rists. With
a focu se d a pp roac h a i med p u re l y a t givi ng a major t h r u s t to t ou r i s m i n state, the state gove r n m e n t i s
embarking o n a three·dimensional strategy ·improvi ng fac i l ities at places of h i storica l p rominence, developing
i nfra structure a n d transport and givi ng a major boost to rural tou rism. With these objectives i n perspective,
the government with the a ctive i nvolve ment a n d partici pative a ssociation of the private sector has a l l ocated
Rs. 1 0 0 cm to t a ke u p new p roject s . "
Reveal i ng about t h e latest i niti atives designed at giving a thrust to tourism i n Ap, s h e explai ned : "new tourism
packages a re bei ng designed a n d evolved with Hyderabad, Araku,
Vi s h a k a p a t n a m and T i ru pa t i a s foca l poi nts. I t is observed that foreign touri sts to the State h ave been
evi ncing keen i nterest to know about our agricultural p roducts, farming p ra ctices a nd culture. A new concept
in the form of Fa rm Tou r i s m is bei ng devel oped to ensure that the tou ri sts spend considerable t i m e in our
state. This woul d p rovide the tourists with a n opportu n ity to l ive i n our environs a n d enjoy our hospital ity a n d
culture."
With a scope for e m pl oyment generation in the rural sector, new market i ng strategies a re to be adopted. I n
a n effort t o give m aj o r boost t o rura l tour i s m , twel ve p l a ces have been i dentified . These p l a ces wou l d be
provided with a major facel ift by developing accommodation facil ities. These places of h i storical significance
w i l l be protected with scientific i nputs and m useums wi l l be deve loped . Kuchi pu d i , the famous vi l lage from
where c l a ssical Kuc h i pudi d ance form has o rigi nated, wil l be deve l o ped on these l i nes with a fun d of Rs. 1 c r.
B u il d i ng "Highway Hotels" i s a nother concrete step i n the right d i rection where the tourists w i l l e njoy q u a l ity
Andhra cuisine in highly refreshi ng a mbience. These Highway Hotels wil l be establi s hed in Hydera bad, Kadapa,
Vijayawada , Suryapet, Nellore, Siddipet, Tun i and other places with i n a year. (Touri sm: The brand ambassador
of AP's hospital ity, F E . B, 2 2 . 04.05, NOO)
Tou ri s m I ssues
The Andhra P radesh Govern ment h a s signed a pact with a touris m i nfrastructure company to take u p the R s
2,000·c rore ' Desti nation Vizag' project a long t h e beach. The p roject, covering 1 ,000·2,000 acres, i s a i med
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at setting u p world-class hospitality, leisure, I ifestyle a nd entertai nment fac i l ities on the beach. Once completed,
the project would help attract 45.000 foreign tourists more i nto the State. I t wou ld bring in foreign excha nge
to the t u n e of Rs 550 crore a yea r. Besides, i t would generate revenue to t h e order of Rs 1 1 2 crore for the
local economy.
The project wou l d comprise a five-sta r hote l , beach resort, golf courses, health spa, theme parks, convention
and exh i bition centres, multiplexes, mega shoppi ng m a l l s , marine helicopters and sea pla nes. The project
would a lso take u p c o m m u n i ty d eve l o p m e n t activities in V i sa k ha patn a m . It wou l d ta ke u p c l ea n i ng a nd
m a i n ta i n i ng t h e 30-km coast l i ne, i mprove amen ities i n the local commu n i ty c l u sters, a nd s p ruce u p t h e
existing Zoological Pa rk. C A P signs p a c t f o r Vizag touri s m p roject, B L . C, 09. 1 1 .05, N OO)
Hydera bad is fast emerging as a n attractive desti nation for i nternational conferences and semi nars. But, one
thing that ca n mar the city's a ttraction i s the lack of adequate hotel rooms. Duri ng the SAP G a mes l a st year,
one hotel even asked some reg u l a r guests to put off t h e i r t ravel p l a n s a s i t cou l d not offe r room s . M o re
recently, there were two m ajor p h a r m a confe rences. One, the I nd i a - Asea n , GCC Healthc a re a n d P ha rm a
Conference, a nd over- l a p p i n g w i t h it was t h e 56th I nd i a n P h a rmaceutica l Congress a l ong w i t h a P h a r m a
Expo. Both t h e conferences had a total of a bout 4, 500 delegates. A s these conferences e nded , a nother two·
day meet of the Oil Technologists Association of I ndia began. Thi s is when the mad rush to get accommodation
began in Hydera bad.
Currently, there a re a bout 1 ,200 rooms i n the five·star category i n Hyderabad, which a re woeful ly i nadequate.
I n te rest i ngly, a nother 1 , 200 room s w i l l be open for occ u pation i n t h e next few yea rs . For i n sta nce, the M R
group i s putti ng u p 280 rooms i n t h e three·four star categories a n d Marriott through Viceroy Hotels i s adding
a n other 1 30 room s by J a n u a ry. Moreover. accord i ng to i ndustry watchers, the Leel a G ro u p, Hyatt a n d lTC,
too, a re eyi n g properties in the expa ndi ng c i ty. ( H ot spot Hydera bad ru n n i ng short of hotel rooms, Satya
N aagesh Ayyagary & KVVV C h a rya , F E . B, 1 2. 1 2 . 0 5 , NOO )
Coasta l Tou rism
A boat c ru i se on t h e God ava ri from Ku n ava ram jetty t o t h e p i ctu resq u e Pa p i H i l l s a nd t h e mythologi c a l
Ramayana theme park i n Bhadracha l a m a re sure goi ng to be a thri l l i ng experience not o n ly t o the devout who
make a beeli ne to this a ncient shrine on festive occasions but a lso to hol irlay· makers. The tourism Department
has m a ny p l a n s to develop this riverfront town i nto a major tourist desti nation once the Pol ava ra m i rrigation
p roject is compl eted . The Department is exp loring the poss i bi l i ties of deve lopi ng a tou ri s m corrid or from
B h a d rachal a m to Raja h m u n d rv on the river G odavar i , the fi rst of its k i n d in the state.
The present l evel of water in the river is n ot adequ ate enough to operate high·speed cru i se boats. However,
a s the Pol avaram p roject woul d i n c rease the i nflow u pp i ng the water level here, speed boats and l i ner service
can be o pe rated . CAP p l a n s cruise on the Godava ri , B Satya n a raya n a Reddy, I E.C, 09.02 .06, N OO)
Pi lgr i m Tou rism
T i ru pati , t he second richest rel igious body i n the world after the Vatican , has been faci ng a problem of plenty
a l l these yea rs. The temple complex dedicated to Lord Ven kateshwara i s the world 's l a rgest si ngle consumer
of com modities l i ke suga r, card a mom, rice. pepper, cashew, turmeric, edi ble oil . vegeta bles and jaggery. The
tem pl e's huge kitchens feed thou s a n d s of devotees dai ly; some 1 00 , 000 l addoos a re made every day for
devotees A I I free of cost.
The shrine d raws the l a rgest n u m be r of pi lgrims each day. The tem p l e has prospered from the gold, money
a n d even h a i r that p i l g r i m s offer to the deity. The temple tru st, which a l ready h a s eight tonn es of jewel l ery
lyi ng i n its lockers , receives nea rly 1 0 kg of gold orn a ments every week from devotees.
So what novel measures h ave the temple a uthorities taken to m a nage this problem of p lenty?
I n a u n i que venture, the Ti ru pati temple a uthorities have roped i n J RG Wea lth Management Ltd, one of I ndia's
l ead ing commodity brokers, to i n sta l l an online commodi ty futu res termi nal at the temple complexWith 1 5 7
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bra nches a cross the country, Koc h i - based J RG i s a p re m i e r stoc k , commod i ty a n d i ns u ra nce broke rage
house. For l a rge rel igious p laces l i ke T i ru pati w h i c h m i l l ions of devotees visit every yea r, the d a i ly rates of
va rious com modities in I nd i a a re very i m porta nt. Through the J RG termi n a l , the TTD management can now
view the commodity prices from a l l the leadi ng commodity excha nges - National Multi Commod ity Exchange
of I ndia Ltd, Multi Commod i ty Excha nge of I ndia Ltd and N ation a l Commodity a n d Derivatives Excha nge Ltd .
But how do online futures t ra d i ng i n commodities help the Ti rupati temple a uthorities?
Transparency i n the purchase of va rious commodities is the most positive outcome of setti ng up the commodity
futu res termi n a l , poi nts out a sen i o r te m p le offi c i a l . Every yea r, the te m p l e a ut horities p u rchase eata ble
consumables worth over Rs 300 c rore. More than 30 different contractors a re the m a i n s u p p l iers of these
commodities who bid and wi n the a n n u a l contracts.
Temple sources say the s u p p l iers have joined hands to for m a m i d d l e m a n cartel and ta ke a big cut on the
com mod ities s u p p l ied to the temple. "We w i l l e l i mi nate t h i s ca rtel with the o n l i ne com modity termi n a l " .
(Tirumala Temple opts for com modity tra d i ng, George Iype, VT. B, 02.05.05, NOO)
All roads w i l l lead to Andhra Pradesh's Ama ravati in J a n u a ry next yea r when the Kalacha kra 2006 w i l l beg i n .
T h i s i s a n a n n u a l i n itiation ceremony for Buddhists complete w i t h ritua l s and p rayers and i s conducted on a
l a rge sca l e a cross the globe. Every yea r, a new p l a ce is chosen for the event a n d t h i s yea r, Amarava t i , which
i s l ocated nea r the river Kri shna in AP's G u ntur district , has been picked . The state i s set to make a p l a ce for
itself in the world map for Buddhist tourism in a big way. The tourism ministry has identified a l most 1 44 sites
a c ross the state, of w h i c h 44 sites a re the major ones. The state govern ment is i nvesti n g Rs 1 0 c rore to
update the i nfra structure a n d deve l o p the p l a ces i nto major touri st s i tes for B u d d h i sts a c ross the worl d.
" N ot many know that eve n A P has a huge Buddhist i nfluence a n d so we a re now tryi ng to c reate a n enti re
Buddhist c i rcuit i n the state, "says AP M i n i ster for Tourism a n d Suga r Dr J Geeta Red dy. (Ama ravati to host
Kal achakra , Sruti Naya n i , ET. C, 06. 1 2 .05, NOO)
2005-06
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I nf ra st ru ctu re
T h e prospect o f bra n d new Greenfi e l d ai rports at B a ngalo re a n d Hydera bad i n three years has prompted
states l ike P u njab and Maharashtra to push for similar ventures but leadi ng the pack is Goa which has drawn
up the contours of a state-of-the-art a i rport at Mopa by 20 1 4.
The p l a n has been prepared with the help of experts from the I nternational Civil Aviation Organ i sation ( ICAO)
a n d the A irports Authority of I nd i a (AA I ). Close to 2 m i l l ion passengers f ly i n to the p l a ce every yea r a n d
official s poi nt out that there is a bee l i n e of charter operators for per m i ssion. (Goa 's ready with p l a n for world·
class a irport, P ra n a b Dhal Samanta, I E. D, 27.05.05, POO)
The agitation aga i nst the proposed M opa a i rport, led by Churchi l l Alemao, MP fro m South Goa , got a major
boost with M i ni ster for Water Resources Filipe Neri Rodrigues joining the ba ndwagon . Mr. Rodrigues, a M i nister
in the Congress-led coalition, shared the platform of "Save Daboli m Airport Committee" i n South Goa . He has
joined the a nti-Mopa agitation, and is fully in favour of expansion and u pgradation of the Dabol i m a irport for
optimal c ivi l i a n u se. M r. Alemao h a s been goi n g a head with h i s agitation bringing e m ba r ra ssment to the
Congress. (Mi n ister joins sti r aga i n st Mopa a irport, T H . B, 29.03.06, POO)
Envi ronmental I ssues
With the garbage i ssue sti l l haunting the major c i ties i n the state, the same i ssue has rai sed its ugly head i n
some of the vi l l ages a l ong the coasta l belt. Right from Majorda t o Colva a n d Bena u l i m t o Varc a , heaps of
ga rbage is seen s cattered a l ong the roads ide. The l o ca l s a l l eged that the contra ctors col l ect the ga rbage
from the hotels and dump the same at i solated places in the wee hours. The hoteliers countered the allegations
of the l oca l s by sta t i n g that t hey d i s posed of the i r ga rbage with pa i d contractors and that it was t h e
respon s i b i l ity o f the contractors t o d i s pose t h e s a m e without cau s i ng a ny h a r m t o t h e loca l s. However, d u e
to l a c k o f civic s e n s e a mong t h os e d um pi ng the ga rbage , the place h a s become a conduc ive p l a c e for
m osquitoes to breed a nd a l so for the domestic a n i ma l s to feast on the heaps of waste along the roa d . The
locals were of the opinion that there should be a check on the hote l i ers and t he i r engaged contractors so as
to where they shou l d d u m p the hotel waste.
Accordi ng to the vi l l agers , the waste generated by the t h ree and five·sta rred hotels create a n u i s ance a n d
very often the e lected representatives turn a b l i n d eye to s u ch a ctivity. The garbage managing commi ttees
a l so fa i l to yield the d e s i red res u l t s a n d as s u c h the v i o l a tors take maxi m u m a dva ntage of the preva i l i ng
lethargic situatio n . (Ga rbage issue hau nts some vil lages along coastal belt, N T. G , 1 1 .09.05, POO)
The o i l ba l l s w h i ch have been so far creati ng p a n i c a l ong South Goa beaches seem to have reached the
beaches in N orth Goa . Some residents from Reis Magos, Anj u na and Baga have clai med that they had seen
the substance along the beaches. The D i rector of Tou ris m , Mr Sandeep Jacques, when contacted said that
he had not received a ny reports of citing of oi l bal l s along the North Goa beaches. However, he wou ld verify
the situation tomorrow by sen d i ng a team . The pol l ution control experts say that though t h i s was a routi ne
phenomenon during the monsoon along the shore, this yea r the q ua ntity of oil bal l s along the beaches has
i ncreased. They however say that this may be because of the change in the constitution of the ocean due to
tsunami .
The officials of Touris m Department said that the department h a s taken u p the beach clea n i ng operation and
added that the i n s p i te of clea n i ng the oil ba l l s a re a ppea ring on the beaches. They s a i d that t h i ck o i l l ayer
was cleared at Majorda a nd Aros s i m beaches. The beach c l ea n i ng operation has started on a l l beaches i n
South Goa . (Oil ba l l s now a ppea r on some N G oa beaches, N T. G , 1 9.09.05, POO)
I
Documen ta tion Update
1 2 0 05 - 0 6
Tou rism Pol i cy a n d P l a n s
Master p l a n s f o r a l l · ro u n d deve l o p ment o f vil l ages i n G o a i s i n t h e off i ng a s B l ock Deve lopment Officers
(BOOs) have been d i rected to i nitiate the process with t he participation of elected bodies, gram sabhas a nd
the gen eral public. M r Shi rodkar said that Goa has 1 90 village panchayats and a bout 52% of Goa's population
res i de in rural Goa. The preparation of the master plan for all the vi l l age panchayats, which w i l l cover each and
every v i l lage, cou l d take as long a s a month or two after del i berations at a l l l eve l s . He regretted t hat there i s
no c o m pact eva l uation o f deve lopment o f vi l l ages a n d felt t h e n eed t o set targets for t h e sa me. ( M a ster
p l a n s for development of v i l l ages i n the offing, H E . G , 2 5 . 06.05, POO)
The Goa C h i l d ren's Act, 2003 was recently a mended , ostensibly to deal more str i nge nt ly with various forms
of child abuse, as a lso to regul ate the c h i l d ren's homes a n d hospital s, but non·govern mental organ i sations
a l l ege that the Govern ment was a ctua l ly tryi ng to lessen its broader respon s i b i lities.
Extensive a mendments were made to the 2003 Act i n the budget session of the Assem bly. The 2003 Act,
a i med at c reati ng a c h i l d ·friendly society, c a me in the wake of criticism about the grow i ng c h i l d a buse i n
tou rist a reas .
However, activi st A l berti na A l meida of Bail a ncho Saad, an NGO worki ng for women and children said that the
Gove rn me nt has u sed the 'facade of a mend ments' to d i l ute its obl igat ion u nd e r the origi n a l Act to work
towards "the goa l of u niversal elementary education and eradi cation of child i l literacy with i n a period of three
yea rs. " N ow the target h a s been p u shed back to seven years. S i m i l a rly the u nderta k i ng to era d icate chi l d
l abou r "wit h i n two yea rs of this Act [2003] comi ng i nto force", h a s been changed . Now, the Government w i l l
atte m pt t o d o it �'i n a phased m a n ner".
Good provi sions
The new Act, however, has some good provisions. It prohi bits a ny medical i nstitution or c l i n i c or hospital or
n u rs i ng home from refusi n g a d m ission or treatment of a c h i l d o r pregn ant mother who has a ny i l l ness or
disease or a i lment l i ke leprosy, A I DS, etc . , which has a social stigma attached to it. It provides for punis hment
to erri ng i n stitutions with a fine which may extend to RS. 50,000.
The a mended Act, a mong other thi ngs, has expanded the scope of various abuses under "commercia l sexual
exp l oitation of c h il d re n " to i nclude "al l forms of sexua l exp l o i tation of a c h i l d i ncludi ng visual depi ction of a
c h i l d e n gaged i n expl icit sex u a l conduct, real or stim u lated, or t he l ewd exhi bition of gen ital s i ntended for
sexua l gratification of the u s e r, done with a commerc i a l pu rpose, whet her for money or ki n d . It i n c l udes
i mplyi ng, a l l owing, u s i ng, i nd u c i ng or coercing a ny child to engage in sexual condu ct. It a lso i ncludes the use
of the c h i l d i n assist i ng with other person s to engage i n expl i cit s ex . "
G o a h a d i n t h e recent past faced m u c h bad p u bl i city over chi l d abuse by some foreign tou ri sts. It was fou n d
that chi ldren o f migrant labour loiteri ng o r straying o n beaches were easy p rey for chi ld a bu sers. T h e defi nition
of "grave sexual assaul t" has a l so been expanded to i nclude acts l i ke m a k i ng child ren pose for pornogra p h i c
p hotos a n d f i l m s , forc i ng m i n o rs t o h ave s e x with others , d el i be rate ly c a u s i n g i nj u ry to sexu a l orga ns of
c h i l d re n etc. I n the a me n d ed Act the state rol e h a s been expan d ed to e n s u re that c h i l d re n a re protected
from abuse, sexual offence trafficking, prostitution and violation of rights. The Act now provides for coun sell i ng
faci l ities by tra i ned personnel to c h i l d re n i n schools. (Some a me nd me nts to Goa C h i l d ren's Act d raw f l a k ,
T H . D, 04.09.05, POO)
Vigil wou l d be stepped up on foreigners overstayi ng i n Goa, poli ce sai d . Foreigners, espec i a l ly with busi ness
visa have come under scan n er of the pol ice fol lowi ng a deportation order i ssued by the c hi ef secretary of the
State a ga i n st a G e r m a n nationa l . I ngo ru ns a Saturday n ight baza a r at A rpora . " Po l i c e h ave fi l ed a case
agai nst him a s he was creati ng law and order p roblem". I ngo i niti ated Goa's f i rst n i ght baza a r concept a few
yea rs back, but l oca l s began com p l a i n i ng a bout noi se pol l ution d u e to the bazaar. Goa Sanskriti Rakhan
Sanghatna a local body also a lleged sale of d rugs at the night bazaar. I ngo has challenged the chief secretary's
order i n the court. "Through my bazaa r, I am trying to give i nternational exposure to local a rtisa ns,' said I ngo,
who h a s a bout 500 sta l l s sel l i ng p roducts from s hoes, garments to food. (Vigil on foreigners overstayi ng i n
Goa , T P. D, 20. 02.06 , POO)
2 0 05
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06
I
Docllmentat io n Upda te
I
'The l ifestyle i n vil la ge a nd rural I nd i a h a s tremendous marketa b i l ity a mong western tou rists, 80 % of whom
take cultural tours' , says H otelier Ra l ph de Souza , welcoming the Budget propos a l . Goa m ust m a ke a p itch
to see that some of the 50 vi l l age projects a re developed here, says Goa chamber of commerce and indu stry
president N it i n Ku ncol ienkar. The state a l so hopes to attract some of the Centre's Budget propos a l s for the
1 5 i ntegrated a rea tourist desti nation developments proposed. After a m i d-ni neties i nvestment boom a nd
with the end of Central tax exemptions, the state i s hoping to bounce back by 200 7 . Los i ng out to states l i ke
H i macha l P ra d e s h s i n ce 2000, Goa experienced c a p i t a l f l ight. (Goa welcomes foc u s on tour i s m , Pamela
D ' Me l l o , AA. D, 0 1 .03.06, POO)
The Govern ment w i l l enter i nto a t i e - u p with p rivate sector to add water s ports, a dventure s po rts a n d e co·
tou ri s m to tour i st p a c ka ge s in the Western Ghats. Aware of the need to offer more to reta i n its edge i n
tou r i s m , the Govern ment h a s fi n a l i sed Tou ri s m M a ster P l a n : Goa·20 1 1 (TM P) with e m p h a s i s o n "strategic
p l a nning for long·term tourism development with focus on i nfrastructure" .
Accord i ng to the Econom ic Survey 2005-06 presented to the State Assembly during the budget session, the
m a ster p l a n h a s identified severa l s p orts a n d activities s u c h a s scuba d iv in g , snorke l l i ng, p a ra gl i d i ng ,
parasail i ng, yachting, river rafting, tre kki ng, cycl i ng, skati ng, jogging, and sea surfi n g for tourism promotion.
Some of the a ctivities suggested in the m a ster p l a n would be mainly set up in private sector with gui de l ines
for regul ation . I nfrast ru cture is to be d evelo ped at the leisure tourism desti nations such as beaches, water
bodies, springs , a n d l a ke s . Aware of t he need to resolve the tussle between t he tou r i st taxi operators a n d
t h e tour o perators, M r. Ra ne h a s proposed a one·year moratori u m o n buying new tourist veh icles.
M r. Rane's budget has dealt with t he cont i n u ed d e m a n d of t he hospital ity i nd u stry to red re ss some of the
a no m a l ies i n the l uxury tax a n d VAT system . Luxury tax, e nterta i n me nt tax and VAT structures have been
rationa l i sed , simplified and restructured with a slew of concessions. The Government has p roposed to remove
services such a s casi nos, water s ports a n d boat cru i se s from the l evy of l u x u ry tax a n d m a ke them taxable
u nder entertai nment tax. (Goa fi n a l i ses tourism master p l a n, T H . B, 27.03.06, POO)
Tou r i s m Issues
S pa i n 's C l u b d e Vacaciones' f i rst c h arter to Goa, schedu l ed to touch d ow n on 3rd Aug 0 5 , h a s the tou ri s m
i nd u st ry exci ted a bout t h e p rospects o f n e w m a r kets for c h a rter tou ris m t o I nd i a . C l u b d e Vacaciones, i n
col l aboration with Spa n a i r, p l a n s a weekly cha rter to Goa from Madrid. The charter's local h a n d l e rs , Travel
Corporation I nd i a (TC I ) , expect 1 20 passengers a week on the l ong· h a u l f l ight. Goa's i nternational tourism
season has over the years s h ru n k to a mere six months, from October to M a rc h , given the weather conditions
here, and the leisure industry has increasingly turned to wooing the domestic market with all·inclusive packages.
(Span i s h charter opens new ma rket for tou rism in Goa, D H . B, 24.06.05 , POO)
Goa Deputy C hief M i ni ster Wilfred D Souza says the state i s set for a 1 0 % i ncre a se in foreign c h arters
operations i s being h i ndered by defence restrictions. "We had 690 cha rters fly i n here l ast season a nd a re
expecting 750 t h i s yea r. U nfortunately, there a re a l ready d ifficulties with t he N avy i n the n umber of l a n d i ng
s lots bei ng given to i nternational chartered fl ights at Dabol i m . "
O p position to a i rport: Tou ri s m stakeholders i n south G o a a re opposed t o t h e new a i rport a n d h ave received
the u nsti nted s u p port of M P s a n d M LA s representi ng southe r n con stituencies.
De Souza too says Dabol i m s houl d be ret a i ned for t he state's u se. I nternational flights to Dabo l i m a re a l l owed
l a nd i ng o n ly over t he weeke n d s becau se of d efence operat io n s . No n ight l a n d i ngs h ave been permitted ,
despite a ss u ra nces for s u c h c l e a ra nces i n the past. (Tou ri s m h a mpered i n Goa by d efence c u rbs, D H . B ,
1 9 .09. 0 5 , POO)
It could not have been a worse end to a year of partying for the globa l tra nce tri ppers, who have col lected on
Goa's fa med A nj u n a beach for t h e fi rst t i me i n 2 5 yea rs , the a d m i n i stra t i o n h a s come down heavy o n the
revel lers a n d ba nned rave parties i n the trance circuit of Anjuna·Vagator·Shapora , i n N orth Goa. The silence
i s so spooky it's a l most spectra l from D i sco Val ley to H i lltop, Shiva Val ley to Temple Pla ce, B a m boo Forest to
Mon key Va l l ey it's a dead·end zon e . Hote l iers a re nervous, t he re wi l l he a n e a r r i ot i f the thousa n d s , have
nowhere to go. The avowed a nd n otable reason for rave ban bei ng the drug menace at rave parties, the i l li c it
I Documenta t io n Update 1 2 0 05 - 0 6
na rcoti cs trad e a n d hard d rugs l i ke ecsta sy, coca i ne, hero i n , a n d other su bsta n ce a buse. The pol i ce, l oca l
a d m i n i stration, pol iticia n s , even the c hurch a n d some sections of the med i a h ave a l l whi pped u p rave rage,
with obvious consequences of cultura l policing and moral brigades sta l ki ng the l andscape. For the locals, who
depend on the tourists t ra d e from the dozen s of c heap rooms rented to trave l l ers , to cafes, b i ke h i res, even
the c h a i s h o p r u n at rave pa rties, the l os s is h uge. ( Rave rage hits Goa before N ew Yea r, Vri n d a G o p i n a t h ,
I E. 3 1 . 1 2 . 0 5 , P OO)
Coa sta l Tou ri sm
A ' Ba i n a ' a p pe a rs to be s l owly bei ng rep l i ca ted here i n a fester i ng envi ron ment with 1 50 i l legal hutme n ts
e rected i n violation of Coastal Regul ations Zone (CRZ) and Court orders fears a re being rai sed about prostitution
a n d other shady activities. A few of the 1 50 huts which have m u s h roomed over a period of t i me a l o n g the
bea c h stretch , north of t h e tou r i st i c h u b a t Colva a re b e i n g s l ow l y converted i nto pucca struct u re s with
Mangalore tiles. And what was once a green patch and a coconut grove with swayi ng pal m trees for people to
rel ax, h a s been converted i nto a s l u m a n d more huts a re sprouting every wee k .
I ncidental ly t h e a uthorities had moved here w i t h bulldozers a nd labourers to clear t h e land on three occasions
but p u l l ed back due to pol itical pressure. D i rector of Tou rism, Elvis Comes said that the department is aware
of t h e p robl e m a n d that the m atter has been taken u p a t the h ighest leve l .
Court order flouted
Colva : An order of the Bombay H igh Cou rt at Goa dated 29 J u n e 02 (Writ Petition 1 26 / 1 996) to demo l i sh
the i l l egal constructions a t Colva a n d fi l e a compl i a n ce report every fortnight has been blatantly flouted. I n
the petition f i l ed by Goa Fou ndation , the divi s i on bench h a d d i rected the tourism department t h rough the
mamlatdar, deputy col lector and the d i strict collector to keep a watch to ensure that there i s n o CRZ violation
and demo l i s h structures b u i lt therei n . Sadly the order is not bei ng i m pl e mented in s p i rit by the a uthorities,
who a re bow i ng to pol i t i c a l p ress u re and t u r n i ng a Nel son's eye to the h utments. (Another B a i n a is in the
making at Colva beach, Goa , 1 5.04. 0 5 , P OO)
Herita ge Tou rism
Thi s i s t h e second a ttempt Lady H a m lyn trust a n d I ntach a re m a k i ng to t a ke u p restorati o n of the fort. I n
2002, the t ru st h a d offered a gen erous £300, 000 sterl i ng e ndowment to restore t h e c ru m bl i ng fort. An
a rc hitect had m apped the a rea and d rawn u p i n it i a l plans which were then i n a ct ive consideration. The offer
though was t urned dow n by a previous Goa regime, when objections surfaced to a c l a u se that u pper rooms
of the for t be leased for 1 5 yea rs a s a private residen ce.
As a regul a r Goa visitor, the widow of publ i s h i ng tycoon Pau l Hamlyn
is keen to take up the fort's restoration
as a goodwi l l gesture, says the representative. Though l is ted as one of 42 a nc i e n t h i stori c monu ments
deservi ng protect i o n , the govern ment budgets a re i n adequate to m a i nt a i n the h i l l top Reis M agos fort that
was bui lt by Portuguese coloni sers i n 1 550 a t a strategic hill top a t the mouth of the Mandovi River. With its
pa noramic views of the ocean a n d riverfront, at least three major hotel groups in I ndia a nd one from Singapore
were i n te rested i n converti ng the fort i nt o a h e r i ta ge hote l , before a court order shot down propos a l to
convert the p u bl i c heritage monu ment i nt o private space. The a me n d ed restoration p ropos a l how h a s n o
conditions o f a ny sort. (Lady H e l e n trust to restore G o a fort, Pa mela D ' Me l l o , AA. D, 24.02.06, POO)
Hea l th Tourism
The I n dustries M i n i ster, M r Luizinho Faleiro, has said Goa's position as a tourist destination could be exploited
further by a d d i ng state·of·art medical facil it i es to promote it as a pri me global health tourism destination. The
private sector has a role i n t h i s d i rect i o n , he added.
Addressing the i na ugu ra l session of the sem i n a r on ' Health·care: the Goa Scenario' organ i sed by the health
committee of the Goa Chambe r of Commerce a nd I nd ustry, Mr Falei ro said that the government wou l d play
the role of fac i litator a n d encourage priva te partic i pa ti on i n i mp rovement of fac i l ities i n the health sector.
( Private sector can hel p promote Goa as health tou rism s pot: Luizi n ho, N I G , 3 1 .07.05, POO)
2 005-0 6
I
Documentation Update
I
Soci a l I m pacts
Goa has ga ined a reputation far worse tha n Bangkok, w h i c h is con s idered the sex cap i ta l of the wor l d . With
no contro l s on its borders a n d no checks on people visiting the state, a nyone a n d everyone i s com i ng i nt o
G oa t o have a good ti me. A n d i t i s t h i s l a c k o f controls a n d checks t h a t a re witnessing the state a c q u i re a
d i rty, sea my reputation a s global gangs t a rget Goa .
Accord i ng to pol i ce sou rces, global gangs have divided Goa's territory i nto d ifferent gang zones. Along the
Cando l i m- Ca l angute stretch the N igeria n s and British a re dominant who dea l i n narcotics. At A njuna·Vagator
it is the I srae l i s , Germans a n d I ta li a n s. At Ara m bol Russians a n d Germa n s ca l l the s hots a n d i n Pa lolem the
Russ i a n s and I srae l i s h ave set u p base.
Apart from d ea li n g with these global gangs, the l a test problem that the Goa pol i ce have on their hands is the
growing sex trade that is flourishing on the coasta l belts, in the form of dance bar girls who have fled Mumba i
t o the s u n ny shore s of Goa .
'
Also with the Mumba i police closing down over 300 dance bars , 75,000 da nce bar girls are seeki ng a lternative
e m p l oyment. The recent a r rest of five g i r l s who were i nvolved in a cal l g i rl rac ket i s a testi mony to t h i s fact
that ma ny of them a re atte m pti ng to m a ke Goa their base.
Now the Goa pol i ce's l a test h i gh tech wa r is the i nternet, w here t here a re n um erous websi tes springing u p
promising women i n Goa , i n particu l a r a long the north Goa coastal belt. Hosted o n servers, which a re housed
in the US, UK and Tha i l a n d , websites such a s www.goaescorts.com which i s part of the a ppoi ntment d a te
a n d time to meet a 'Goan' gi rl or for that matter even a foreign gi rl a nywhere i n Goa. Paedophilia a l so contin ues
to h a u n t Goa Pol i ce as the n u m be r one sex c r i me i n the state. The rece nt b re a k t h rough i n the Swed i s h
pornograp h i c n ng was broken on a n ema i l t i p t o the Goa Pol ice. (Globa l sex, drug gangs target Goa, Sukumar
Shastri , H E . G , 08.05 .05 , POO)
After the hedonism of hippiedom, now it is the paedoph i l i a ·driven tourism that is becomin g a growing menace
i n Goa. The gover nment to a certa i n extent acknowledges the p roblem but the foreign paedophi les have l i ttle
to worry, for when they a re caught, they esca pe eas i ly from t he state a nd the country without a ny punishment.
P robably, M ichael Jackson case holds an i m portant lesso n for the only state in I nd i a , which has a C h i ldren's
Act as wel l as a C h i l d ren's Court. The speedy m a n n e r in w h i ch the tri a l was conducted cou ld be a revelation
to m a ny a nd w hat i s of utmost i m port a n ce is that even a celebrity l i ke Michael J ackson could n ' t avoid the
t ri a l . However, c h i l d activi sts i n Goa bel ieve that the s i t u a t i o n i s a bsol utely t h e reverse in Goa a nd the
paedophi les escape scot·free.
Whatever, the reason, one thing is a bsol utely clear. There i s a n u rgent need for the state and judicial a uthorities
- be it the pol i c e , the p rosecutors or the j u d i c i a ry - to a d d ress the i ssue of paedoph i l i a in a determi ned
a n d decisive ma n ner.
Apa rt from Freddy Peats who had been convicted a n d j ail e d , a n u m be r of paedophi les have been ident ified
a n d even a p prehended by pol ice have esca ped scot·free. Recently, t he deta i l s of the modus opera nd i of a
German paedophi l e s uspect, Jorg Ha rry Ringel m a n n came to l ight. H i s I nd i a n wife a n d 'adopted d aughter' both teenagers · were barely a few yea rs a p a rt i n age. R i ngel man n used the H i nd u Adoption a n d M a i ntenance
Act, 1 956, a pp l i c a bl e o n ly to H i nd u s , to legi t i mise h i s relationshi p with a 1 5 ·year·old fem a l e c h i l d w ho had
been i n h i s custody from age of eight. I nstead of being punished he was served a deportation notice a s there
was a problem with h i s busi ness visa.
H e vol u nteered to leave the country o n h i s own and was permi tted to do so on 14 August 2004. At p resent,
I t a l i a n G iorgio Laz i n i and German G u nter Bachma n who were accu sed of ra pe of a m i no r a re sti l l mov i ng
a round. I t i s certa i n , the recently enacted Goa C h i ldren's Act, 2003 , has provisions to deal with paedophil i a
more effectively but t here a re l oopholes i n the Act. ( M ichael J ackson case h a s lessons for Goa , Preetu N a i r,
GT.G, 22.06 . 0 5 , POO)
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Starting some years ago on the fringes, sex trade has now become networked with the state tourism i ndustry
in a close fashion. I nq u i ries with i nsiders in the business as wel l as l aw-enforcers have brought to l ight the fact
that elements from v i rtua l ly every segment of the tourist i ndustry from roadside tourist touts to the room­
boys i n the war m a n d hospita ble hote l s to the taxi drive rs to the motorcycle pi l ot riders have a s hare i n the
i ncome from sex trade.
The women i nvolved belong to a l l age groups from m i nors for the paedoph i l es to teenagers to married women .
For some it i s just keepi ng t h e l ife going o n , for others it i s a more payi ng vocation, for sti l l others it i s t o keep
a luxurious l ifestyle goi ng o n .
And n o t a l l these women come from other states. Quite a few o f t h e m are Goan s , accord i ng t o the i n s i ders.
Technology i s only fuell i ng the growth of the trade. Today when a hustler wants to market the gi rls, h e has their
photos - which are sometimes topless or more reveaIi ng-on his cell phone to show to the potential customers.
Once the c u stomer has selected a girl, the network makes a rra ngement for the g i rl to reach h i s p lace or h i m
t o reach a n a p po i nted p l a ce.
Accord i ng to i n q u i ri e s , hustlers w i t h photos of girls o n c e l l phones a re roa m i ng a ro u n d at popu l a r tou r i st
spots, l i ke beaches, river cruises a n d public tra ns port stations. The trade has spread its network even to far­
f l u n g vi l lages. Several hote l s a n d l odges provide tempora ry to l onger lodgi ng to girls to cater to the tour i sts
or local s from different strata of the society.
Pol ice a lso have i nfor mation a bout c a l l girl busi ness goi ng on- i n five star hote l s . But often n o action c a n be
taken because of i nvolvement of big a nd powerful people. Both the girls a n d the customers come from well to
do fa m i l i es . Pol i c e a ct i o n is a lso h a mpered by t h e fact that the girls, if a rrested , u s u a l ly tend to m a ke a
statement that they were i ndu lging i n sex of thei r own free w i l l a nd n ot for t ra d e. With the s u rprise raids by
the CI D\Crime B ra nch s leuths and pol ice parties, most of the hote l i e rs, hustlers and women engaged i n the
trade have become more vigi l a nt a nd a re conducti ng the business very cauti ously_ Someti mes, the busi ness
goes u nd e r the cover of other b u s i nesses, l i ke m a ssage parlours. (Sex i ntertw i nes w i t h tour i s m i n Goa,
Sha i kh Jamaludd i n , NT.G, 1 1 .08.05, POO)
The president of the Mumba i Bar G i rl s U nion Varsha Kal e, said that 1 0, 000 bar gi rls woul d come to Goa this
tou r i st season. The Goa pol i ce , as u s u a l , a ppear c l ueless w i t h DGP Katna sayi ng, "Gomata k T i mes has
i nformation a bout this but we d o n ' t " . 7 5 , 000 ba r girls have been rendered jobless d ue to t h e c l o s u re of
dance bars i n Mumba i . The gir l , who swayed to the music a n d mesmerized patrons in the dance bars till the
recent past, used to earn Rs 1 0,000 to Rs 1 5, 000 a month. Traffickers a re a l ready l ur i ng many bar gir l s i nto
the flesh trade and some girls h ave been a l ready brought to Goa. "Gross i n j u st i ce has been done to u s a nd
we wi l l now sel l our body to earn a l ivi ng a nd no moral guardian has any right to criticize us, " said Rekha. (We
a re ready to pai nt Goa ' red' M u m b a i b a r g i r l s , P reetu Na i r, GT.G , 30.08.05, POO)
A pol ice-pu b l i c i nteraction meet organised today a t the Panji m poli ce station high l ighted the menace of the
d a n ce bar girls frequenting the state and the p recautions that cou l d be taken to curb this menace. The meet
that was attended by 42 representatives of the hospita l i ty i n du stry w i t h i n the j u ri s d i ct i o n of the Panji m
pol i ce station, emphasised the need to m a i ntai n a p roper register of the hotel employees a s wel l a s that of
their guests who util ise the i r accommodation faci l ities, The police requested the smal l group of representatives
of hoteliers, lodge owners a nd guest house owners to mainta i n a meticulous entry of the names and addresses
of the i r guests on the i r guest register a nd that the mandatory provision of fil l i ng the 'C' forms a nd submitting
them to the Foreigners Regi stration Office ( F RO) or the nearest pol i ce station with i n 24 hou rs be comp l ied
i m mediately. A n other i ssue that was d i scussed at the i nteraction was that of harassment of tourists by non­
registered gu i des or touts with the pol ice suggesti ng that on ly those guides a pp roved by the Goa Tou r i s m
Development Corporation b e encouraged . I t i s l earnt that this pol ice-public i nteraction t h a t has been revived
w i l l be con d u cted on a regul a r basi s with d i fferent group s of citizens at least twice a month. ( Po l i ce- p u b l i c
i nteraction cal l s f o r steps t o c heck ba r g i rl s menace, H E. G , 24.09.05, POO)
A l ongside the fis h men u s a nd water s k i i ng l eaflets p i n ne d up i n the wooden beach shacks a l ong the Goa
coast, tou rists have been confronted this season with l ess p a l atable posters wa rn i n g them of the presence
of paedophiles roa m i ng the seafront. The poster ca mpaign i s part of a widening effort by the l ocal charities to
hel p Goa s h a ke off its eme rgi ng reputation a s a centre for c h i l d sex touri s m . Fore i gners a rrivi n g by charter
f l i ghts from E u ro pe a re given l eaflets deta i l i ng the penalti es for c h i l d sex a b u se. "We l come to Goa, l a n d of
2 0 05 - 0 6
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l ove ly beaches a n d fri e n d ly people," the p a m ph l et begins, before dec l a r i ng that paedophi l i a has become a
"serious probl e m . " C h a r i ty workers h ave set u p s urve i l l an ce sta t i o n s o n fou r of the state's m ost popu l a r
northern beaches to help monitor suspicious behaviour a mong foreign ers; a tea m of workers i s p a i d to patrol
the beaches to keep an eye on v i s itors; a nd tou rists are i nvited to c a l l hotl i n e n u m bers if they see a ny fel l ow
vacationers e ngaging i n troubl i ng behaviour.
Goa's state Legislative Assembly a pproved a l a w i n 2003 i ntended to m a ke the prosecutio n of paedop h iles
easier a nd i ntroducing a maxi m u m 10 yea rs' sentence. But activi sts sai d no fore igners have been convicted
u n d e r the a ct a n d expressed frustra t i o n at what they rega rded as a l ac k of wi l l o n the p a r t of the loca l
a uthorities to tackle the problem. Goa 's d i rector·general of poli ce, Neeraj Kumar, said that tack l i ng c h i l d sex
tourism was a priority, but he added that he felt the problem was on the decl i ne. I n a report entitled Trafficking
in Women a nd Children in I nd i a , p u bl i shed in J a n u a ry, the N ational Human Rights Com m i ssion wa rned that
the situation had reached a critical stage. "In I nd i a the a buse of both m a l e and female c h i l d ren by tourists
has acqui red serious d i mensions, " it sa i d . " U n l i ke Sri La nka and Thai l a nd , this problem has not been seriously
tackled . " (Goa tries h a rd to repa i r rep utat i o n , Amel i a Gentlema n , AA. D, 1 9 .02.06, POO ! E40)
Cri me, Drugs
The satellite town of Porvori m i s slowly a n d gradua l ly becomi ng a hub for cri m i nal activities. Thefts, burglaries
and m u rders are i ncreas i ng day·by·day and the Porvori m police have become i neffective in curb i n g the crime
rate. (Porvorim beco m i ng a haven for cri m i na l s, H E.G, 28.06.05, POO)
Two N iger i a ns, c l a i m i ng to be footba l lers p l ayi ng for a p rofession a l c l u b i n Goa, were a rrested by the a nt i ·
na rcotics cell (ANC) f o r ped d l i n g cocai ne a cross t h e State. N one o f the professional c l u bs i n Goa had taken
respons i b i lity of those ostensible "footballers". Amman Chu kwu U meh and Clement Tochi N nebedurn, both i n
thei r twe nties, were arrested by the Goa pol i ce for possessing d rugs. The A N C seized coca i ne worth R s 30
l a kh from the d uo. The h a u l i s con s i d ered to o n e of the b iggest i n t h i s coa sta l State fa m o u s for its rave
parties. ( N igerians arrested for d rug peddl i ng i n Goa, Rupesh Samant, T P. D 28.09.05, POO)
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•Q
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N O RTH EAST .
A D B h a s a n n o u n ced a face·l ift p roject for five c a p i t a l tow n s of north·eastern I n d i a u nd e r North· Eastern
Region U rba n Development P l a n , schedu l ed to be comp l eted by the next six yea rs. A h i gh l evel A D B tea m
came t o study the p rogress of the p roject a n d assured that the work on the new project wou l d begi n i n m i d
2007 a n d i s l i kely t o b e com p l eted by m id·20 1 1 . Along with Aga rtal a , A D B i s goi ng t o i mp le ment t h e project
i n fou r other state c a p i ta l s of the regio n - Aizwa l (M i zora m), G a n gtok ( S i k k i m), Koh i m a ( N aga l a n d ) a n d
S h i I iong (Megha laya). The p roject i s a comp re hensive one to ensure overal l development of the u rba n fad I ities
i nc l u d i ng w a ter s u p p ly, sewera ge & s a n i tation , sol i d a n d bio·med i c a l wa ste m a n a gement, traff i c a n d
tra ns portati o n , e lectrification i n town a reas, flood control and s l u m u pgradation a n d heritage conservat i on .
( R s 900 crore A D B a i d for N o rth· East, D H . B, 24.05.05, QOO)
The Central government ha s i ncreased the amount sanct ioned to p ro mote 53 tourism projects in the e ntire
N ortheast region by a stagge r i n g 7 5 % to R s 1 27 . 5 3 crores for the period e nd i ng Feb 06. Accord i ng to a n
Assoc h a m study, t h e M i n i st ry o f Tou r i s m a nd C u l t u re, i n t h e e nti re fi sca l o f 2004·0 5 , had sa n ct i o ned R s
7 2 . 7 5 c rore s f o r 3 2 p rojects f o r a l l states it the northea st reg i o n w i t h a v i ew t o p romote va r i o u s tou r i st
dest inations a nd s pots. Accord i ng to t he chamber, the government had rea l ised the potential of econom i c
a ct i vi t i es i n s u c h state s t o positively i m pact t h e growth of tou ri s m a n d tou r i s m related a ctivities i n t h e
country.
I n the case of Assam , the n umber of p rojects sanctioned for tou r i s m promotion i n 04·05 stood at 6 with the
correspondi ng a l l ocation a mount of Rs 9.56 crores, however, by Feb 06 the department had i ncreased the
n u m be r of p rojects to 8, for w h i c h sa nctioned a mo u n t was i nc re ased to Rs 2 1 . 2 5 crores. For Aru nacha l
Pradesh , Rs 22.40 c rores h a d been sa nctioned for 1 0 p rojects w h i l e 9 p rojects had been given the green
signal for each of the state s of M izoram a n d N a ga l a n d , while 14 had been sanct i on ed for S i k k i m and only 3
Tri p u ra d u r i n g t h e Feb 0 6 period. The a mo u n t a l l oc ated for the states va r i ed between Rs. 22· 7 1 crore s .
( N ortheast gets generous tou r i s m fund, AA. B, 1 6.03.06, QOO)
Sikkim
Data on Sikkim cu l led over seven yea rs s how a steady i nc re a se in its popu l a rity a bo a rd . In 1 998, the tota l
n u mber of foreign tou ri sts v i siti ng the state w a s 689 1 , w h i l e , by A pr i l t h i s yea r, the state has a l ready
regi stered 6281 touri sts a nd t he n u mbers a re growi ng. The ri se of i n s u rgen cy i n N e p a l h a s a p p a rently
boosted foreign tou rist i nflow to the state, i nstructions i ssued to the i r citizens by foreign governments aga i nst
trave l l i ng in Nepal bei ng a pri me reason for this. I n 2003, the state recorded 1 0,956 tourists and the figu res
rested at 1 3 , 555 i nd ivid u a l s i n 2004. The i nc l u s i o n of the N athu La corridor i n the Budd h i st touri s m c i rcuit
a nd the ta l k a bout l i n k i ng N athu La to T i bet's Lhasa i s expected to i ncrease tou ri st i nflow to Si kkim. Kai l ash·
Ma nsa rovar ; a popu l a r pi l gri mage a n d tou rism desti n ation, i s expected to be a prime attraction. Al so, with
Nathu La ope n i n g the route to T i bet, experts feel that a s i gn ifica nt portion of the over 500,000 tourists who
visit Tibet through mai nl a nd C h i n a wil l prefer the Sikki m route. ( Nepal 's loss is Sikkim's gai n , TS.D, 22.05.05,
QOO)
N a ga l a n d
A l l types of h u nti ng, poaching a n d trade of w i l d a n i m a l s have been ba n ned throughout N agal a n d t h rough a n
order passed by t h e Deputy Commissioner of D i ma p u r. I n h e r order, t h e DC s a i d a ny i nd i v i d u a l o r g ro u p,
i ndu lging i n a ny such a ctivity s h a l l be l i a ble to p rosecuti on a nd penalties , i n c l u d i ng forfeiture of property or
articles used in committing wildlife offences. The punishment also would i nclude i m prisonment and fine. (Nagaland
ba n s hunti ng, VI B, 0 7 . 0 7 . 0 5 , QOO)
Assa m
The Assam government has adopted a cu ltural pol i cy to preserve a n d strengthen the cultural mos a i c i n the
state i n ha bi ted by a l a rge number of ethn i c groups a nd indi genous communities with diverse cultura l traditions
and practices. The pol i cy i s a im ed at packagi ng this north eastern state as a top·li ne cu ltural desti nation on
the strength of its colourfu l tribal trad itions. The Central government has p romised Rs 3 . 60 c rore for sett i ng
u p of two multi · pu rpose cu ltural complexes. (Cu l tu re pol i cy to p reserve Ass a m , VI B, 04. 0 1 . 06 , QOO)
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• S - OTH ER STATES .
500 S ta tes
The smaller states in the country a re beco m i ng the hotbed of i nvestment. both overseas a n d domest i c, with
a l a rge sha re of i nvestment e n q u iries bei ng made for p rojects in these states.
I nvestment worth b i l l io n s of d o l l a r s h ave l i ne d up for these states that h ave fast c reated opportu n it i e s
outside t h e traditional investment destinations.
Accordi ng to a study constituted by Associated Chambers of Commerce and I nd u stry more than 300 enqui ries
have been generated in the past few months from i nvestors who a re l ooki ng at smal ler states to set up their
p rojects. A majority of these i nvestment enqui ries have come from overseas i nvestors who feel i t i s better to
negoti ate a deal the s ma l l states than deal with cumbersome procedu re adopted by l a rger states. The study
has fou n d that s m a ll e r states of Utta rancha l , H i ma c h a l P radesh, Chatt i sgarh, J ha rkha n d a n d even J a m m u
a n d Kas h m i r have emerged as preferred destinations for i nvestment by both overseas a n d domestic i nvestors
beca use of o pportu n i ty cost these states offer i n ter m s of i n centives, holiday schemes a n d ava i l a b i l ity of
raw materia l to i nvestors. (Smal l states now hotbed of big i nvestments, FE.B, 1 5.06.05, SOO)
510 Eastern I n d i a
Orissa
The sight of s cattered rice, broken pots a n d a ssorted ga rbage at A n a nd Baza r, the p u bl i c d i n i ng a rea of the
worl d famous tem p l e , have so far ta ken a heavy tol l on the a ppetite of hygiene·consci ous d evotees. Such
com p l a i n ts, however, may soon be a t h i ng of the past if the tem p l e a d m i n i stration is a l lowed a free h a n d i n
executi ng its p l a n s for the renovation o f the place w h i c h is choc k · a-block with peop l e i n the eveni n g when
thousa n d s pa rta ke of the M a ha prasad (cooked food offered to Lord Jagan nath) in the open . The issue of
giving A n a n d Baza r a face l ift was discussed at a top level meeti ng with a majority express i ng itself in favour
of construct i ng sta l l s for t h e s a l e of M a h a parsad a nd sett i ng u p fac i l i t i e s for its hygie n i c storage so that
devotees coul d even take i t home without a ny hesita t i on . H owever, execution of p l a n s i n this regard woul d
depend u po n t h e consent o f t h e A rchaeological Survey o f I nd i a w h i c h h as been entrusted w i t h t h e t a s k o f
e n su r i ng t h e safety a n d sec u r i ty o f t h i s 1 2t h century s h ri n e w h i c h a lso happens t o be t h e biggest touri st
attraction of the State.
O bta i ni n g the AS I 's consent may not be easy con s i d e r i n g the a ge ncy, having faced f l a k i n t h e p a st over
mi sha ps ca used by d i s p l a cement of stones wit h i n the tem p l e com pl ex , rem a i ns extremely sensitive to a n y
suggestio n s f o r a structura l c h a nge. Whi l e the m a i n p a r t o f the t e m p l e i nc l ud i ng the sa nctu m s a n ctorum
rem a i ns most vul nera b l e to stress and stra i n c a u se d by the l oose n i ng of stones ove r h u n d re d s of yea r s ,
even the Anand Bazar boundary wal l has begun showi ng signs o f severe wea r a n d tear. (Jaga n nath Temple's
A n a n d Bazar to get a facel ift, Ashutosh M i s h ra , T P. D, 20.04.05 , S 1 0)
Ori ssa government's proposal for a beach h ighway
The 480 km beach highway wilt connect Tal a sa ri i n B a l a sore, Orissa to Ka ki nada i n Andhra P radesh
•
O n the way, w i l l be a n u m be r of beaches l i ke C h a n d i p u r, P u ri , Kon a rk , G o pa l p u r a n d Sonep u r i n
•
Ori ssa a n d Kal ingapat n a m , Bee m u n i patnam, Vishakhapatnam a n d Kak inada i n Andhra Pradesh .
•
Cottages, hote l s , p arks, a m u se ment parks w i l l be devel oped a l o ng the route
The Asi a n Development Bank has been a pproached for funds.
•
( Baywatch, Satyen Mohapatra , H I D, 09.05.05, S 1 0)
A new wave of i n du stri a l i sation threatens to m a ke the people of Orissa envi ron mental refugees i n thei r own
l a n d . The State's a i r, water, w i l d l ife a nd people's l ivel i hoods a re bei ng destroyed by the so-ca l led i nd u stri a l
b litzkri eg, accord i ng t o environ mental i sts. Spurred by the s p i ra l l i ng demand for steel a n d a l um i n i u m i n the
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i nternationa l m arket. several conglomerates have come forward to set u p metal p roduction u n its to exploit
the m in era l resou rces of the State. I n stead of p l a n n i ng for metal p rod u ction s p read over the next 1 00·200
yea rs, the State Gove rn ment has adopted a "myo p i c and self·destructive" p o l i cy of exha u st i ng the e n t i re
stock of 3, 1 2 0 m i l l i o n ton n es of i ro n are a n d 1 ,626 mt of ba uxite w i th i n 20·25 years, a ccord i ng to
envi ronme n t a l a ct i v i s t Mr B i swaji t M o h a n ty. The i n d ustri a l i sa t i o n boom is expected to res u l t i n m a ss ive
envi ron menta l degra d a t i o n s i n c e the l oc a l envi ron ment h a s a l i m ited "carryi n g c a pa ci ty" to a bsorb a n d
a ss i m i late effluents a n d wastes produced d u e t o such gigantic production facil it i es being sq ueezed withi n a
very short t ime. ( ' I ndustri a l i sation wi l l harm Orissa 's ecol ogy' , P rafu l l a Das, B L . B , 0 7 . 06.05, S 1 0)
N andita Das wi l l be the bra n d a m bassador of Orissa Tou ri s m , accord i ng to M r Su rjya N a rayan Patro, Ori ssa's
Tourism M i nister. The a ppointment of the brand a mbassador, as the Minister explained, was only one component
of the m u l t i · pronged strategy fi n a l i sed by the O ri ssa G overn ment to p ro mote State's touri s m , t h e other
components bei n g orga n i s i n g road shows both with i n the cou ntry a n d outside, a ppoi nting consultants a n d
experts in t h e field t o decide o n the right strategy a n d improvi ng i nfrastructure. The State Tourism Department,
accord i n g to h i m , has empa nelled Leo B u rnett a nd Rediffusion to p romote the State a mong tourists, existing
a nd p rospective. As for i nfrastructu re deve lopment, the M i nister said the e m p h a s i s was on i mprovi ng the
connectivity.
" I n p a st two yea rs we've spent n e a r l y Rs 80 c ro re to i m prove t h e road s i n va r i o u s tourist cent re s a n d
p ropose t o spend a bout R s 1 0 0 c rore i n t h e c u r re n t fisca l , " h e s a i d . A p a r t of t h e f u n d p rovided by the
Centre for road development was bei n g u sed to i mprove connectivity i n va rious p l a ces of tourist attracti on.
Part of the i nfrastructure development, a s it was poi nted, woul d a lso be through p rivate · p u b l i c partners h i p.
Thus, l a nd was being offered by the State govern ment to set u p hotels by p rivate entrepreneurs.
For D ha l u l i , the re wou l d be a n a d d i ti ona l a l location of Rs 4.5 c ro re a nd the services of the B a roda-ba sed
a rchitect, Mr Karan Grover, were bei ng requ isitioned. The sea beach in P u ri too was bei n g beautified at a cost
of Rs 5 crore a n d the promenade was being extended by a bout 1 .5 kms. (Orissa to step up touris m promotion
Ropes in a ctress N andita Das as bra n d a m ba ssador, B L.C, 20.08. 05 , S 1 0)
The l a st ti me we vi sited the Orissa seas i de resort of Puri was i n 1 98 1 when a pa r t from one o l d h otel which
had by then become a seven -storey monst rosity a n d a couple of new estab l i s hments which had come up on
the southern side of the tem ple town the town had barely cha nged its character from what it had always been
for decades past. I n fact, the fi rst t h i ng that strikes the eye in Puri today, s pecia l ly to someone who is visiting
it after q uite some ti me, i s its development as a tourist centre. I n earlier times, the seaside front of the town
extended only t il l the poi nt known as Swargodwar, a djacent to the burn i n g ghat.
It was rather surpri s i n g to be told that even today, with a l l its materi a l development. Puri continues to attract
tourists m a i n l y from West Benga l a n d C a lc utta , who form more t h a n 90 % of the vi s i tors. N ot o n l y t h i s , a
very S U bsta n t i a l pa r t of the i nvestment t hat h a s been poured i nto t h e resort h a s a lso come from Bengal ,
which suggests that the Beng a l i connection with P u ri has become even stronge r t h a n before. I n a nutshe l l , it
can s afely be sai d t hat P u ri i s boo m i n g as a tou r i st resort. s pec i a l l y that p a rt of i t that extends southward
a long the coast. The northern part, genera l ly, stil l reta i n s its old-worl d , quite a mbience. (Sea-cha nge i n Puri ,
Ra n a b i r Ray Choud h u ry, B L . B, 1 4 . 0 l .06, S lO )
I s t h e S u n Temple at Kon a rk cru mbl i n g? Orissa Government thi n ks s o b u t t h e Archaeological Survey o f I nd i a
(ASI) here says n o . The State Culture M i nister Damodar Rout constituted a two-member committee to examine
the World Heritage Site a n d submit a report wit h i n 24 hours fol l owing reports that a technica l committee of
A S I s potted struct u ra l wea knesses. '
The eight-member com m i ttee, constituted by D i rector General of ASI , visited the structu re o n J a n u a ry 1 6
and held meeti·ng with ASI offic i a l s a bout the monu ment's conservation. The committee, s la ted to submit its
report to the DG of AS I , is reported to have detected two t h i ngs - one, a c ra c k i n the c a nt i l ever i n the
southern side of the 1 3th century monu me nt and two depressions i n sand-fil l i ng. The committee is bel ieved to
have suggested ASI to i nitiate u rgent steps for rectifying a ny structural wea kness. (Is Su n temple crumbli ng?,
I E. B, 20 . 0 1 .06 , S 1 0)
With reports of the fi rst b i rd f l u cases i n I nd i a hitting head l i nes, the authorities a t Chi l i ka Lake a favou red
dest i n a t i o n of avi a n s from colder c l i mes gea red u p t o p re - e m pt a n outbre a k of the H 5 N l v i r u s a mo n g
,
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h u ma n s . As p a r t of t h e fi re . fight i n g meas u res , a ba n h a s been i m posed on the e ntry of v i s i tors i nto t h e
Chi l i ka ( N a l a ba n a) sa n ct u a ry to s h i e l d t h e m from migratory b i rd s . N early t hree l a k h m igratory b i rd s from
Centra l Asia, China and the Fa r East a re stil l a t C h i l i ka prepa ri ng for thei r return journey with wi nter on its way
out. The a ut horities h ave a l so l a un ched an awareness d rive i n vi l lages in the vici n i ty of the l a ke. Last mont h ,
1 ,685 migratory birds d i ed at Ch i l i ka rai sing s pectres of bird flu . Sa mples were coll ected from the carcasses
a nd sent to various l a boratories. (Ch i l i ka out of bunds for guests, Sou myajit Pattn a i k, H T D, 2 1 .02.05, S 1 0 )
West Bengal
The West Benga l Government has decided to start the concept of tea tourism i n the state. A det a il ed p roject
report on t h i s h a s a l ready been p repa red by the tou rism department a n d a t ota l of Rs 80 c rore h a s been
sanctioned. We a re p l a n ni n g to bui l d golf courses in tea gardens and a l so some nation a l w i l d l i fe p arks for
tourists with a pencha nt for adventure. Once we do that we a re sure that a huge number of touri sts w i l l flock
i nto West Benga l . P l a n s were afoot to d evelop the S u n derba n s as an eco·to u r i s m spot. The 1 2 th F i n a nce
Commission has a l ready sanctioned Rs 1 00 crore for the project. Efforts a re on to rope in the Asi a n Development
Ba n k a n d U N ESCO for the p roject. (West Benga l tea gardens t u r n i ng i n to tourist s p ot s , I E. C , 1 7 .08. 0 5 ,
S 1 0)
The Centre a n nou nced S ixth Schedu l e status to the G N LF·led D a rjee l i ng Gorkha H i l l Coun ci l , which woul d
ensure greater a utonomy to t h e governing body i n the H i l l District of West Benga l . A tri pa rtite Memora n d u m
of Settlement (MoS) was signed here between t h e Centre, West Bengal Government a n d t h e Subhas Ghising·
led Gorkha National Li beration Front (GN L F) after two days of hectic del i be rations. The Amendment B i l l to
grant Sixth Sched ule status to the DGHC on the l i nes of such d i strict councils in the North·east is l i kely to be
introduced in the Budget session of Parliament. U nder the Sixth Schedule, the d istri ct cou n c i l w i l l get more
powers s i m i l a r to t h ose enjoyed by the Autonomous District Cou n c i l s of Assa m, Megh a l aya , M izoram a n d
Tri pura . The Home M i n i ster said, 'With the sign i ng of the Memorandum, the DGHC wil l have status of Districts
of the Sixth Schedu l €l of the I nd i a n Constitution a n d w i l l have l egislative a n d executive powers a n d w i l l fulfi l l
t h e desi res of t h e peopl e. A B i l l t o a mend t h e Constitution wi l l b e i nt roduced i n Pa r l i a ment. Once passed,
elections wil l be held to . ile Council . ' (Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeli ng Gorkha H i l l Cou nc i l , T H . B, 0 7 . 12.05 ,
S 1 0)
The toy tra i n of Darjee l i ng remains one of the main d raws for tourists a l ong with the Kanchenj unga. The snowy
peaks rem a i n a stable feat u re for the Darjee l i ng·bou nd tourists, but the toy tra i n h a s become a problem i t
keeps s l i p p i n g off its tra c ks . I n the l a st fortni ght a l one, t h e D a rj ee l i ng toy tra i n h a s dera i l ed t h ree t i mes.
Although no i njuries were reported from t hese dera i l ments, l ithe heritage tra i n keeps goin g off track it could
have disastrous consequences for passengers sooner or later. A lthough no official rea sons were given for the
derail ments, one cause coul d be the heavy traffic on the national h ighway which runs para l lel to the tracks for
a long d i stan ce. (Toy tra i n , your s l i p i s showi ng, Anjana P ra d h a n , TOL B, 23.03.06 , S l O)
520 North I nd i a
Uttar P radesh
H op i n g to attract more foreigners and get them to exten d their stay in Agra , the Utta r Pradesh Government
wou l d a rra nge l a se r s hows a nd set up cas i n os in select hote l s . A sum of Rs. 1 5 . 60 crores, out of R s . 1 1 0
c rores s a n ctioned for the city by State Governme nt , wou l d be u t i l ised to p romote n ight tou r i s m , Divisional
Commissioner, Ashok Kumar. I t was proposed to keep open at n ight the artisans vi l l a ge i n S h i l pagra m, l -km
east of the Taj Maha l , and the Sadar Bazaar, both favourite tou ri st haunts, he s a i d . The Commissioner said Rs
26.4 crore wou l d be u ti l i se d for m a n agi ng sol i d waste one km a ro u n d the Taj a n d a com prehensive p l a n
costing Rs 1 0 2 crore had been d rawn u p t o improve Agra 's d ra i nage system. La nd for a proposed i nternational
a i rport would be made ava i l a b l e on the Agra Delhi roa d . (Casinos com i ng up in Agra , TH . D, 30.09.05, S20)
I n an atte m pt to give further fi l l i p to tourism in the State, the Uttar P radesh Government is embarki n g on a
u n i q ue p l a n of revivi ng the treasured M a h a b h a rat period . Tourism department sources said that a n action
plan has been d rawn to develop a Mahabharat Age Tourist C i rcuit i n the western part of the State, by tra c i ng
the rema i n s of the prized period a n d a lso deve loping p l a ces mentioned i n the epic by Ved Vya s . As part of
t h e action p l a n excavation w i l l be ca rried out by the A rchaeo l ogica l Su rvey of I nd i a (AS I ) i n the Baghpat
d i strict, which i s bel ieved to house the five vi l la ges demanded by Pa ndavas from Ka u rav King Dh ritra shtra .
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The other p l a ces associated with M a h a bh arat i n cl u d i n g Hasti na p u r a n d Pa r i kshitgarh i n M eerut d i stri ct,
Shukratal in M uzaffarnagar di strict and Garhmukteshar i n G h aziabad d i strict wil l be d eveloped further to be
a part of the M a ha bhara t C i rc u i t . ( U P Tou r i s m hopes to cash in on M a h a bharat heritage, B L . B, 0 1 . 1 1 .0 5 ,
S20)
Delhi
The Delhi High court ordered the Chief Secretary of Delh i Government to form a permanent committee, with i n
a wee k , to e n s u re t h e remova l o f e n croachment i n a n d a ro u n d t h e protected monu ments i n the c ity. The
co m mittee sa i d the court, m u st compri se representatives from the Archaeologica l S urvey of I nd i a (AS I ),
Delhi Pol i ce, Del h i Development Authority, N ew Delhi M u n i c i p a l Cou n ci l , Municipal Corporation of Delh i a n d
D e l h i Canton ment Board. T h e purpose beh i nd the formation o f t h i s committee s a i d the court, i s t o prevent
the "passing the buck" a pproach of various a ge ncies. D i s p l ea sed over t h i s behaviour of the A S I a n d other
civic a ge ncies on the remova l of encroa chme nts in and a ro u n d monume nts, protected u nder the Ancient
Monuments a n d Archaeological Sites and Remai n s Act, 1958, the bench ordered the formation of a committee.
The view to for m a committee came u p when ASI 's coun sel Sanjay Jain expressed, on behalf of his client , the
i na b i lity to remove encroachments from around a protected monument in Mehra u l i area. (HC asks for pa nel to
rid monuments of encroac hments, TO I . D, 2 1 .04.05, S20 / D20d)
The MCD's heritage w a l k a round parts of old Delh i , which was supposed to be an enriching cultura l experience
for t h e p a r t i ci pa nt s , e nded i n a tense s howdow n . The I ma m s a i d that the M C D h a d n ot given a ny p ri o r
i ntimation about the wal k. T h e I ma m s a i d that when he reached J a ma Masjid, he saw that two participants of
the heritage w a l k had entered the complex with shoes, which had enraged the crowd further. ( MC D heritage
w a l k stu mbles, H T, Del h i , 0 1 .05.05, S20)
B u ngy j u m p i n g a n d a dvent u re parks i n east Del h i h ave taken a dive in favou r of developmental projects on
the Tran s·Ya muna Development Boa rd's a gend a . The Rs 1 . 1 5·crore proposal for an adventure park i n Sa njay
La ke, for i n sta nce, w a s a mong severa l p rojects t urned dow n i n the Rs 78.4·crore budget a pproved by the
board.
The proposed adventure pa rk at Sanjay Lake, one of its kind i n east Del h i , has a l ready got a pproval from D DA
a n d i s a wa iting sa nctio n of funds. Board chai rma n N a rendra N ath said it m i ght be considered i n the revised
e st i mate towards t h e end of t h e f i n a n c i a l yea r. That woul d i nc l ud e the cost of co n stru cti n g pathways, a
boun d a ry a n d setti n g u p of a power stati o n . ( Pa rk p l a ns wait for Ya muna Boa rd nod, I E. D, 04.05 .05, S20/
D20a)
The concept of coffee homes as a meeting p l a ce is fast losing its charm for the city's average citize n . It is now
a l l set to u ndergo a major cha nge if p l a n s d rawn up by Delhi Tou ri s m a re a nyt h i ng to go by. The n ew concept
of designer coffee homes is a imed at retai ning the coffee home nostalgia but at the same ti me re·esta blishing
it a s a ' bra n d ' u s i ng the b u i lt a m bience a n d making it a multip urpose u sa ble s pa ce.
The first of five such outlets i s schedu led to come up at Jana kpuri in West D e l h i where work is expected to
start this year itself. The Del h i Tou ri s m a n d Tran sportation Development Corporation ( DTTDC) has a l ready
s hort·l i sted h a lf a d ozen consu lta nts for the project a n d the process to obt a i n fi n a n c i a I sa n cti o n for t h e
project h a s b e e n s e t i n motio n . ( De l h i Tou r i s m to set u p designer coffee h o m e s , Sujay M e hd u d i a , T H . D,
1 6. 0 5 . 0 5 , S20)
The Heritage value of Gole Ma rket and the A l l I nd i a Rad i o (AI R) bui ld i ng at Sansad M a rg has been dec l a red
to be on a par with that of Safadarj u ng Tomb a nd Parl iament House by the Union U rban Devel opment M i n i stry.
These a re a mong 2 1 heritage structures that have been l isted i n Grade I , which requ i re "careful preservation".
The l i st i nc ludes Jantar M a nt a r, I nd i a Gate, Gole Da k Kha n a , P residentia l estate, North and south B l ocks,
Baroda House a n d the Centra l Telegraph office.
Eighty·seven structu res figure in the G rade I I l i st , which i nc l u des Conn aught P la ce, Parl i a ment Street Pol i ce
station, National Stadium, Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) and Teen Murti House. There are 39 structures
i n Grade I I I , which incl udes Patia l a House, Modern School , I m peri a l H ote l , M into Bridge, Sunheri Masj i d , Lady
I rw i n Coll ege a n d Suja n Si ngh Park. Structure i n grade I I a n d I I I requ i re " i ntel lige nt conservation" . The rating
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was fixed by the m i n i stry after goi ng over a l ist of 1 47 herita ge b u i l d i ngs with i n t he j u r i sd iction of the New
Del hi M u n i c i pa l Cou n c i l ( N D M C) . S i m i l a r gradi ng w i l l be a ccorded to heritage b u i l d i ngsl prec i n cts in MCD
a reas too. Once the gra d i ng is notified , t h e heritage com m ittee con stituted by the m i n i stry w i l l work w i t h
va rious c i v i c agencies t o restore the structures t o their origi n a l glory. ( Heritage crown for G o l e M kt , Vi bha
Sharma, H I D, 04.06.05, S20)
Del h i Metro and R I T ES made t h e i r presentation on the controversi a l e l evated trac k nea r the Qutub M i na r.
However, U N ESCO has wa rned that s u c h a move c ou l d have serious "vi s u a l i mpact" on t h i s World Heritage
s i te. The H a m p i group of monu ments i n Karnata ka were dec l a red a n ' e n d angere d ' s ite i n 1 999 after two
bridges were bui lt there. Similarly, there was a threat of the same happening with the Taj had the controversi a l
corridor project materia l i sed .
While the buffer zone is a much l a rger concept, ASI sources say the elevated track a nd station a re proposed
to be b u i l t i n the regu l a ted zone of the Qutu b complex - j ust beyon d 1 0 0 metres. The A S I h a s a s ked the
M etro team to get a vi bration study conducted , w h i c h mea n s , they f i rst want a study whether the grou n d
below the Qutub o r the structure itself wil l b e affected by t h e movement of tra i n s and the massive construction
work. The exact position of the p roposed stat i on a n d t h e i mpact of t h i s with the h i g h p i l l a rs requ i re d for
l ayi n g the e l evated track w i l l be studied. ( M etro n e a r Qutu b : U N ESCO waves red f l a gs , S a u r a b h S i n h a ,
TO I . M , 0 1 . 08.05, S20 I D20d)
Del h i is witnessing a rapid growth of i nns; the rea so n a sc ri bed for this i s the space crunch in hote l s owing to
l a rge n u mber of tourists (both domestic a n d i nternational) who visit the city. At t i me s , however, touri sts
prefer i n ns over hote l s for the s a ke of privacy. They don't t a ke a room i n hotel s (five star i nc l uded) to avoi d
seeing fami l i a r faces.
To open a n i n n requi res a l icence from the M u n ic i pa l Corporation of Del hi and the Del hi police. T i me i n ns a re
l i a bl e to pay 1 2. 5 % of their revenue a s l uxury tax. The l i cence i s renewed every yea r. Those who fai l to renew
their l i cences a re forced to shut shop by the authorities. Many bel ieve that the i n ns a lso serve as an affordable
option for teena gers from rich fam i l i es to i nd u l ge esca pades. R a kesh K u m a r G u pt a , a reside nt of Sukhdev
Vihar, who has been observi n g the peo p l e movi ng i n a n d out from a n i n n near h i s home, says, "The i n n s a re
viable o ptio n for wealthy kids to spend t i me i n the compa ny of w i ne a n d wome n . " There a re some i n n s that
have spec i a l offers to l u re youngsters. (Executives prefer i nns to hotels, Nawaid A nj u m , AA. D, 08.09 .05, S20
I C30)
The Archaeolog ic a l Su rvey of I nd i a (ASI ) has endangered the Qutub M i n a r as wel l as the l ives of thou s a n d s
of a i r passengers b y n ot o perati ng the twi n fl i ght war n in g l i ghts a t o p the 1 3th century h i stori c a l tower a t a
time when dense clouds have s h a rply red uced vis i b i l ity. A worried D e l h i A i r Traffi c Control (ATC) h a s a s ked
AS I to u rgently do the needfu l for getti n g at least one of the l i ghts operatio na l , as the 7 2 . 5 · metre Qutu b is
a l most on the f l i ght path of the Delhi a i rport. With the retu r n of the monsoo n , visibil ity particularly at n ig ht,
drops consi derably. ( Dark d anger atop Qutub, Saurabh S i n ha , TOLD, 1 5.09.05, S20 I D20d)
Di l l i H a at w i l l soon get a b ra n d new l oo k a n d design. The m a keover of the H a a t , s p re a d over s ix a cres
opposite the I NA Ma rket, w i l l be done kee p i ng in m i nd the req u i re ments of foreign tourists , who t hrong the
venue i n l a rge n u m bers a n d l ook for a 'rich rural touch" to the ent i re setti ng. The Haat wi l l get a new l i ghting
system a nd a n a rt gal lery. For t h e conveni ence of foreigners, a money exchange bureau wi l l a l so be set u p,
a l on g with a n i nformation centre. The DTTDC a l so a i ms to deploy tra nslators for a l l major foreign l angua ges.
The tourism corporation i s a lso working out a p l a n for the kitchen a rea . Authentic cuisi nes from various states
a re one of the attractions at the Haat and t h i s wou l d be made a l l the more attractive. The enti re a re a wi l l be
made d i sabled-friendly_ The Rs 5-crore project has been given the fi n a l nod after a board meeting comprising
officials from the Delhi Touris m a nd Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), the U n i on min i stries of
text i l es a n d tou r i s m a n d the N DMC. The tour i s m m i n istry a nd N D M C wi l l joi n tl y fund t he p roject. ( R s 5-cr
makeover for D i l l i Haat, Amitash Shukia, HT. D, 0 5 . 1 0.05, S20)
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Commonwealth Games
Deve lo p m e n t of p a r k s , heritage sites a n d proper conserva t i o n of m o n u me n t s i s a l l set to a cq u i re a new
dimension with plans being drawn u p now for a comprehensive project that woul d make Delhi a "heritage city"
i n t i me for the Common weal th Ga mes 20 1 0 .
The concept of project i n g Del h i as a heritage city i s n ot only about dec l a ri n g i t as such, b u t creating a unique
sel l i ng p ropos i tion ( USP) for i t a head of the Commonwea lth Games to attract more a n d m ore tourists to it.
P l a n of a ction : M r. Jain said that though Delhi with over 1 ,200 l i sted monuments is as it i s a heritage city, we
a re viewi n g the Commonwealth Games as a great opportunity to complete some u nfinished tasks in making
it rea l ly l ive up to the reputation a nd this i nvol ves deve l o pment u p-keep and conservati o n of s i x d ifferent
a reas of h istorical i m portance."
E l a borati n g o n t h e p ropos a l s h e s a i d , "one of the major a re a s of work wou l d be the deve lopment of a n
a rc h a eo l o gi c a l p a rk i n M e h ra u l i a n d i n tegra t i o n of the 2 6 a c re Q u t u b com p l ex with the 1 0 0 a cre J a ma l i
Qamali a rea which has a round 5 0 monuments."
The p l a n a l so envisages development of the Tughlaqabad Fort a rea, and the N izamuddi n area with H umayun's
Tom b bei n g the given utmost i m po rta n ce. A n other old part of Del h i , the Wa l led C i ty, i s a l so sought to be
conserved u nder the p l a n with special emphasis on Chandni Chowk, Da ri ba Ka l a n and Ki n a ri Baza r, where
heritage w a l ks have a l so been i ntroduced .
A l s o envisages deve lopment of Con n a u ght P lace, Gol Dak Khana a n d Gol M a rket i n tune with thei r h i storic
i mport a n ce. ( P l a n to ma ke Del h i a "heritage city " , G a u rav Vivek Bhatnaga r, T H . D, 28.04.05, S20)
At l ea st six p l a ce s a lo n g the Ya m u n a w i l l be selected in the next few weeks a n d developed as tourist a n d
cultu ra l hubs for the 201 0 Common wea l th Games. These centres would have eating p laces a n d entertai n ment
venues for tou rists, players and officials who wou l d visit Del hi d uri ng the games. The touris m department has
a p poi nted a consultant to suggest s pots a long the riverfront and other pl aces in the city which may he taken
U P for beautification . Princi pal secretary (UD), O. P. Kel ka r, who has visited M e l bourne, the venue of the 2006
games, presented a b luepri nt of what the Au stra l ia n city was doing a n d what D e l h i could lea rn. The visit of
the Del h i government offici a l s was part of a scheme "transfer of knowledge" between the host country for the
2006 Ga mes and Del h i . (Tourist h u bs for C'weath Ga mes, A m itabh Shukla , H I D, 05 .05.05 , S20)
The Government has decided to expedite the process of a l l ocati ng l a nd for 40 new five·sta r hotels in Delhi i n
expectation o f huge tourist i nfl ux d uri ng the 201 0 Commonwealth Ga mes.
Stati ng t h i s at a national conference on ' I s Law Keepi n g Pace with G rowth of Travel and Hospital ity I nd u stry
and Tou rism · The Lega l Framework' organ i sed by the P H D Chamber of Commerce a n d I ndustry. The private
sector should concentrate on constructing hotels i n stead of townships as these hotels wil l add to the hospitality
i nd u stry on a l ong·term basis. It was t i me for the travel i nd u stry to be more proactive to promote I nd i a as a
pri me tou ri st dest i n a t i o n . I t i s a positive i n d i cator that m a ny new a n d seasoned g ro u ps have com m i tted
i nvestments worth Rs 1 00,000 crore for thei r operational and capacity expa nsion. (Govt to a l l ot l a n d for 40
five·sta r hote l s in Del h i , BL.C, 1 7 .0 7 . 0 5 , S20)
A n umber of projects a re u n derway to make Del h i a tourist desti nation by the 20 1 0 Commonwealth Games.
These i nclude an Eco·tourism complex i n Chawa l a , a Heritage Park i n Mehra u l i , D i l l i Haats (under construction)
i n P i ta m pu ra a n d Geeta Colony. Other p l a ns i nc l ud e s pecia l a i r conditi oned buses with G P S l i n k i n g severa l
tourist dest i n a tions i n the city. The bus service to l i n k the tourist spots t o the Ai rport. Rai lway stations, a n d
other services i s a nother tourism i n itiative. The a i r conditioned buses w i t h t h e GPS equ i p ment s h a l l tour the
city with pos s i ble tie ups with major hotels. Another project bei ng developed now i s the eco tourism complex
i n Chawa l a . The a rea a l so sees a n um be r of m igratory b i rds a n d s h o u l d attract b i rd · watchers too. ( Eco·
tou rism complex i n Chaw a l a by 20 1 0 : Govt, Gopal Sathe, I E. D, 04. 1 0 .0 5 , S20/ D20i)
For u t i l isation of t h e Commonwea lth Games v i l l a ge after the 20 1 0 games a re over, the Del hi Development
Authority has p roposed to a u ction the Commonwea lth Ga mes plot for bui l d i ng two l a rge five sta r hote l s and
three guesthouses. "The idea beh i nd auctioning the plots as hotels and guesthouses is to ma ke it commercia l l y
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via b l e o n ce t h e g a mes a re over, " s a i d a n offic i a l of the l a n d depa rtment. ( Fi ve·sta r hotel s to come u p o n
Commonwealth Ga mes v i l lage, D DA proposes to a uction plots for 3 hote l s a n d 3 guesthouses o n c e ga mes
a re over, Esha Roy, I E. D, 0 5 . 1 0 . 05 , S20)
The D e l h i Tou r i s m a nd Tra n sport Deve lopment Corpora t i on ( DTTDC) i s a l l set to put i n p l a c e a track for
adventurous water s ports l i ke ca noeing and kayaki ng. The corporation has identified the waste l a nds in the
west Delhi · Ka nga n heri a nd Chhawla , which a re surrounded by Najafgarh dra i n as the site for the project. The
project is worth Rs 20 crore a n d DTTDC hopes to complete it on the eve of Commonwealth Games 201 0. The
development of these waste l a nds, accord i ng to offic i a l s w i l l prove to be a major tourist attraction, especia l ly
for you ngsters. A lso, it woul d be a nother avenue for revenue generation for the tourism department. (DTTDC
p l a n s water s ports fac i l ity in West Del h i , Rajat G u h a , F E . D, 2 l .02 . 06, S20 / D20a)
The Delhi Deve l o pment Authority (DDA) raked in Rs 943 crore from a n hotel p l ot auction, its second highest
take in a l a n d sale after the Rs 1 , 1 00 crore obtai ned for the Vasa nt Kunj M a l l plot two yea rs ago. Seven of the
n i n e plots in Shahdara , Mot i a k h a n , J a so l a , Rohi ni and Okh l a , l i sted for bids exceeded the combi ned reserve
price of R s 530 c rore. Two plot s were u n s ol d .
Not s urprisi ngly plots i n South D e l h i fetched t h e h ighest bid s . The record b i d of R s 1 9 9 crore came from MGF
a nd D u ba i · ba sed concern E m a a r for 2.5 acre plot in Jasola and a n other two·acre p l ot a l so in J a so la . D DA
Comm i ss i oner , La nd D i s posa l , R K S i ngh s a i d the hotel p lots were a b i g d raw for th ree ma i n rea sons­
i n c rea sing l a nd rates, pen d i n g demand a n d the shortage of room space to meet the demand that woul d h e
created by t h e 20 1 0 Commonwea lth Ga mes.
What they went for:
J a sola ( 2 . 5 a c re):
Rs. 1 99 cr
J a so l a (2 a c re):
Rs. 1 89 cr
M ot i Khan ( l acre):
R s . 88 c r
Shahdara (5acre):
R s . 1 70 c r
Shahdara (2acre):
R s . 47 . 3 c r
Roh i n i (5,000 sqm):
Rs. 99 c r
O k h l a ( 2 a cre):
R s . 1 52 cr
(Hotel plots auction nets Rs 943 crore, Dubai firm MGF consortiu m bags two plots in Jasola for Rs 388 crore,
I E. D, 04.03.06, S20)
UUaran ch a l
T h e State o f Uttaranchal i s encouraging respons i ble tou rism a nd touris m development, w h i c h encourage s
going b a c k to natura l products i n every aspect of l ife; i t i s a l so t h e key t o sustainable ecologica l development.
Uttara nchal right from i n ception has pledged to emerge as a tou rism power. The second yea r of o perations
witnessed tourism activities to highl ight the states d iverse attra ctions. I n the first phase, the focus was on a
consistent ca mpaign to create a n identity. Whi l e i n the second phase, the promotion was on specific products,
such as adventure tourism, eco·tourism and spiritual tourism. During a meeting of the National Committee on
Eco Tourism and Mou ntains, the then Tou ri s m M i n i ster had a nnounced that Uttaranchal woul d be developed
as a key Eco·tourism destination in the country a nd in pursuance of this, the Government of I nd i a is developing
four to five eco· tourism centres to project the state a s a n i dea l eco·desti nation world over. To beg i n with,
Uttara ncha l , Leh a n d Ladakh have been identified for this purpose.
The stress on eco·tourism e ns u res that Uttara nchal i s a para d i se for adventure s ports l i ke mounta i neeri ng,
trekki ng, s k i i ng, skating, water sports to aero·sports l i ke h a n d ·gl i d i ng a n d paragl i d i ng. The state has a l so
pre p a red n u merous master p l a n s for seve r a l new p rojects seeki ng p r ivate sector i nvestment. These eco ·
c i ties i n H e m p u r nea r George Everest Park, development of a n eco·touri sm project o n 2 00 acres of l a nd at
George Everest Estate near Mussoorie a n d a trek master plan. The other efforts woul d enta i l master plans for
deve lopment of new h i l l stations at Pau ri , Khi rs u , Lansdowne, M u n syari a nd P ithoragarh.
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A vi l l age near Ramnaga r i s bei n g devel oped a s a centre for eco-tour i s m . There a re a l so p l a n s to t i e u p with
Hyatt & Fou r Seasons H otel s and C hescor C a p it a l of UK to d eve l op an eco-city near Ra m p u r, which i s
expected t o cost R s 500 crore. S i m i la rly a master p l a n for t rekking i s being deve loped a l ong with a project for
trekk i ng at Uttarkashi at a n altitude of 1 0000 feet, which wou l d enta i l a n i nvestment of Rs 60 crore. Besides,
the property of George Everest in M usoori e i s being deve loped a s a herita ge property o n an a re a of 200
acres. There a re a l so p l a ns to h ave hel istrip s in a l l 1 7 d i st r i cts of the state.
Expenditure on schemes for tourism development and promotion of touris m in Uttaranchal has progressively
i ncreased over the yea rs. I n the current 5·yea r p l a n , a p p roxi mately Rs.8600 l a k h s h ave been spent, which i s
more t h a n ten t i mes t h e a mount spent during 80·85. Some idea of the additional i nvestments that w i l l be
requ i red is provided by the fact that, d u r i n g the yea r 2000, the n u mber of tourists who visited Utta ra nchal
stood a t over 1 1 1 l a k hs, whereas the t ot a l p o p u l a t i on of the State was m e rely 82 l a k h s . (Utta ra n c ha l ,
Sim p ly Heave n , Eco-tourism taki ng of i n Devbhoomi , FE.C, Apr- M ay 0 5 , S20/ D20i)
The Val l ey of Flowers N ational Park in Utt a ra nchal coul d soon find a p l a ce on the U nited N ations Education a l ,
Scientific a n d Cultura l Organ i sation' s ( U N ESCO) World Heritage L i st .
The Val l ey of Flowers i s a mong the eight new sites recom me nded by the World Conservation U nion ( l UCN) to
the World Heritage Com mittee for i ncl usion in the World Heritage L i st .
I UCN h a s recommended the extension o f I nd ia ' s N anda Devi N ationa l Pa rk a l ready a World Heritage site to
i nclude the Val l ey of Flowers. The World Heritage Committee, meet i ng in D u rban from July 1 0 to July 1 7 , w i l l
consider t h e ' i n scri ption' o f new sites on U NESCO's World Heritage List . This yea r, the com m i ttee w i l l revi ew
28 c u l t u r a l sites, 1 0 n a t u ra l sites a n d 4 m ixed s i tes a n d a l so exam i ne t h e exte n s i o n of 9 Wor l d Heritage
sites. (Val l ey of Flowers recommended for U nesco World Heritage List, Sankar Radhakrishnan, BL.C, 1 1 .0 7 .05,
S20)
Interview with Lt Gen. TPS Rawat (retd), PVSM, VSM, Minister of Tourism, Governmen t of
Uttaranchal
Q. Utt a ra n c h a l h a s i m me n s e tou ri s m poten t ia l . H ow i s t h e state gover n ment p l a n n i ng to
exploit that?
A . I t i s the state gove r n ment's e n d eavo u r to p l a ce Utta ra n c h a l o n the tou r i s m m a p of the
world a s one of the leading tourist desti nations, and to make the name of the State synonymous
with tour i s m . To a c hieve t h i s v i s i o n , t h e govern ment is p l a n n i ng to d evel o p the m a n ifold
tou ri s m rel ated resou rces of the State i n an eco· friendly m a n n e r and with t he active
p a rt i c i pati o n of the private sector and the l oc al host commu n i t i e s . The a i m i s to develop
tou ri s m a s a major sou rce of e m p l oyment a n d i ncome and reven u e gen e ration so that it
becomes a pivot of the econo m i c and soc i a l deve l o p me n t in the State. In fact, becau se of
t h i s forwa rd l oo k i n g a n d pragmatic tou rism poli cy, the state h a s won the N at i o n a l Tou r i s m
Award f o r Best Practices.
Q. You menti oned eco-tour i s m . In a H i m a l ayan State l i ke Uttara n ch a l , i t i s qui te i m portant.
How do you p l a n to promote eco-tourism?
A. Eco tourism is at the heart of Uttara n c h a l ' s tourism pol i cy. The ecology of the H i m a l ayas
i s fra g i l e a nd h a s to be p reserved a n d Uttara nc h al , w h i c h i s blessed with nature ' s bounty,
p l a n s to go a head kee p i n g t h i s i n m i n d . We p l a n to i nvolve private sector i n furtheri n g our
cause. As far a s eco-tourism i s concerned , one of our focus a reas i s golf, a part from trekki ng,
nature wal ks, etc. Golf has big potenti a l to not only to attract tourists i nternat iona l ly in a big
way but a lso to develop a region, at the s a me t i me kee p i n g it gree n . Golf combines ecology·
friendly p ractices with leisure. The state thus, with private sector participation , i s embarki ng
o n an environ ment a l ly-s u st ai na ble and fi nancia l l y fea s i b l e p l a n . We a re p l a n n i ng to open a
n u mber of golf courses i n various parts of the state, i n addition to the exi st i n g ones. One
such i n it i ative i s bei ng t a ke n near Kas h i p u r where requ i site l a nd is bei ng converted i nto a n
1 8·hole golf course. Not only wi l l i t keep the a rea green but w i l l a l so provide a n economic a n d
social i mpet u s to the region.
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Q. I n what way?
A. A golf cou rse cannot come up in i solation. A n um ber of facil ities have to be t here to m a ke
i t via bl e. A m a rket h a s to be deve loped i n terms of tou rist attracti o n s a n d tou rist tra ffi c .
O n l y the n , t h e people wi l l come there. I f t h e peo p l e a re comi ng, a n i nfrastructu re has t o be
d evel oped to house them a nd cater to t he i r needs. I am t a l ki ng i n terms of fa c i l ities l i ke
connectivity, accommodation, a pa rt from physica l a nd social infrastructure. A l l this mea ns
work for the people a n d i n c rease in fac i l i ties for the region too. A lso, l ocal a ctors will be kept
i n m i nd w h i l e d o i n g t h i s activity. We w i l l t a ke i m me n se c a re i n see i ng to it that a ny s u c h
fac i l ity i s i n t u n e w i t h ecolog i c a l b a la n c e so a s the i mpact o f the a ctivities i s positive a l l
through.
Q. I n what kind of places a re you p l a n n i ng such golf courses?
A. Wel l , the places w i l l be chosen keep i ng in m i nd the existing i nfrastructure services, such
a s surface, a n d local tra n sportation , sa n i tation , med i c a l facil ities, power, water supply and
telecom mu nication. The executors of the p roject will a l so be expected to suggest meas u res
for improvi ng the i r efficiency a nd adequacy with reference to the project. Also, we will a scertai n
a n d suggest l i n kages with rel evant tourist c i rcuits i n t h e regi on .
Q. What a re the para meters defi ned by the government for these p rojects?
A. It is necessa ry that those touris m i nfrastructure fac i lities requi red a round the identified
l a nd a re p resent for the project to be s u ccessfu l . These wou l d i nc l ude a s pects l i ke m u l t i ·
modal access, wayside a menities, a r t and culture·related i nfrastructure, telecommunications,
e lectricity, package tour operations a nd guide services. etc. A lso, in each area , the potenti a l
v i s i tor segments vis·a ·vis t ou ri s m resou rces o f the ide ntified l a nd a nd tourist a rriva l s a t
nea rby tou rist desti nations w i l l b e a n a lysed , a n d t h e p roject executor wi l l h ave t o suggest
strategy for multinational marketing to a ttract domestic and foreign tourists.
(Tou rism · Ha rnessing economic & soc i a l development i n Uttara nchal , FE. B, 1 6 . 0 5 .05, S20)
The Utta ranchal Tourism Development Board is target i ng the south a n d west to drive domestic tourism. On
the i n ternation a l fro nt, the foc u s is on a rriva l s from Germa ny. the UK a n d Fra nce.
Mr Arun Sriva stava , D i rector ( M arket i ng and P u b l icity), Utt a ra nchal Tourism Development Boa rd , said that
the i nfra struct u re faci l ities, parti c u l a rly a i r, ra i l and road connectivity a re bei n g developed . A study o n the
feasi bi l i ty of a mounta i n a i rl i ne i s being u ndertake n , he said. This a i rl i ne will connect the H i m a l ayan states of
Jammu a nd Kas h m i r, H i machal Pradesh a n d Uttara nc ha l . A i r Decca n has started d a i ly fl ights between Del hi
a nd Dehra d u n . H e said that Pa ntnaga r, a n other key town i n the Ku maon d i strict, wou l d be connected by A i r
Decc a n to New D e l h i by the yea r·end . T h e w o r k on the deve l opment of three more a i rstri ps at N a i n i Sa i n i ,
Guacher a n d C h i nya lisaur i s o n . ( Utta ra nchal tourism targets South , B L. C , 30.07. 0 5 , S20)
Bihar
Enthused with the new set u p under Governor Buta Si ngh the B i h a r State Tourism Development Corporation
(BSTDC) recently signed a n agreement with a Kera l a based Ayurve d i c a nd N a t u ropathy treatment centre.
As per the agreement Hea l ing Veda , a renowned n a me in t h i s field w i l l set up two centres, one at Rajgi r a nd
a nother at Bod h Gaya . These two Buddhist p i l gri mage centres d raw the l a rgest n u m ber of touri sts i n B i h a r.
The Ayurvedic treatment centre woul d provide rej uvenati ng massage a n d body purification a nti·stress, beauty
care, a nt i·ageing, spine a n d neck care body a n d mind rel a xation therapies to the foreign a s wel l as domestic
tourists. (A massage from Kera l a to spice up B i h a r tou ri s m , Ama rnath Tewary, T P. D, 1 6.05 . 0 5 , S20)
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J ha rkhand
After the recent s pate of l ooti n g of tourists in J ha rkhand, particul a rly c l ose to Netarhat h i l l resort a n d Betl a
forests, J ha rk h a n d state tou rism d epa rtment a n d state pol i ce have fi n a l ly decided to form a n e l ite force
mea nt exc l u s i ve ly for p rotection of tou ri sts visiting the state.
The s pecia l force woul d be cal l ed State Tou rist Protection Force (STPF) a n d the decision to for m the force has
been ta ken by the pol i ce brass, in princi ple. Efforts are on to give the proposal defi nite shape. Three fam i l i es
from Howrah were l ooted twice consecutive ly by armed miscreants, on their way to N etarhat h i l l resort from
Bet l a forests. The tou rists were robbed of cash, va l u a bles a nd even thei r c l othes. A ban k e m p l oyee a n d h i s
family were l ooted while touring Sita Fal l s a rea , some time back. I n M ay, renowned Bengal i cinema artiste, M s
Rupa Ga ngu ly a n d h e r a ssoc i ates were l ooted by a r m ed m i screants w h i l e retur n i ng from McLuskieganj. A
s e n i o r pol i ce offi cer s a i d that t he e l ite force woul d be given spec i a l tra i n i ng to exert extreme control a n d
wou l d b e sensiti ve t o needs o f "guests of t h e state " . (Spec i a l force for J ha rk h a n d tourists, D i pa n k a r Bose,
T S . D, 23. 1 0 .0 5 , S20)
Haryana
The H a rya na Government has constituted a six-member committee to work out the modal ities of setti ng u p
ways i d e modern u t i l ity services a l ong t h e h ighways, s o a s t o faci l itate those either vis i t i n g t h e State or
passing through it. I t was decided that the wayside util ity services woul d i nclude petrol pumps, rest rooms ,
e a t i n g joints, cyber cafe a n d S T D booths. ( H a ryan a wayside servi ces p l a n , B L . B, 0 5 . 05 . 0 5 , S20)
Twenty farmhouses i n Haryana (most of them l ocated i n the vicinity of Delhi) are offering a taste of the bucolic
l ife to city bre d . The recreation p a c k a ge i n c l u de s p a storal a ctivities l i ke catt l e feed i ng , pottery c la sses,
m u l c h i ng, fol k d ances, p u p pet shows, rides in tractors a n d bul l ock carts. A tourist who i s keen on getting an
ethnic experience, however, need not compro m i se on a ny of the modem amenities. The rooms and cottages,
which a re ava i l a ble at a round Rs 2 ,000 per couple per day, a re e q u i p ped with a l l fac i l ities. The idea , w h i c h
w a s i nitiated a bout two yea rs ago, i s fi n d i ng more a nd more takers. A l l t h e twenty fa rm-houses a re privately­
owned and as per a senior tourism officia l , the gover nment's job is "only that of a fac i litator". Not only a re the
fa r m s d o i n g we l l for t h e m se l ves, but t h ey a re a l so p rovi d i n g e m p l oyment opport u n ities to people i n the
surroun d i ng v i l l a ges. More a n d more states a re trying to rep l i cate the success. ( Howzzat! Fa rmhouse tourism
from Ha rya na , D i n ke r Vashisht & Rah u l Kum a r, FE.C, 2 1 .05.05, S20)
The Cha i r m a n of the I n d i a n N ationa l Trust for Art and Cultura l Heritage ( I ntach), Mr S . K . M i s hra, prai sed the
H a ry a n a Gove r n me nt for s h ow i n g keen i nterest i n h o l d i ng heritage festiva l s i n the State on the l i ne s of
neighbour i n g P unja b. " I t was the s u ccess of the heritage festiva l s at Amrits a r, Ka purt h a l a a n d Pat i a l a that
H a rya na Govern ment has responded i n a positive m a n ners to i n itiate s i m i l a r festival s i n the State too," M r
M i s h ra s a i d . H e s a i d a festiva l coul d b e held either a t Pi njore o r a t Surajga r h , a d d i n g the heritage festiva l s
bei ng held i n P u nj a b had given a fil l i p t o the cultura l i nfrastruct u re a nd a l so helped i n p romotion of tourism.
( H a rya na keen on heritage fa i rs , B L . B, 1 7 . 02 .06, S20 / D l l )
Punjab
While U nion M i n i stry for Civil Aviation is engaged in prepa ring a blue-print to put the State on the i nternation a l
fl ights c i rcuit, t h e P u njab governme nt i s a l l set t o chal k out a roa d m a p t o boost rel i gious tou rism keepi ng i n
view the tremendous potenti a l within its bou n d a ries a s wel l i n the neighbouri ng states, which h a s remai ned
u nt a p ped so fa r. P u nj a b C h i ef M i n i ster A m a ri nd e r S i ng h s a i d that the state gover n me nt was seriously
contemplating to develop rel igious tour i s m c i rcuit of Sikh s h r i nes, connect i n g Anandpur Sahib, Cha m ka u r
S a h i b, Fatehgarh S a h i b, Takht S r i D a md a m a Sa h i b with t h e holy H a r m a n d i r S a h i b at A m ritsar. T h i s wou l d
enable the devotees, especia l ly those from abroad to underta ke the i r pilgrimage without wasting ti me, money
a nd energy. The Chief M i n i ster said that t hough Punjab cou l d not compete with its neigh bouring H i machal
P radesh a nd Raja stha n to offer o pportu nities i n leisure tourism, the state was exploring ways a n d mea n s to
p ro mote l ei su re tou ris m , t h rough t he pu bli c·private partners h i ps . ( P u nj a b G ovt a l l set to boost rel igious
touris m , Sara bjit Pandher, T H . D, 16.05.05, S20 / D20e)
Whi l e the U n i o n M i n i stry for Tour i s m has given its consent to projects worth Rs. 23 crore submitted by the
P u nj a b gove r n m e n t for d eve l op me n t of tourist desti n a t i o n s and rel igious c i rc u i t s , the state's Tou ris m
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depa rtment h a s deci ded to orga n i se a conc lave i n the secon d week of Apri l . A m bika Soni w a s q uoted a s
d i rect i ng her e m ph a s i s that i n view of the i n creas i n g t ra ff i c a t Raja Sa n si Ai rport a n d Wag a h Bord e r i n
Amritsa r, specia l focus o n development of these sites be a rticulated through esta bl ishing a Wagah development
a uthority, which was u nder active consideration in the Government of I nd i a .
T h e ma i n poi nts a n d agenda f o r t h i s u n i q u e meeti ng, a i med at promot i ng i n te rstate co·ope ration , wou l d
i nclude tax structure, l evies on tourist transport vehicles, existi ng c i rcuits, desti nations, viability of i nterstate
c i rcuits, joint overseas marketi ng a n d fund i ng, N R I partic i pation in local projects, role of p rivate a n d p u b l i c
sectors, publicity a n d s uccess stories from t h e pa rtici patin g states. M r. Kang said that t h e U nion Government
h a s a pp roved a dest i n a tion p roject u n d er which Rs. 5 · c rore each had been earma rked for d evel opment of
A m ri t s a r, Wag a h a n d Pati a l a . U n de r the scheme a l l tou rist spots with i n the r a d i u s of 25 k m s from t h e
d i strict headqu arters woul d be renovated. ( P u nj a b t o organ i se tourism conclave o f Northern States, TH . D,
06.03 .06, S20)
H i machal Pradesh
The P H D Cha m be r of Commerce a n d I ndustry has suggested that the H i m achal Government shoul d i ncrease
its budgeta ry a l l ocation for tourism promot i o n from the c u rrent Rs. 5 . 1 5 crores. The C h a m be r h a s a l so
proposed that the State Government should set u p a Com m ittee to monitor ground l evel i m pl ementation of
poli cy dec i sions taken for tou rism development. The Committee should function i n a ti me·bound manner and
should be empowered to take major d ecisions.
Need for better a i r l i n k: In order to i nc re as e t h e n u mber of i nternationa l tou rists to t he State, P H DC C I
s pokesman Yashwinder Dogra has urged that terminal a n d ground support facilities b e u pgraded t o i nternational
sta n d a rd s a t S h i m l a , K u l l u a nd D h a ra m s h a l a . A l s o , S u n d e r n a g a r be d eve l o pe d a s a major hub for a i r
connectivity, the p ropos a l s for w h i ch a re a l ready u nder con s i de ration of the M i n i stry of Civi l Avi ation.
Focu s on new destinations: There i s an u rgent need to develop a master pia n for tourism in the State focusing
o n u pgradation of exi sting desti nations a n d identification a nd d eve lopment of new desti nations, keepi ng i n
mind that the construction that ta kes p l a ce s ho u l d b e i n tune with the natural environment of the h i l l s .
P H DCCI h a s u rged t h e State Govern ment t o coll aborate with t h e U nion M i n i st ry of Tou r i s m t o i de ntify h igh
tourism potential sites a nd i n itiate a n exercise for developing world·class i nfrastructure i n c l ud i ng cleanli ness,
l i n k roads, a pp roach roads, toilets and p a rking. I nternational l evel signboard s be put up on i mporta nt road s
a nd highways for which fund i n g may b e sought from the U nion M i n istry of Tourism. Hi machal Pradesh shou l d
emul ate the m odel s of A ustria a n d Scotla n d , where the loca l population h a s a major source o f earni ng from
the beauty of their mou nta i n s a n d envi ronment, it further suggested. (A road m a p for fa ster deve l opment of
tourism i n H i ma cha l Pradesh, T H . D, 03.05. 05 , S20)
I ndia's l a rgest tourism project, which enta i l s an investment of $500 m i ll i on a nd fina nced by the great grandson
of Henry Ford is off the blocks. The H i machal Pradesh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with the H i m a l ayan Ski Vi l la ge ( H SV) Compa ny with H SV sayi ng the ski vi l lage i n the D h a u l a d h a r mounta i n
ra nges a bove M a n a l i woul d open business i n three yea rs. H SV is hoping that a l l permissions requ i red woul d
be sett l ed b y the e n d o f 2005 . T h e p roject's fi rst p h a s e i nvolves a $ 1 55 m i l l ion i nvestment, i n w h i c h t h e
v i l l age a nd s ki i ng fac i l ities w o u l d b e completed with 250 hotel rooms a n d ski· l ift equ i pment. I n the second
p ha se, 350 more hotel rooms a n d additional v i l l a s wou l d be added. The vi l l a ge w i l l be situated at a n a ltitude
of 9 , 200 feet, a bout 3000 feet a bove Shuru vi l la ge, which i s 3 k i lometres from M a n a l i . ( H i ma ch a l ski project
off the b l ocks, I E. D, 28. 1 0.05, S20)
At the heart of the conf l i ct is a $ 1 50 m i l lion H i ma l ayan S ki Vi l l a ge ( HSV), slated to come up on the outs k i rts
of S h u ru and P ri n i , two vil lages in Ma na l i . The resort has pitted the loca l oracles against the maverick I skcon
devotee. Representatives of nearly 300 Kul l u deities will congregate for a "Badi Jagati Puch (grand convention)'
to decide the fate of the $300 · m i ll o n venture. The ski b l i zzard has been ragi ng for a l most two months now
ever s i n ce the d ea l was i n ked. H SV dema nded water rights f rom the strea m s a n d gra z i n g l a n d , w h i c h the
vil l a gers resisted . Other contentious i ssues i nclude e nviron mental degradation fel l i ng and fears that use of
chemi c a l s to p reserve snow o n the s lo pes for longer period cou l d be haza rdous . The resort, which Ford has
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promised w i l l give Swiss destinations a run for thei r money, wi l l be spread a c ross 1 00 a c res. (Gods to decide
ski resort fate, Raveena A u l a kh , HT. D, 1 6 . 02 . 06, S20/ H 1 2)
The "gods" have spoke n . Alfred Ford ca nnot ma ke h i s $500-mi l l ion H i m a l aya n Ski Vil lage.
Devis a nd devtas of Kul l u va l ley gathered to pass a judgment on Ford and h i s a m bitious plans for a ski resort
i n t h i s sce n i c region. And they were clearly not i m p ressed with either the Ford scion's gra nd venture or h i s
fra ntic cla i ms of being a H i nd u . Ever si nce Ford a n nounced h i s project for t h e a rea, propel led adequately by
l oc a l politi c i a n s, the region has been ravaged by a fierce debate that has pitted profit a ga i n st piety.
' I n the jagati (congregation of gods), we had i nvited the va rious devt a s a n d devis of the val l ey. Over 90% of
the a bout 1 7 5 deities who had come here were a ga i n st the proposed s k i vi l l a ge , " Si ngh said triu m p h a n tly.
Si ngh further remarked, "The gods of the region have given their view. There is no platform above the jagati
a n d a t l ea st at the rel i gi o u s l evel the verd i ct is fi na l . " G o i n g a step further, Si ngh s a i d that "eac h of the
deities" had been spoken to and the view on the p roject bei n g i n i m ic a l to the i n te rest of the peo p l e was
u n a n i m ou s . The deities a p p a rently a l so said they wou l d l eave the p l a ce a nd the peo p l e w i l l have to l ive
without their blessi ngs if the go-a head was given for the ski p l a n . The jagati was cal l ed after a gap of 36 years,
the l a st bei ng h e l d i n 1 970 when the va l l ey was h i t by a fa mi ne. J agatis a re held o n l y to decide i n c a se of
exceptional situations. (Ku l l u 'gods' veto Ford's $500·mi l l ion ski vil la ge p l a n , Jagadis h B hat, TOL D, 1 7.02.06,
S20 I H 1 2)
A n a cute w a te r c r i s i s i s l i ke l y to grip S h i m l a i n the months to come. For the fi rst t i me i n the h i story of the
tow n , t here w a s n o s nowfa l l d u ri n g wi nter. There were n o ra i n s a s wel l . After long dry spel l , the ca p i t a l of
H i ma c h a l Pradesh seem s to be hea d i n g tow a rd s a major d r i n k i n g water c r i s i s . A l l t h e major sou rces of
d r i n ki n g water a re a l ready on the verge of dryi ng u p . The i mpact of thi s h a s a l ready bee n fel t on the water
s u pply to some of the a reas of S h i m l a . These a reas receive water for j u st t h ree or sometimes fou r days a
week. Thi s i s just the month of Februa ry a n d there i s concern a s to what wou l d ha ppen i n peak su mmers.
(Sh i ml a to face a cute water cri sis, J a i Sood , T P. D, 24.02.06, S20)
Shopping m a l l s a re to soon come up at two popu l a r halting spots on the busy Ka l ka-Shimla national highway
a nd l ater at other pl aces a long the h ighways run n i ng through H i machal Prades h . P i l l a rs wi l l be raised on both
sides of the winding h i ghway a n d the double-storied structures wi l l come up a bove the road . They w i l l have a
shopping compl ex , restaurant a n d bar, a mo n g other fac i l ities for t rave l l ers . ( Ma l ls set to l u re trave l l ers to
H i machal highway, Bal dev Cha u h a n , AA.D, 1 0 .03.06, S20)
Madhya Pradesh
A cont roversy seem s to be brewi ng between the Archaeol ogi cal Society of I nd i a (AS I ) a n d the M a d hya
Prades h government over the systematic envi ron menta l d amage bei n g done to t he 2 , 300-year-old Buddh i st
stupa at Sanchi ( Ra i sen), a 90 m i n ute d rive from the state capita l . The world heritage site i s freq uented by
thou sands of foreign touri sts, m a i n l y Budd hi sts, rou nd the yea r. State government offi ci a l s com p l a i n that
g l a r i n g c ra c ks h ave a p pea red a t t h e base of the stupa d u e to the rava ges of weather over the decades.
Much of this has been the resu lt of lea kage of ra i n water i nto the i n n ard s of the monument. The need for
i m mediate measures to arrest the deterioration has been made i n an offici a l report submitted by the col lector
of Raisen. The Archaeologica l Society of I nd i a , u nfortunately, has chosen to make l ight of the matter on the
plea that the state gove r n ment had n o busi ness to m a ke their findi ngs p u b l i c without first d iscussi ng it with
t h e m . The col lector's fi ndi ngs, t hey c l a i m , is a g ross exaggerat i o n . I n rea l ity, t he re is no ca u se for a l a r m .
(Sanchi stu p a base cracks, S u d h i r K Singh, AA . D, 30.09.05, S20 I D20d)
Chhattisga rh
Unable to check " i ntrusi on " by tuskers i nto its territory from a djoi n i ng J harkhand State, the C h h atti sgarh
Govern ment p l a n s to make a n "elephant homela nd" i n its forest areas for the migrants who have crossed over
here i n search of food a nd a l so d ri n ki ng water. These elepha nts have wrecked havoc i n many parts of the
State. Over hundred migrant elephants have unleashed terror by destroying houses and crops i n many areas
of Jaspur, S a rguja a nd Korba d i stricts of C hhattisga rh. M i n i n g a n d fel l i ng of t rees i n forests has forced the
2005-06
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elepha nts to move to other a reas for food. And i n their search, t hey enter even the res i dentia l a reas, destroy
mud houses, c rops a n d even someti mes pose threat to people's l ife.
The l oca l a d m i n i stration often l a unches awareness d rives to educa te the people on how they cou l d p rotect
themselve s from the e l e p h a nts. Bes i d e s , the vi l l agers c h a se away the tuskers by showi ng torch l ight a n d
bea t i ng of d rums. People a re told t o watch elephant's movement, a rra nge bonfire a nd bu rst fire crackers to
keep them away.
The a d m i n i stration has to pay compensation to the people whose property gets destroyed by the tuskers.
Authorities earlier requested J harkhand forest offici a l s to make a rra ngements for the retu rn of t hese tuskers.
Now the Chhatt i sga rh Govern ment wants to m a ke elephant homeland for find i ng a perma nent solution to the
p rob lem. The State Government had, earl ier this yea r, written to the Centra l Government in t h i s regard. But,
the offi cials of the Centra l Gove r n ment tu rned down the proposal saying that the migration of elepha nts was
for a short time and therefore the p roposal for the homela n d was not pra ctica l . The State Government i s aga i n
goi ng to t a ke u p the i ssue w i t h the Centre with some modification i n the p ropos a l . ( C h h a tt i sga rh p l a n s
elephant homel a n d , S hiva n a n d S h u k l a , T P. D, 28.09.05, S20)
The Chhattisga rh Govern ment woul d shortly a n nounce its new tourism policy, giving huge i ncentives to i nvestors
that wi l l i nc l u d e com p l ete waive r of sta m p d uty on p u rc h a se of l a nd a n d sales tax, besides wa iver of State
levies, said M r Brij Mohan Agarw a l , M i n i ster of Tou rism.
He said the State's tourism boa rd woul d c reate huge land banks a n d a l l ocate l a nd to i nvestors propos i ng to
come to C h h a tt i sg a r h on conces s i o n a l rates that a tt ract zero sta mp d uty. The l a n d b a n ks W i l l come i nto
c reation in the next 5·6 months as the State has received propos a l from va rious segments of i nd u stries to
the t u n e of Rs 40 ,000 c rore . (Ch h a tt i sga rh to a n nou nce tax wa iver to promote tou ri s m . B L . B, 1 0 .02 . 06 ,
S20)
521 J a m m u & Kash m i r
Tourism i n Kas hm i r, which i s on the path of reviva l , i s set t o get a boost. The Jammu a n d Kashm i r Cable C a r
Corpora t i o n (J KCCC) i s m a k i n g t he second p h a se of the ' G u l m a rg G o n d o l a ' operati on a l , t a k i ng i t to the
heights of the Afarwat peak . The second phase from Ka ngdoori to Afarwat ca me u p in record time. The State
Government is hopi ng to attract skiers a n d a dventure tour i sts from a round the world . The 2 . 5 - km ropeway i s
complete a n d the tri a l s a re t h rough . I t wi l l connect the bow l-sha ped Kongdoori Va l l ey w i t h t h e 4,390- metre
Afarwat.
Joint vent u re : The G u l m a rg Gondola , as the ropeway p roject is know n , is a joint venture between the State
Government a n d a French company, Poma G l a s k i . Engi n ee rs from the State a n d the compa ny h ave been
working i n h uge d rifts of snow to e rect towers a n d lay cables i n the a rea close to the Li ne of Contro l . The so­
far deserted a rea overlooks Pak i stan Occup i ed Kas hm i r. The French com pa ny built the only other cable car i n
Kas h m i r, con necti ng t h e G u l m a rg s k i resort t o Kongdoori at a height o f 3 ,930 m . Work o n the G u l m a rg
system was delayed by more than eight years after it was abandoned i n 1 990 by French tech n i c i a n s when
two enginee rs were briefly abd ucted by m i l itants. It was completed in 1 998. The Afarwat project, due to be
com pleted l a st yea r, was delayed owi ng to bad weather. (The G u l marg Gondola a l oft, Shujaat Bukhari , BL.C,
0 1 . 04. 0 5 , S2 1 )
O n the shores of picturesque Dal Lake, a host of i ntellectu a l s , bureaucrats and poli cy-makers have converged
to di scuss future of a beautiful but fa r-flung region - Lad a k h . They rel ea sed a vision d ocument ' Ladakh 2025 ' .
The vision document a i m s at d is pe l l i ng confusion and u ncertai nty a mong the Ladakhi people who a re adopting
new l ifestyles, pra ct ices a n d soci a l mores l eavi ng beh i nd the century's old t ra d i ti o n s a n d c u l t u re. J i gm i t
Tha k p a , who h a s a u t ho red the d o c u m e n t a d d s , " N eed o f the h o u r i s to b ri ng a n i m med i a te s t o p to t h e
shocki ng deteri oration o f or r i c h herita ge b y deve l o p i n g a n a p p ropri ate s e t of p reventive mea s u re s . " The
ra p i d decl i ne of n a t u ra l resou rces such as water is a nother c a u s e for concern for La d a k h i i nt e l l i ge n tsia .
' Pol lution, scarcity of natura l resources i s becomi ng common, even certai n i nd igenous species of p l a nts and
a n i ma l s a re a t t h e verge of exti ncti o n , " Thakpa sa i d . (Vi sion 2025: A Lad a k h road m a p, Khu rsheed Wa n i ,
T P. D, 1 0. 0 5 . 0 5 , S2 1 )
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" I w i l l cont i n u e to l ive on water ti l l I d i e , " says Mohammad Altaf (65). Even a s the a uthorities step u p thei r
efforts to reh a b i l itate the peo p l e l iv i ng o n the wor l d ·famous D a l La ke by givi ng them free p l ots of l a n d , the
elders of t h e Hanji commun ity a s sert they will l ive o n l y o n the wate r. The com m u n ity i s fighti ng t h e most
d i ffic u lt battle of its h istory, to save its i denti ty.
The H a n j i s a re one of the most i mportant feature s of state's l ife, a section of peop l e l iving i n boats o n a n d
a round t h e l a kes, streams a n d rivers. They a re a l so found on t h e Wul a r a n d Anchar Lakes a nd t h e J he l u m .
Maxi m u m sta ke: T h e s h ri n ki n g of the D a l L a ke from 20 m i les to a pp roxi mately 1 2 sq k m i n the l ast ha lf·
centu ry has been a c a u s e of conce r n . W h i l e t h i s has attracted much atte n t i o n , not much has been heard
a bout t h i s u n ique comm u n i ty, which has the maximum sta ke i n savi ng the l a ke. M a ny bla med the Hanjis for
pol l u t i n g the l ake a n d a l s o hel d it d i rectly res po n s i ble for the s h r i n ki ng l a ke a re a . The State G ove r n ment
worked o ut a reha b i l itation p l a n , which i s expected to hel p save the l a ke too. Of the 6000 f a m i l i es l i v i ng o n
the D a l , 1 200 have a l re a dy b e e n sh ifted a n d more a re to fol l ow though t hey w a n t to conti n u e w i t h the i r
busi ness l i ke renting houseboats o r plying the s h ikara (tou rist boats). But, for t h e proud H a nj i commun ity,
the displacement from the i r centuries-old habitat i s only the begi n n i ng of the i r troubles. I n the interiors of the
D a l , a compl et e c u lture l i ves and thrive s on the fa mous water body. There a re l a rge· sized houseboats for
fam i l y funct i o n s . There i s eco n o m i c self·sufficiency. For i n sta nce, at Karpura, an i n terior pocket, there a re
float i n g vegetable garden s , w h i c h feed n ot only the enti re H a nj i commu n ity but a l so the cities s i n ce excess
produce i s sol d . The people who grow vegetables, col lect water- nuts, collect wood from water·bodies a re the
much-noticed s h ikara owners. Many consumer goods ca n a l so be bought from the "floating bazaars". Thus, to
a l a rge extent, l ife on the Dal is self·susta i n i ng_
Post· 1 989, the hou seboats have recorded l owest occu p a ncy l eve l s wherea s the hote l s a ro u n d the Dal a re
ful l . The outbreak of turmoil i n the state, most of the hotels were taken on rent by the estates department to
house government employees as the a rea was considered ris k free.
The State Gove r n m e nt's propos a l for a proper sewage system by p rovi d i ng septic t a n ks to toi l ets of the
houseboats fai l ed , a s there was no i n stitutional back u p from the authorities. The system was d isconti nued
because of repeated leaks from the tanks_ Thi s i ncreased pol lution i n the water body by rai si ng the phosphoric
content i n the lake, thereby encouragi ng weed growth . I n recent yea rs , concrete structures to sel l handicrafts
or texti les have been b u i lt a round the l a ke.
Dec l i ni n g tou rism: Even though the commun ity elders a re l ea st enthusiastic about movi ng out, the you nger
lot feel otherwise. The tou rist i ndustry has decl i ned and the years of m i l ita ncy dealt a deathblow to the Hanji
commu nity with fal l i ng tourist i nflow even though the a rea withi n the Dal has been the most peacef u l . I n 2003,
the State Government provided the H a nj i commun ity loan s to re-bui l d the i r tourism-related i nfrastructure. The
i nterest rate was fixed a n d a mount was given a ccord i ng to the category of houseboats or s h i ka ras owned by
the H a nj i community.
The State Government levies a 1 5% tax on the total a mount earned from each tourist who stays for a n ight on
the houseboat This, a ccord i ng to houseboat owners, i s too high considering the tough t imes in recent years.
The expenditure on mai ntenance of houseboats h a s a l s o i nc reased give n the high l eve l s of water pol l ution.
Need for hel p : Eco l ogi c a l c h anges a l so h ave a n i m pact o n t h e c o m m u n i ty. Strong w i nds d u r i n g the fi rst
fortn i ght of Apri l da maged a n u m ber of houseboats. There was l i ttle support from the a uthorities though the
tour i st season was hardly a month away. Commun ity members a lso worry that they may be l eft beh i nd i n
terms of soc i a l a nd human i n d i cators. For i nstance literacy levels, espec i ally a mong women, a re a bysmal ( 1 2
%). A t the moment when a centu ries-old l i festy l e i s t h reatened d u e t o u n pl a n ned u rb a ni s a t i o n , there i s a
need for suitable pol i cy i ntervention to sort out the problems of the commu nity_ Civi l soc i ety a lso needs to
h e l p the c o m m u ni ty save t h e i r cu ltu re a n d a l s o h e l p i t attai n better h u m a n a nd soc i a l i n d i ca tors. (A l a ke
e n da ngered , Luv P u r i , T H . B, 1 5 .0 5 . 0 5 , S2 1 )
Pri me M i n i ster M a n mo h a n Si ngh on h i s first visit to Ladakh after assuming office, c a l l ed for developing the
reg i o n as a new tou r i st h u b of J a m m u a nd Kashm i r. Addres s i n g a funct i o n to ren a me Leh's a i rport after
Kushok B a k u l a R i m poche, a Buddhist monk considered the a rchitect of modern Leh , Si ngh hoped that a i r
con n ecti vity wou ld bring more "tourists, i nvestors a n d schola rs to this remote corner of the wor l d " . The P M
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asserted that Jammu a nd Kashmi r a nd Ladakh would benefit greatly from this modernisation. "Ou r government
i s committed to the modernisation of our i nfrastructure across the l ength and breadth of the vast subconti nent,
S i n g h sa i d , a d d i ng that t h i s wou l d "en s u re that the emot i o n a l a nd economic i ntegrat i o n of t h e coun t ry i s
better e n a b l e d . " H e s a i d t h a t t h e La d a kh region would see better sc hool s , h o s p i ta l s a n d u rb a n fac i l i ties
soo n . Respondi ng to J ammu a n d Kash m i r chief m i n i ster Mufti Moha mmad Sayeed a nd h i s deputy M a ngat
Ram Sharma's demand for more f l i ghts to Ladakh, the PM said that a l l "obstacles" i n the path of connectivity
to this mountain·locked region woul d be removed so that its ful l tourism potenti a l could be exploited . Expansion
of health c a re and education were top priority for t he gove r n ment and Jammu & Ka sh m i r woul d a lso benefit
from thi s . (FM cal l s for m a k i ng Lad a k h a tou ri st hub, TOI . B, 1 1 .06.05, S2 1 )
To showcase Kash m i r a s a safe desti nation for touri sts a l l over the worl d , U n i o n Tou r i s m M i n i ster Ren u ka
Chowdary a nnounced a series of measures. Rs. 40 c rores has been sanct ioned to boost the tourism i n d u stry
a n d reb u i l d the i nfrastructu re i n the State. Apart from Rs. 1 6 crore s given as soft l o a n to houseboat , hotel
a n d horse owners, the Government has sa nctioned Rs. 8 . 58 crores for reva m p i ng the I nstitute of S ki i ng a t
G u l m a rg. A n other Rs . 20 c rore s h a s been earma rked for rural tou ri s m , development a uthorities a n d new
c i rcuits.
The Amarnath Yatra c i rc u i t wou l d be deve loped exc l u sively by the Centre. The other c i rcu its wou l d come at
the banks of J helum and Shivkhodi in Jammu. Stating that the Centre wou ld take u p a comprehensive campaign
throughout the world to p resent Kas h m i r a s "a safe desti nati o n , " (Putting Kas h m i r back on the tourist map,
Shujaat B u khar i , T H . C , 1 1 .0 7 . 0 5 , S2 1 )
A lthough tou ri sts a re stream i ng i n from d i ffere n t parts of the world , the cultura l a n d a ncient s i tes here a re
cry i n g for fu n d s . Ma ny of them a re decay i ng a n d c ru m b l i ng d e s p i te l oc a l efforts. T h e c i ty's cyno s u re, a
crumbled ni ne·storey p a la ce of the 1 6th century that towers over the Leh old q u a rters - i tself poi nts to the
t h re a t faced by s i m i l a r struct u res i n this c o l d desert. There a re new construct i o n s in the tow n , which a re
turni ng i nto tou ri st a ttractions. The Shanti Stupa bui l t by the J a pa nese h a s become the most famous tou rist
attraction; its a rc h i tectu re i s d i fferent from the Ladakhi style. ( L a d a k h monuments cry for ren ova t i o n , Luv
P uri , T H . B, 2 1 .08.0 5 , S2 1 )
A Rs. 298 crore p l a n t o c l ea n u p the Dal l a ke has been c l ea red by the Envi ronment a n d Forests M i n i stry a nd
n ow awaits the U nion Cabi net's n od . The p roject i s the biggest ever l a ke conse rvation p l a n to be taken u p by
the m i ni stry a nd the fi rst major package to boost tourism i n J&K. I t i s to be completed within five years from
the day of commencement. U n l i ke the m i n i s try's other l a ke conservati o n progra m me s where the Centre
provid es 7 0 % of the funds, the Dal l a ke p roject w i l l be ful ly·funded by the Centre. The s h i k a ra s , a n i n tegra l
part of the Dal l a ke, wi l l a l so get a makeover. They wi l l be redesigned, made eco-friendly a n d "a new sanitation
system deve l o ped by I I T· Rourkee w i l l be i nstal led". The project a l so envisages t h e d evelopment of the a rea
a round the l a ke, on the l i nes of river front i mprovement in London and N ew York. (Rs 298 cr for Dal c lean-up,
Chetan Chau ha n , H I D, 03.09.05, S2 1 )
After a ga p of over three yea rs, French hel i -ski i ng expert Syl va i n S a u d a n i s ba ck i n J a m m u a n d Ka s h m i r to
revive the a dventure sport d u ring the comi ng winter. Sources i n tourism department sa i d that M r Saudan i s
worki ng out arra ngements i n consultation with the concerned officials. H e plans to start operations i n February
next year. He a lso met Chief M i n ister M ufti M u ha m mad Sayeed to a pprise h i m of the p l a n to revive heli-ski i ng
that attracted h u nd reds of tourists from E u rope a n d other countries. (Try hel i - s k i i ng i n Val l ey, Yusuf Ja meel ,
A A . D, 24. 1 0 . 0 5 , S2 1 )
The s h i k a ra s may s tay, but D a l L a ke's fa mous f l owers a nd vegetables may soon become a memory. The
showp iece of Sri nagar m ay soon be l i sted among U N ESCO's l i st of world heritage sites i f Water Reso u rces
M i n i ster Saifu d d i n Soz has h is way. But a m ajor hurd l e that could a cq u i re political overtones is the 6,000-odd
fam i l ies who grow vegetables and flowers on the ban ks who w i l l h ave to be rel ocated. P i c k i ng up from where
he left off d u ri ng h i s sti nt a s envi ronment m i n i ster i n 1 99 7 a t c le a n i ng u p a n d conserving the best· known
l a n d m a rk in the Val l ey, Soz s ays rehabi l i tation plans for i nh a b i ta nts on the l a ke have a l so been worked out.
The peop l e h ave a l s o been sounded out a bout evacuating the l a ke and a re not averse to the i d e a , says Soz.
(Saifu d d i n Soz pl a n s to put D a l Lake on U nesco m a p, Mohua Chatterjee, TOI . D, 2 1 .02.06, S2 1 )
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5 30 Western I n d i a
Maharashtra
The 1 8th century Sion Fort has d ivided the p rotectors of herita ge i nto two camps. The Archaeological Survey
of I n d i a (AS I ) is posi ti oned on one s i d e a nd the M umba i Herita ge Conservation Com m i ttee ( M H CC) on the
other. Two years after the M HCC cleared a slum rehabil itation scheme at the foot h i l l s of the Sion Fort, the ASI
is c ryi ng fou l . I t h a s fi n a l ly woken up to the fact that the Sion Fort is a G rade I heritage structu re that needs
to be p rotecte d . Th i s is after two bu i ld i ngs a re a l ready up and rea dy for occ u p a t i on w h i l e a th i rd is u nder
constructi o n . In a rece nt l etter to t h e M H CC, the ASI h a s sought a stay o n t h e construct i o n . The A S I says
that s i nce the fort is a 1 929 n otified heritage mon ument, no construction can be a l l owed with i n 300 metres
of i t . Apart from the bu i ld i ngs, i t has a l so objected to a p ro posed g a rd e n , m u n i c i pa l ma rket and p r i m a ry
sch ool i n the vici n ity of t h e fort.
In 1 999, when the state government, who owns the fort, asked the M H CC for cleara nce for the s l u m project,
the committee a pproved s i nce the fort was a l ready overru n by 30·year·old s l u m s a nd had degenerated i nto
a huge open·ai r toi let. An AS I offi c i a l in charge of the heritage monuments in Mu mbai sai d that the fort had
esca ped attention so fa r beca use M u m b a i was part of the A u ra ngabad c i rc l e. It was o n ly i n December l ast
yea r t h a t M u m ba i , a long with eight oth e r d i st r i ct s i n M a h a ra sh tra , w a s b ifu rcated i nto a new ASI centre.
(Heritage Vs Heritage At Sion Fort; M umbai Heritage Conservation Committee, ASI Clash Over Rehab Scheme,
C l a ra Lewis, TOI . M , 27.04.05, S30 I D20d)
In 1 998, M a h a ra s htra decided to compete with Goa , a celebrated non·corporate i nternational tourism bra n d
a s i t was felt t h a t t h e l atter wa s u n a b l e t o effectively ma nage t h e huge i nflow o f tou rist a rrivals. Mahara shtra
strategy was to l ook at its own coastal Konkan d i strict of S i n d h ud urg, j u st north of Goa. I t was just l i ke Goa
picturesque, abounded in clean beaches, where , because of phosphorescence, waves glow on a ful l moon
n ight, a n d provided a sense of t ra n q u i l l ity. So, w hy has S i n d h u d u rg, which was offi c ia l ly given the "Tourism
Only" statu s (ba n n i ng a ny other activity) remai ned starved of money·spi n n i ng tou rism? Why d oes it continue
t o be b a c kw a rd with a per ca p i ta i n come of u n d e r Rs. 3 , 000? ( Even this economy i s sustai ned by m oney
orders from its migra nts work i ng in Mumba i .) Also why a re tour i sm fac i l ities vi rtua l ly frozen at the p re· 1 988
l evel s? Goa, on the othe r h a n d , cont i n ues with its tourist a rriva l s of two m i l lion per yea r, h igher t h a n the l oca l
popu l ation of 1 .24 m i ll io n .
N a raya n R a n e , who h a i led from S i n d hu d u rg a nd aware o f its true touri s m potenti a l w h e n he beca me C h i ef
M i ni ster i n 1 988, for m u lated t he pol icy, but it was n ot i mplemented by the next Government with the vigou r
i t deserved.
But t h i ngs could be l ooki ng u p soon as t h i s "Tourism Only" pol icy will be given a boost, accordi ng to M i n i ster
of State for Tou rism, Suresh Shetty. A ' new tourism pol icy on the a nvil wou l d i ntensify work on a l l fronts' and
'the l ost opportunities rega i ned ' . The ' Deccan Odyssey' is bei ng better ma rketed i nternation a l ly so that the
Konkan gets more attention.
Obstacles: Lack of movement on t he tourism poli cy a nd stri ngent coasta l zone regulations (CRZ) h ave kept
away l ea d i ng five·star hotel groups. I n fact they have opted out of p l a n s i n spite of d epositi ng Rs. 2 c rores for
t he 60 to 80 a c re sea s i d e plots i n S h i roda , M i d bav a n d Mochemad v i l l a ges for t h e i r resorts. Offi c i a l s a re
behi n d t he m to revive t h e i r p l a n s but CRZ l aws a re a barrier.
A n a i rport near Parole h a s rem a i ned a n o n · starte r a n d so h a s a s u b s i d ia ry to t h e M a h a ra sh t ra Tou ri s m
Development Corporation (MTDC) t o focus o n Sindhudurg. N ow, only a desultory committee with t he col lector
overlooks l ocal perspectives. w h i c h d oes n ot a mo u n t to m u c h . B u t some loca l efforts a re o n , o n e bei n g a
touri sm co·operative which p rovides beds i n tents a n d lately, a "bed a n d brea kfa st" scheme i n l oca l h omes.
Another is a "Backwaters Festiva l " to popu l a ri se t h ree c reeks as backwaters. I ntere st i n gly, pol i t i c i a n s ru n
both.
In 1 999, an interesti ng experiment was k icked off. Busload s of people were taken to Si n d h udu rg a n d people
asked to host them. The idea was to help them u nderstand the huge potential of tourism, w h i ch can create at
least two l a k h jobs. Soon enough, some 80 households reg i stered t hemselves as hosts to offer i nexpensive
bed s a n d c l e a n toi l et s to visitors on a regu l a r b a s i s, but then a problem emerged . They were a sked to pay
2 0 05 - 0 6
I
Documentation Update
I
"commercia l " rates for e l ectricity consumed, i n stead of the cheaper d omestic ta riff, which ended u p d i l uti ng
the hosts' enth u s i a s m . S ixteen pai rs of tra i n s on the Kon k a n Rai lway, s n a k i ng through the region have not
significantly boosted tourist a rriva l s as the i nfrastructure/faci l ities a re i nadequate. Hopeful loca l s who i nvested
i n t h e ra i lways' bon d s a n d p arted with l a n d to m a ke the ra i lway pos s i ble now a cknowledge that expected
growth has n ot come in its wake. (Whither S i n d h u d u rg? Mahesh Vija purkar, T H . B, 29.05.05, S 30)
The Maharashtra Tou rism Development Corporation (MTDC) has come up with some exciti ng offers a i med at
corporate under the Deposit Scheme package. Any organization that ties u p with MTDC can ava i l of d iscounts
o n a l l MTDC properties. E m p l oyees c a n c hoose from a ra nge of desti n at i o n s - t h e p r i s t i n e beaches of
Tarka rli , G a n patipule a n d H a rl ha reshwar o r heritage s i tes such a s Aja nt a , El l o ra , Kar l a a n d Lon a r crater Or
sanctuaries such a s Pench a n d Tad o ba to forts at Ratnagiri a n d S i n d h u d u rg. ( It's rai n i ng packages, T H . C,
24.09.05, S30)
Attem pts by an advert i s i ng Company to d e l i st M a ha laxmi p reci ncts in Mumba i from the l i st of heritage sites
fa i l e d as the S u p reme Court has ruled that there could not be a ny doubt that It fal l s i n the gra d e· 1 I 1 heritage
site classification, pro h i biting erection of a ny hoa rd i ng there.
Despite anomalies i n the l i st prepared by the Maharashtra government a Bench compri s i ng Justice Ruma Pal
a n d J ustice AR La k s h m a n a n s a i d on October 2 1 that " M a h a l ax m i preci ncts is i nd ee d a l isted heritage
p rec i n ct . " Th i s ord e r was passed by the Bench w h i le d i sm i s s i ng a pet i t i o n fi l ed by M a s s Hol d i ngs Pvt Ltd
cha l le nging a Bombay H igh Court order a l l owi ng M u n i ci pa l Corporation of G reater M u mb a i to remove its
hoard i ng from the a rea . However, after the pronouncement of the order, cou nsel for the a ppel l a n t mentioned
before the Court that i t has a pproached M a h a rashtra Heritage Conservation Com m i ttee (MHCC), which has
agreed to consider its representation to obtai n a ' no objection certificate to the i r hoa rd i ng' . (SC: M a ha l axmi
preci ncts a herita ge s ite, D h a n a nj ay Maha patra , TOI . D, 26. 1 0.05, S30 / D20d)
Maharashtra Tou ri s m Development Corporation ( MTDC) started its services of the open·deck tourism buses
l ast week. The bus takes tou ri sts through M u m ba i in the calm of night. The a dva ntage is that M u m ba i 's busy
busin ess districts through which the bus w i n d s i ts way a re empty d u r i ng the eve n ing. The two open·decked
buses, N i la m ba ri a nd Vi bhava r i , have attracted the i nterest of not j ust i nternational but a l so domestic tourists
who q ueue u p to watch some of the popu l a r heritage p l aces. ( N ightseei ng i n M u m b a i ; MTDC's open-deck
buses take tou ri sts a round M u mba i , Sulekha N a i r, FE.C, 1 3 . 1 2 . 0 5 , S30)
The restoration of Ajanta and Ellora i s bei ng funded jointly by the J a pa nese Ban k for I nternational Cooperation
(J B I C ) a n d the government of Ma hara s htra . "The J a pa ne se B a n k has p rovided a soft loa n of Rs 81 crore i n
the fi rst phase of the Aja nta E l l ora project a n d R s 300 crore i n the second phase," says A bhay Yaval ka r, joint
MD, M a h a rashtra Tou ri s m Develop ment Corporation. Besides caves in and around Aura ngabad, the B a n k i s
a lso fu n d i ng a n i rrigation project i n B h a nda rd h a ra a n d Elepanta Caves i n M u m b a i , e t a l . ( Breathi n g l ife i nto
frescoes, FE. D, 1 9.02.06, S30 / D20d)
There seems to be a rush of hea lthcare provid ers flocki ng to M u m b a i to set u p s u pe r· s pecia lity hospita l s .
Work has sta rted o n a 1 ,000-bed multi·spec i a lity hospita l l ocated close to the S a h a r I nternational A irport o n
the outer fri nges of Mumba i . The estimated Ps 360 crore hospita l i s com i n g u p on the BMC's ( B rihanmumba i
M u n i c i pa l Corporation) u nfi nished c an cer project bei ng developed by the Vizag based Seven H i l l s Hea lthca re
Ltd. The hospita l i s schedu l ed to be completed by l ate 200 7 . O n ly l a st month, the A p ol l o Hospita l s G roup
com m i tted Rs 400 c rore tow a rd s esta b l i s h i n g two tertia ry hospita l s . A p roposed hea rt hospita l , t h e pet
project of cardiac surgeon late D r N itu Mandke and currently under the aegis of Mr Ani! Amba n i was schedu led
to be completed t h i s yea r. With a three- a n d-a-half yea r-old hosp ital i n M u m ba i , Wockhardt Hospital s G roup
i s a lso looking for a n opportunity to set u p its second hospital in the city. (For hospital groups, it's Desti nation
M u m b a i , P T Jyothi Datta , B L.B, 2 1 .03.06, S30 / D20f)
Rajasthan
Rajasthan has called up on the Centre to sa nction at the earliest proposals worth Rs. 60 c rores for l a u nching
tourism projects d u ri n g 05-06 to e n a ble the State Government to take u p the works at the begi n n i ng of the
yea r. The projects i nclude renovation of places of tou rist i nterest a n d extension of 1 2 a i rstri ps. The M i ni ster
I Documentation Update I
2 0 05 - 0 6
of State for Tou r i s m , U sh a P u n i a , w h i l e ra i s i ng t h e d e m a n d a t a revi ew meet i ng. (Centre a s ke d to c l ea r
propos a l s, T H . D, 08.05.05, S30)
The N C R P l a n n i ng Boa rd w i l l soon be setting up its first class townsh i p in the region. It w i l l be devel o ped at
Neemra na i n Rajastha n , 1 1 0 km west of Delh i , on the N eemrana·Shahjaha nabad highway. Member Secretary
of the hoard Dr P.K. M i shra says that the Neemra na Township is a p i l ot project to kick·start the board's move
to d evel o p a t l ea st one world c l a ss town i n each of the constituent states. 'The b a s i c i de a s beh i n d the
project i s to try a n d ease the population a n d econom i c pressure on Del hi a n d d i s pe rse it to the neighbouri ng
states, " says D r M i sh ra .
Rajastha n was the first state to come u p with a p roject recommendation a n d has even identified the s ite while
H a rya n a and UP w i l l be next in l i n e. N ee m ra n a was the c h o i ce because it is o n the h i ghway a nd has easy
access. (Neemra n a town wi l l ease capital burden, Esha Roy, I E. D, 2 1 .05.05, S30)
There h a s a l ways been a c u r i o u s i ne r t i a on the pa r t of the Va s u n d h a ra Raje gove r n ment when it came to
a d d ressing the i ssue of Sati with the rigo u r that the law demanded . Whether t h i s was prompted by pol itica l
expediency or the persona l bel ief of its Chief M i n i ster i s difficult to say. I n J a n uary 2004, when a l ower court
acqu i tted a l l the a cc u sed for glorifyi n g the Roop Kanwar Sati i n 1 987 , the state government was expected to
cha l I e nge the verdi ct. I t responded with s i l e nce. More recently, the J a i p u r Development Autho�ity actu a l ly
named a new tow n s h i p a s Shree Rani Sati N aga r, right under the nose of the government. N obody i n Jaipur's
c o r r i dors of power d i scerned a nyt h i n g a mi s s . N ow comes the b ra i nwave from the Rajastha n Tou ri s m
Deve l o pment Authority a ppare ntly with the ful l e ncouragement of the state's tourism m i n i stry of packa gi ng
Rajasthan's Sati s ites as tou rist desti nations. The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1 987, is unambiguous
i n recogn i s i ng a s a c r i m e not just Sat i , but the glorifi cation of i t. It b a n s "the s u p porti ng, j ustify i ng o r
propagati ng" of t h e practi ce of S a t i " i n a ny m a n ner". Aga i nst t h i s legal backdro p, you have a publ ication
b rought out by a Raj a st h a n state govern ment a u t hority gus h i ng: "There is not a spot in the state where
women had not committed Sati" . This actually amounts to the state·sponsored promotion of the cult. (Incredible
Raj a st h a n , Packaging Sati sites as tou rist s pots a mounts to s tate's ponsored promot i o n of the c u l t , I E. D,
0 1 . 06 . 0 5 , S30)
O n A p ri l 1 5 , peop l e l iv i ng near Roopsaga r Lake in U d a i pur were shocked to see bul ldozers ri p p i n g a pa r t its
d ry bed . "When I a s ked the contractor, I was told a 80·feet (about 24 metres) w i d e road was to be carved
out i n t h e peta (be d ) of the l a ke," says Ra m l a l Vai s h nav, ex·cou n c i l l o r of Pa h a d a a re a , where the l a ke is
situated . The news s prea d l i ke w i l d f i re t h rough the a re a . A n i ra te c rowd a ssembled a t the s i te and got the
work stoppe d . "Th i s ta laab is very i m porta nt for u s becau se when there i s water in it, our wel l s a re ful l . If a ny
construct ion takes place here, our hand p u m ps wi l l d ry u p , " says N a resh Vai s h n av, a resident. O n Apri l 1 8,
the res i dents gathe red a ga i n a nd took t o t he streets a nd vowed to stop a ny construction i n Roopsagar. I t
t h e n c a m e t o l ight that construct i o n w a s t a k i ng p l a ce i n a l most every water· body that h a d d ried u p i n
U d a i pur. S i m i l a r to the case of Roopsagar was that of N a i l a tal a a b whose embankment was cut to make way
for a road . B ut what was gla ring about these two inci dents was that not only d i d the 'deve lopment activities'
violate the city's master p l a n but also an order of the Raj a sthan H igh Court (RHC). On August 2 , 2004, RHC
had d i rected the state govern ment to m a ke a p l a n to restore the catchment a reas of a l l the water bodi es i n
Rajasth a n . The d i rections were further passed to a l l the d i stricts.
Why then did the U rban I mprovement Trust ( U IT) of Uda i pu r a l ong with the d i strict a d m i n i strati on proceed
with an a ctivity that ra n contra ry to R HC's directions? "On Apri l 1 6 , I came to know that roads were constructed
i n t h e l ow · l y i n g a rea a n d I ordered for the remova l of wha tever construction was goi ng o n , " says d i st r i ct
magist rate Abhay Kumar, who i s a lso the U I T chai r perso n . He says the roads were bei n g constructed as part
of the Asian Devel opment Bank-funded Vasundh a ra Road Network p roject. But even the master plan doesn ' t
show the l a ke ca n be b u i l t over. Further, this l a n d u se o f the a rea (from l a ke to playg round) a ppears to b e a
recent cha nge i nc l u ded i n the Land Use P l a n 2022. As l ate a s 1 997 , these two were shown as water· bodies.
Why the change? Expla i n s c hief town p l a n ne r H S Sanchet i , "These water·bodi es a re d ry for yea rs and have
no val ue now." But Kum a r hi mself had ordered the i rrigation dep a rtment to restore Roopsaga r unde r the Akal
R a h a t Ka rya (d rought rel ief) s c he me j u st 2 · 3 years a go . The whole affa i r po i n ts to a nexus between t h e
a uthorities a n d builders, says Tej Rajda n of t h e 'Jheel Sanra kshan Samiti ' , a non·governmental organ i sation in
Udaipur.
2 0 05 - 0 6
I Documenta tion Update I
Why a re U d a i pu r's l a ke s d ryi n g u p? "Among the m a i n rea s o n s a re over extra ction of wate r a n d choki ng of
i n lets by bu i l di ng col o n i e s , " o p i nes J C D u bey, a hyd rologi st, who h a s a l so worked w i t h t h e Raja stha n
government. But for govern ment officials, there i s only one: " Low rai nfa l l duri ng the last decade i s the biggest
rea s o n for the l a kes d ryi ng u p , " c l a i m s J N Gol a n i , a d d i t i o n a l c h i ef e ng i n eer, P u b l i c H e a l t h E ngineering
Department ( P H ED). Du bey counte rs sayi ng the ra i nfa l l in Uda i p u r d u r i n g the period h a s never been less
tha n 40 % of the average of 660 m i l l i metre I yea r. In some years, it h a s been more tha n the average but stil l
the water d i d not reach the l a kes. D ubey b l a mes the P H ED, which i s responsi ble for supplyi ng wate r t o the
city. "After exploi t i ng the lakes u p to thei r basi n , the PHED have now put borewel l s in the bed of t hese l a kes,"
he says. Eve n i n du stries such as the H i nd u sta n Z i nc Li m ited (HZL) have put nearly 20 bore wel l s i n the bed
of Udai sagar Lake to meet its huge water deman d . As a res u lt , the h a n d p u m p s i n the s u rroundi ng vi l l ages
d ried u p. On A p ri l 2 7 , the vi l l agers s u rroun d i n g the l a ke agitated agai nst grou n dwate r extraction from the
lake bed. "The tube wel l s drilled i n the bed of these lakes have become permanent conduits for rapid seepa ge
a n d a re resulting i n faster l osses of s u rface water storage whenever the l a kes a re fil l ed with ra i n wa te r, " says
Du bey.
What's the way out? If even just P i chol a , Fatehsagar a n d Badi l a kes were ful l , there would be enough water to
meet the demand for a 1 Y2 years, he says. After the Roopsagar i ncident, Sancheti has identified 39 waterbodies
i n a nd around the city. The formula for keepi ng the l a kes full is not d ifficult to fi nd: it is located just 5 kilometres
from Udaipur i n the form of Jogi ka Talaab. Thi s talaab, which is in the same terra i n , and gets t he same a mount
of r a i nfa l l as U d a i p u r, is bri m m i ng with water a nd laugh i n g s i l e ntly t h rough its lotus f l owers. None of the
villagers living a round it use its water for i rrigation. Its i nlets a nd outlets a re not suffocated with construction.
On top of that, no government body has rea ched here yet , i t i s sti l l bei ng m a naged by the local people, who
u nderst a n d its i mportance. (Lake Assau l t , Down to Earth Feature, I E.C, 05 .06.05, S30)
A n ew i n tegrated tou r i s m pol i cy, w h i ch w i l l a ccommodate a more acti ve role for t h e private sector i n
i nfrastructu re deve l opment, i s o n the a nvil i n Rajasth a n . The pol i cy would ensure t h at the State, now al most
on top of the hea p in tou rism in the cou ntry, stays put there by d iversifyi ng and d eveloping more a reas a nd
newer themes oth e r t h a n t h e "ete r n a l " desert i t offers n ow. The new pol i cy wou l d i n corporate p l a n s for
i ncrease i n number of hotel rooms through setti ng up l a n d banks, de·classification of l a n d for hotels from the
commerc i a l to the i n d u stria l category and by c reation of a d i strict·wise i nventory of tou r i s m c i rcuits. There
would be specia l desert tourism p rojects a n d health·tourism. (Rajastha n mulls over new tourism policy, T H . D,
04.09.05 , S30)
The Rajasthan gove r n me n t p l a n s to c reate rural tou rism resorts in t r i b a l bases, eco-rural c i rc u i t s , desert
experience projects and health touris m projects to step up foreign tourist a r riva ls. The decision comes in the
w a ke of the state l os i ng out to states l i ke Keral a .
The i ni ti a t i ve i s i n t u n e w i t h the recent F I CC I · C R I S I L study w h i c h h a d w a r n e d t h a t " Rajast h a n needs t o
seriously look a t recent trends which reveal that t h e state's share of i nternati o n a l tourists i s o n t h e decl ine".
"The M i n i stry of Tourism has accepted the proposal s recommended by the study i n its eight·poi nt strategy
to the government and wi l l go for i ntense cam pa igns i n days to come. Promotion of medical tou rism, i ntegration
of a l l the rela ted p rojects i nto the exis t i n g c i rcuits, review of the pol i cy fra mework a n d p roactive ste ps to
attract private i nvestment would put the desert state's tourism sector on a higher p latform," State Tou rism
M i ni ster Usha P u n i a said. The average period of stay for a foreign tourist i n I nd i a i s 3 1 .2 d ays, while i t i s only
a round 2 . 5 d ays i n Rajasthan a s aga i nst more than five d ays i n states l i ke Goa a n d Kera l a . Per·day spends
by i nternational a nd domestic tourists i n Rajasthan a re Rs 800 a n d Rs 400 respectively, l ess than half of the
average tourists spend in I nd i a . ( Rajasthan to step u p tour i s m offeri ngs, I E.C, 06.09.05, S30)
Tou ri sts can once aga i n enjoy elephant rides at the Amber Fort i n the P i n k City with the Government l ifti n g a
ban that was i mposed after a rogue elephant kil led one person a n d i njured two tourists. The decision to l ift the
ban was ta ken at a meet i ng of s e n i o r offici a l s . It was decided that 6 1 e l e p h ants, who we re fou nd to be i n
soun d menta l a n d phys i ca l health, wou l d b e a l l owed t o ferry tou rists t o the fort. Accord ing to sources, the
decision was t aken after a com m i ttee of elephant owners agreed to fol l ow safety norms i ssued by the State
Government. The tou rism depa rtment had I mposed a n i ndefi n ite ban on elephant rides after a rogue elephant
tra mpled to death a tou r escort and i njured two Belgi a n tourists on Septem ber 1 5 . U nder the new guideli nes,
the Forest Department will i ssue identity c a rds to a l l mahouts who must have at l ea st t h ree years experience
of h a n d l i ng elephants in the Amber p re m i ses. ( Rajasthan l i fts ba n o n elephant ride, T P. D, 1 2 . 1 0 .0 5 , S30 1
D20d)
I
Docll111cntution Update
I 2 0 05 - 0 6
,
Raj a stha n i s p l ayi ng host to a 1 4 day-long I nternationa l Hot A i r Balloon i ng Fiesta. Produced a nd organ i sed by
'Wi l d i n The Woods ' a n d ' E- Fa ctor ' , i t i s the f i rst of its k i n d being held i n I nd i a . Over 2 0 bal l ooni sts from 1 1
countries w i l l navigate from B armer to J od hp u r a nd Ja i pur d u r i n g the festiva l . To popul a ri se the sport, free
fl ights, n i ght·glow events a n d hot a i r bal l oo n compet i t i ons h ave a lso been orga n i sed . C l ea rly, the idea i s to
populari se adventure sports a nd boost tourism. The diverse terrai n of Rajasthan with the A rava I Ii and Vin dhayan
h i l l s , the open d esert t racts, the vast l a kes a n d rivers, a nd the w i l d l ife parks a re i de a l for a dventure s ports .
Little wonder then that i t offers exh austive options - boating i n the C h amba l rive r, b i k i ng i n Shekhawati a n d
Mount A b u , t rekking i n Sariska·Alwa r Amber belt, campi ng i n Pushkar, balloo n i ng i n J a i pur, parasai l i ng i n the
sa ndy countryside and even water s ports in the l arge l a kes. An aerosport p roject in col l a boration with Delh i
Tourism Development Corporation a n d Aeros port C l u b i s underway. And with a n I nternational Desert S port
fest ival i n the p i pel i ne trave l lers can l ook forwa rd to desert s k i i ng and d e sert moto r i ng a s wel l . (S i m pl y
Adventurous, K i ra n Yadav, FE. D, 1 9.02 .06, S201 D20a)
A l ong-cheri shed d rea m of Rajasthan has come t rue wit h the M i n i stry of Civil Avia t i on notifying the exi st i n g
domestic a i rport a t Sanga n e r a s a n i ntern a t i o n a l a i rport. T h e Sanganer a i rport, gra nted the stat u s o f a n
i ntern a t i o n a l a i rport o n December 2 9 , 2005 , i s o n e o f the 1 2 modern a i rports i n the country a n d 1 4th
i nternational a i rport where passenger-friendly fac i li t i es have been u pg raded a n d modernized by the A i rport
Authority of I n d i a . The ter m i n a l bu i l d i ng, ren ovated to g ive a n eth n i c Raj a st h a n i a rc h i tectu ral l oo k , c a n
a ccommod a te 5 0 0 passengers a t a t i me a n d i s equ i pped with a l l modern passenge r a m e n i t i e s i nc l u d i ng
customs and i mmigration fac i lities to handle i nternational chartered flights. The a uthorities at the ai rport said
that there was a plan to construct a new i nternationa l term i n a l bui l d i ng, which woul d cater to 1 000 passengers
a n hour. (Sanganer a i rport goes i nternation a l , T H . D, 22.02.06 , S30)
The opulence and grandeur of Rajasthan have a lways fasci nated foreign tour i sts. Now the desert state has a
n ew, heady concoction to attract visitors - heritage l i q uor from the royal households. Royal Jagmo h a n a n d
Royal Kesa r Kastu ri , the two b r a n d s o f vi ntage l iq uor t h a t h ave been l a u n c hed so fa r, have caught the fancy
of v i s i tors from a broad who a re even c arryi ng them for futu re consum ptio n . See i ng the popula rity of these
dri n ks that were traditionally brewed i n the royal households, three new bra nds - Roya l C h a nd ra ha s, Royal
Sau nf a n d Roya l Mava l i
w i l l soon h it the m a rket. ( Roya l Rajast h a n l iq uor hit with tou rists, A n i l S h a r m a ,
AA. D, 09.03.06 , S30)
Gujarat
In l i ne with the it's decisi on to celebrate yea r 2006 as Tou ri s m Development Year, the G uj a ra t govern ment i s
p l a n n i ng t o form Gujarat Tourism Promotion Council (GTPC) for the development of much neglected tourism
sector in the state. The basic objective of the council wou l d be to showcase Gujarat as major tou ri st destination
for i nternational as well as domest i c tourism and to hel p state government for the necessary i nfrastructura l
development to promote the tour i s m i ndustry a l o ng with proper m arketi ng strategies. (Guj a rat to promote
tou r i s m i n a big way, N aya n Dave, FE.C, 1 4. 0 7 . 0 5 , S30)
The res i dents of modern Cha mpaner·Pavagadh i n Panchmahals d i st rict of G ujarat a re probably u naware of
the h i storical i m portan ce of t he i r town . A l i ttle over a yea r ago, Cha mpa ner·Pavagad h was given the status of
World Heritage Site by U N ESCO. Accord i ng to Ka ran G rover, the a rchitect who has been working for t he l a st
30 yea rs pushing Champa ner· Pavagadh on to the global heritage l i st . t here a re 1 1 kinds of buil d i ngs, some
of them being mosques, g ra n a ries, tombs, helical well s , fort wa l l s a n d viewing terraces. The tourist t ra i l takes
one t h rough the Geba nshah's Vav or step wel l that i s 80 feet deep, Mehdi ta lao, Vada Talao, water chan nels,
va rious fortificat i o n s , i n c l u d i ng the Atak For t , w h i c h t i l l today h a s 83 catapults structu res. (On a heritage
tra i l , Latha Ven katra m a n , T H . B, 25.09.05, S30)
Gujarat tourism w i l l no l onger be a l l a bout the tem ple c i rcuit. In 2006, the Yea r of Tourism, the state itinerary
w i l l i nvolve a m i x of h i stori ca l s pots perta i n i ng to var i o u s rel i g i o n s . Lea d i ng the packages i s the fa mou s
C h am p a n e r For t , a Wor l d Heritage s i te, a settlement put u p by the f i rst M u s l i m r u l e rs i n G uj a ra t . Of the
tourist c ircuits bei n g envisaged is the "Krishna C i rcuit" with Dwarka at the forefront. Then there i s the "Ga n d h i
c i rcuit" i nc l ud i ng Porba n d a r, Sabarmati Ashra m a n d Rajkot. Other p l a ns on the a nvil , offic i a l s s a i d , i nc l u de
sea crui ses from Mumbai to Mandvi . (Modi takes history lessons for tourism, Sidd ha rtha Sarma, l ED, 05. 1 0.05,
S30)
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The Gujara t Government has a ppea led to the Centre to exten d the tax hol i days i t offers to the Kutch d i strict
for a n other two yea rs i n order to p rovide further i mpetus to the i n du stria l a ctivi ties i n the d i strict. "We have
put forwa rd a p roposal before the Centra l G overnment to exten d the tax h o l i days to the Kutch d i strict a n d
t h a t the i nd ustri a l activity of the S tate gets further momentu m , " t h e Gujara t C h i ef M i n i ster, M r N a re n d ra
Mod i , said here w h i l e i na ugurating the Welspun City. The U n ion Government i n the public i nterest exem pted
certa i n i ndustrial sector in the d i strict from paying excise duty t i l l December 3 1 , 2005. G ujara t has secured
a l most 88 percent of the tota l i nvestment i n the country, M r Mod i cl a i me d a d d i ng, the Kutch d i strict, has
become the epicentre of the i ndustrial activity of the state after the 200 1 earthq u a ke. (Gujara t seeks further
tax·hol i d ay for Kutch d istrict, B L . B, 29. 1 1 . 0 5 , S30)
In a b i d to further explore tourism potenti a l of Gujarat, the Ju naga d h d i strict a d m i n i stration has cha l ked out
an action plan worth a bout Rs 20 crore to lure domest i c a n d foreign tourists. The J u nagadh D i strict Col lector,
M r B i p i n Kumar Sri m a l i , said the local administration has made efforts to provide heli copter services con necting
Pal itan a , Somnath and Junaga d h .
Besi des, w i l dl ife eco·to u r i s m activities have been p l a n ned a t Sa kka rbag a n d nature t ra i l s at G i rn a r. During
Heritage tourism progra mme in Ju ly, the a d m i ni st ration h a s decided to set u p a theme pav i l ion at Uperkot,
sem i n a r on protection a n d development of a rc haeological memorial i n J unagadh, Mr Sri ma l i sai d . Mr Srima l i
s a i d t h a t of t h e esti m a ted R s 20-cro re p roject a bout R s 7 c rore wou l d be a s a ss i sta nce by t h e Centra l
Govern ment, equ a l a mount wou l d be given by the State Government a n d the rest wou l d be ra i sed through
p u bl i c partici patio n . (Ju naga d h chal ks out action plan to woo touris m , B L . B , 2 1 .02.06, S30)
540 U n i on Territories
And a m a n a nd N icobar Islands
For years, cora l reefs and marine l ife have helped def i ne the Andaman and N i cobar I sl a nd s as an i nternational
tourist desti nation. But when the tsu na m i struck o n December 26 l a st yea r, cora l s were farthest f ro m the
mi nds of the civi l i a n a uthorities and the defence services engaged in rescue and reha b i l i tation . As the h uge
sei s m i c sea waves left vast stretch e s of destruction on the l a n d , n o one h a d t h e t i me or the resou rces to
study the effect of the tsu n a m i on the reefs. N ow, however, with the civi l i a n a d m i n i stration a n d the defence
e sta b l i s h ment restori ng nea r· norm a l i ty to the i s l a nd s after a t rying period, the cora l s a re getti ng a l oo k · i n
aga i n . I n a ny case, without tourism, t h e i s l ands ca n not attai n t h e p re·tsu n a m i normality.
Sara ng Kul karni of Reef Watch Marine Conservation, with help from the a d m i n i stration , u n dertook a su rvey
of the coral reefs, nea rly two months after the tsu n a m i . I n several a reas, mostly those not badly affected by
the tsu n a m i , the coral reefs were i ntact. N e i l a nd H a ve lock showed u p a breathtak i ng ra nge of cora l s . But
Jol ly Buoy, ord i n a ri ly the biggest attraction for cora l lovers, a ppeared h it.
I n a reworki ng of the tou r i s m strategy, Lieute n a nt Governor Ram Ka pse decided to put the glass·bottomed
boats at the Jol ly Buoy i n t h e service of the N e i l a n d H a ve l oc k i sl a n d s . Thus, cora l reefs w i l l re ma i n a n
attra c t i o n , if not J o l ly B u oy. Most of t h e i s l a nds that were d a maged by t h e sea were t h ose t h a t cou l d be
d i rectly a pproached from the south-east, a nd Have lock was not in t h i s category. While recognising that some
of the popu l a r dest inations have, a t least for the moment, lost the i r tour i s m potenti a l , the a d m i n i st ration i s
ope n i n g u p new desti nations, a n d new avenues a t old desti nations.
Thus, Havelock, a l ready fa med for i ts white sand beaches, woul d now offer coral reefs too for the touri sts.
Baratang I sl a nd , which is a bout 1 00 k m by road from Port B l a i r, wi l l be promoted more for its mud vol ca noes
a n d l i mestone caves a n d l ess for i ts beaches. ( Reefs get a relook, Suresh N a m bath, T H . B, 1 7.04.05, S40)
The A n d a ma n a n d N i cobar I s l a nd s a re n ow a bout th ree metres closer to the ma i n l a nd coast than it was pre­
tsu n a m i . Some a reas of the I sl a n d s have gone down by up to one metre.
D i scussi ng the topogra ph i ca l changes due to the December 26 tsun a m i , Department of Ocea n Develop ment
Secreta ry H a rsh Gu pta sa i d that the t s u n a m i cau sed the I n d i a n P l a te to go under the B u rmese P late. T he
Bu rmese coas t a l so moved c loser to the A n d a m a n coa st by a bout t h ree metres .
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Post-tsunam i , clay and sil ica particles had got deposited on coral s i n the Andamans, which had got considerably
d amaged. It wou ld take a longe r time to settle. Thus, there was a need for l ong-term monitoring of the cora l s
i n m i d d l e a n d South Andamans. There was n o significant l oss of corals i n the G u lf o f M a n n a r. Sal i n i ty o n the
Tam i l N a d u coast had i nc reased and it wou l d t a ke a bout two rai ny seasons for it to subside. (Anda m a n a n d
N icobar now 3 metres closer, T H . B, 1 0.05.05, S40)
The action p l a n for the post·ts u n a m i deve lopment of the A n d a m a n a n d N icoba r I s l a n d s, s u b m i tted to the
Centre by the M.S. Swami nathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), has strategies for both ecological and l ivelihood
security. The p l a n for a " New Andamans" deta i l s plans for redesigni ng t he far m i ng a n d fishing systems that
a re best suited for the i s l a nd ecosystem . The MSSRF team visited North A n d a m a n , M i d d l e Anda m a n , South
A n d a m a n , Little A n d a m a n , C a r N i cobar, N ancowrie a n d G reat N icobar grou p of i s l a n d s a n d assessed the
nature a n d extent of d amage.
As Prof_ M.S. Swam i nathan poi nted out (The H i n d u , January 1 7 , 2005), med i u m and long-term rehabi li tation
demands three things: strengthen i ng the ecological foundations of susta i n a bl e human secu rity; rehabi litating
l ivel i hoods a nd fostering sustai na ble liveli h ood security; putting in place a network of rura l knowledge centres.
E a c h region i n t h e i s l a n d s was foun d to req u i re a s pecific set of s o l u t i o n s . For i n st a n c e , t h e ri se of the
l a ndmass i n North Andamans (Digl i p u r) has led to a fa l l i n the water table. The l i ttoral and mangrove swamps
have d ri e d up. Fres h water for p a d dy and hort i c u lt u ra l crops h a s become scanty. So, the a d m i n i stration
should i m mediately set u p 'co m m u nity water banks' with ra i nwater harvest i ng a n d conservation. Women's
self- he l p gro u p s s h o u l d be formed a n d tra i ned to m a na ge water b a n ks. Paddy shou l d be c u l tivated o n l y
where i t i s a choice, both from the ecological a n d economica l poi nts o f view.
I n contrast, South A n d a m a n h a s been i n undated by seawater, espec i a l ly the agri c u l t u re fields. The com i ng
monsoon cou l d d i srupt commu n i ca t i o n s , l e a d i n g to t ra n sient h u nge r s pots ; even sta rvati o n deaths. The
MSSRF has suggested the i mmedi ate setting u p of community food ban ks. Thi s a lso provides a food-for-work
system. There i s a l so g reat potenti a l to esta b l i s h ma ngrove bio-shields, tak i n g advanta ge of the excellent
n u rsery ava i lable i n Yerrata, a n d i ntegrate them with susta i nable aquaculture. Tiger p rawns and mud c ra bs
can be rea d i ly cultured a n d t hese have great demand i n both national a n d i nternational ma rkets .
Little Andaman h a s suffered total d i s ru ption of communication a n d therefore i t i s a potential hunge r hotspot.
I m mediate action i s necessary to set up community food banks. Si nce the Revenue Depa rtment contro l s the
severely d a m a ged bea ch forest it should help the Forest Department in ecologi cal restoration and bio-shield
erection.
The major c h a l l enge c a u sed by the tsun a m i in the N a ncowrie group of i s l a n d s is the exten sive d a m age to
mangroves a nd the coconut forests. The bio-degradable debris should be used to make compost. The coconut
trunks and the wood of the fal len trees coul d be used for construction of houses and a l so for furniture making.
I n a nutshell , the Andaman and N i cobar I sl ands should use the forest and mangrove resources in a sustainable
ma nner for the l ivel i hood security of the local commu nity. Agriculture should not be on the conventional l i nes
of the m a i n l a nd .
The Andaman a n d N icobar islands are fortunate i n having several tribal communities whose collective traditional
w isdom is for m i d a b l e. P l a n ni ng and development should be based on a bottom-up a pp roach i nvolvi ng the
local e lected representatives, ca ptai n s a n d members of the tri b a l counc i l s. With over 85 % of forest cover,
these i s l a nds a re excel lent 'gree n ' factories that consume carbon a n d produce oxygen . (An opport u n i ty for
the devastated i sl a n d s, P C_ Kesava n a n d K . B a l a su b ra m a n i a n , T H . B , 27.05.05, S40)
An agreement between Port Blair, capita l of Andaman and N icoha r I slands, and Phuket in Thailand for promotion
of touri sm wil l be signed i n Phuket on J u ne 30. It w i l l i nclude education a nd culture, u rban development, sol id
waste management, commerce a n d i nvestments. The pact wi l l rem a i n i n force for five yea rs. The i nking of the
a g reement is expected to boost tourism on the i s l a n d s devastated by the tsu n a mi l a st yea r-en d , a ccord i ng
to a n offic i a l press rel ease. (Port B l a i r, P h u ket to sign agreement, TO I . B, 30.06 . 0 5 , S40)
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I sraeli back· packers have i nvaded remote i s l a n d s i n the Anda m a n and N i coba r a rc h i pelago, t h reate n i ng its
f ra gi le ecologi cal b a l a nce. At sta ke is a beach c rowned Asi a 's best. For the l a st cou p l e of yea rs , l ow · cost
I srae l i touri sts have swam ped the p r i s t i n e beaches of Havelock (voted the best beach in Asia by T i m e
maga z i n e i n N ovem be r 2004), Long a n d N e i l i s l a nds between Dece m be r a n d A pr i l , ra i s i ng e c o a n d socio
concerns. "These tou r i st s titter beac h es and d efeca te a l ong it. If re med i a l m e a s u res a re not t a ke n , the
damage could be i rreparable,' wa rned Pacific Asia Travel association· l nd i a chapter (environment, eco·tou ri sm
& heritage committee) chairman M a n d i p Singh Soi n . M a ri ne biologists have a l rea dy d iscovered a shift in the
nesti ng pattern of turtles. Beach bonf i res l i t by s hoe·stri ng budget tourists have sca red them away. There
a re a lso fea rs of forest cover denudation i n the i s la n d s . I t i s n ' t just the ecology, the backpackers have a l so
assaulted the sensitivity of native N icobarese with beach nudity. "The c h i l d ren were bun ki ng school to ogle at
the beaches. Though n ud ity i s ba n ned , these tourists don't ca re , " Soi n poi nted out. The tou r i s m trade h a s
u rged t h e U nion Tourism M i nistry a n d t h e A & N a d m i ni stration t o take steps to weed out t h e problem before
A n d a m a n s t u r n s i nt o a n ot h e r D i g h a . ( I s ra e l i s i nvade Anda ma n s ' rem ote i s l a n d s , S u b h ro N iyogi , TO I . B,
2 7 . 07 . 0 5 , S40)
Are the A n d a m a n s fast on the roa d to becoming the n ext best a lternat ive to P h u ket's sex i n dustry? Some
l eadi ng I n d i a n envi ronmenta l i sts have slammed the tourism deal by I nd i a 's tsunami·hit Andaman and N icobar
I s l a nds with Tha i la n d , saying such a move woul d destroy its fragile ecology and encou rage the sex trade. In a
move to breathe new l ife i nto the s hattered economy i n the i s l a nds, the authorities signed a five·yea r dea l i n
J u ne with t he resort town of P h u ket i n Thai l a n d , famous for its beaches but a l s o for a bu rgeoni ng sex trade.
The dea l wou l d a l l ow tou r i st s v i s i t i ng P h u ket to ta ke a s hort f l ight to the A n d a m a n s . Accord i ng to t h e
environmentaEsts, who have now written t o U PA cha i rperson Soni a Gand h i , seeking her i mmediate i ntervention,
the Andaman a n d N icoba r I s l a n d s a d m i n i stration i s u s i ng t he tsu n a m i a s a garb to l u re P h u ket's tourists to
the Anda mans. (' Don 't turn A n d a m a n s i nto P h u ket' , TOI . D, 08.08.05, S40)
From a l l a c ross the I nd i a n mai nl a n d , tourists a re pouring i nto the Andamans. ' H u ndreds of busi nesspeople
a nd professi on a l s , even m i d d l e class I nd ia ns , a re rushi ng to the A n d a m a n s for a hol i day with a d ifference,"
says local touri sm offic i a l Ra na M athew. "The curiosity generated by the tsun a m i is getti ng the better of the
fear. " M r. Mathew said that before the tsunami Benga l i s made up the bul k of domestic tourists com i ng to the
i s l a nd s but people from southern I nd i a have exceeded them so far this yea r. In wi nter, though the Benga l i s,
who m a ke u p the bu l k of I n d i a ' s domestic tourists , a re comi ng i n d roves . So a re touri sts from u p nor t h .
Hote l s a n d fl ights a re fu l ly booked for the next two months. I n t h e e a r l y 1 990s , t h e Anda m a ns u s e d to get
a round 1 0,000 to 1 2, 000 tourists a year. By 2000 tourist traffic had grown 1 0·fo l d . But after the tsun a m i the
monthly average fell to about 500. Now the Centra l Government i s encouraging i ts employees to travel to the
i s l a nds o n hol iday a n d offering them free air fares.
The islands need to i m prove thei r i nfrastructure l i ke i nter· i s l a nd s h i ppi ng and better hote l s and con nections
to the mainland to exploit their tou rism potenti a l . Even foreign tour a nd travel compa n i es have begun i nvesti ng
i n resorts he re. S r i La n ka ' s top hospita l ity cha i n , Atki ns Spence has tied u p with the A n d a m a n s ' Ba refoot
group to develop a resort in Havelock Island and a few more el sewhere. (Tourism t i me i n the Andamans, Sub i r
Bhaumik, T H . B, 04.0 1 .06 , S40)
Apart from the destruction ca used by the tsu n a m i , the Andaman a n d N icoba r I sl a nd s a re witnessing a nother
problem , a d ivide between the local triba l population a nd the mainland settlers. The triba ls want the mainlanders
to leave. The tribal heads have given a written petition to the Prime M i n i ster, Manmohan S i ngh. The issue a l so
came u p d u ri ng the three·day trip of the Union Home M i n i ster, Shivraj Pati ! . M r. Patil , however, dismissed it a s
temporary fear of exploitation by the non·tri bals. "Someti mes the local tribal people feel that they woul d have
to share the i r natural resources a nd l a n d with the mai n l a nders. They have a lso com p l a i ned of i nd i scri mi n ate
fel l ing of t rees but they wi l l have to get over i t " .
Ayesha B egu m , c h a i rperson o f the Tri bal Coun c i l o f the N a ncowrie group of i sl a nd s , a l l eged that the n o n ·
tribals were "eati ng" i nto the i r resources a n d even exploiting t h e loca l popu l ation. She said t hey wa nted t he
Defence person n e l a n d the Government e m ployees to stay a n d the b u s i nessmen a n d the ret i red peop l e to
leave. Ayesha Begum expressed u n ha ppi ness with the Central Government for its fai l u re in hel pi ng the tri b a l s
t o start afresh after t h e ts u n a m i . "We a re dependent on Gove r n ment rel ief, which i s n ot comi ng. If w e were
given tools to clear the debris a n d construction materi a l l i ke ba mboo, we wou l d have b u i l t houses i n our own
way, " she sa i d .
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O n the oth e r h a n d , a l a rge n u m b e r of S i k h fa m i l i e s , mai n ly ret i red servi cemen who settl ed i n the N icobar
I slands i n 1 969 under a Government scheme, have expre ssed the i r desi re to go back to the mai n l a n d . The
Government scheme envisaged sett l i ng 500 reti red Defence person nel on the I sland by givi ng them incentives
such as free l a nd for far m i ng. However, the project was abandoned m idway. Of the 1 00 Sikh fa m i l ies brought
here, 70 made the island the i r home. (Andaman tribals want mainlanders to leave, Aarti Dhar, T H . B, 1 7 .0 2 .05,
S40)
An d a man I sl a n d s have received the top ran k i n g i n the selecti o n of 1 0 top beaches of the world . The U nion
M i ni ster of Tourism and C u l t u re, Amb i ka Son i , told the Rajya Sabha a German tou r operator D e Ruiter had
selected the world's best 1 0 beaches. Top ran k i ng was given to Andaman I sl a nds fol lowed by Lakshadweep,
M a l d ive s and Seyc he l l es . H i s assessment was base d on veri f i a b l e factors such as s a n d q u a l i ty, d epth of
water, etc. T I M E maga z i n e had ea rl ier d ec l a red beach N o . 7 , Havel ock I s l a n d i n the Andamans as the " Best
beach in Asia . " (To p ra n k i ng for Andaman beac h , T H . D, 24.02.06, S40)
I n an attempt to turn Andaman & N icobar I sland i nto a major tou r i s m h u b, the government is consi dering a
s l ew of mea s u res i nc l u d i n g t u rn i ng t h e domest i c a i rport i n the u n i o n territory ( UT ) i nto a n i nternati o n a l
a irport, o peni ng 1 5 new i s lands to tourists a n d develop i ng 50 n e w s i te s for high-end tourism. T h e P l a n n i ng
Com m i ss i o n , approved a s u m of Rs 235 crore for the UT under the Raj iv G a n d h i Reh a b i l itation Pac kage i n
addi t i on t o the p l a n s i ze of R s 1 1 20 c rore. Accord i ng t o sources, d raft terms and cond itions for leasi ng the
50 i d e ntified l ocations for eco-fr i e n d ly promoti o n has been c l e a red by t h e M i n i stry of Tou ris m . ( 1 5 new
i s l a nds i n Andaman to be opened to touri sts, A m i t i Sen , F E . B, 1 8.03.06, S40)
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• T - FO R E I GN COUNTR I ES .
TOO I nternation a l Tou rism Vo l u mes a n d Patterns
Worl d tou r i s m reve nue rose 1 0 % to a record $622 b i l l io n i n 2004 a s N orth A m e r i c a n t o u r i s t recei pts
i n creased for the fi rst ti me s i n ce 200 1 , the World Tou rism Orga n ization sa i d . The US had the most revenue
from tou ri s m as recei pts rose 16 percent to $75 b i l l ion. Spa i n was the second - l a rgest tou ri sm ma rket with
$45 .2 b i l l ion in revenue, and Fra nce was t h i rd at $40.8 b i l l ion. Tou rist a rriva l s rose 1 1 percent to 760 m i l l ion
last yea r, the fastest rate of g rowth in 20 yea rs, a s tou rism picked u p in the w a ke of the war in I raq a nd the
conta i n ment of severe acute respi ratory syndrome. ('World tou ri sm revenue rose to a record in 2004' , FE.C,
2 l . 0 7 . 0 5 , TOO)
Ja pa nese a n d C h i nese t ravel l ers a re to set to cha l l enge the d om i na n ce of the G e r m a n s over the next 1 5
yea rs for the title of wor l d 's most prol ific globe-trotters, a ccord i ng to a su rvey. Resea rch com pa ny M I NTEL
sa i d J a pa n and C h i na will generate a round fou r ti mes as many outbound t r i ps i n 2020 as they d i d last yea r,
making them nu mber two and three respectively beh i nd Germany M I NTE L's Richard Cope said both countries
wou l d be d riven by growth in t h e i r b u s i ness a n d l e i s u re ma rkets . (Asi a n s to c h a l l enge Germ a n tou ri s m
record , says study, F E . B, 2 l . 0 l .06, TOO)
I nternational tou rist a rriva l s a re expected to grow by between 4 % a n d 5 %, says the U n ited N ation World
Tou r i s m Orga nisation (U NWTO). In i ts q u a rterly 'World Tou r i s m Ba rometer' report, rel ea sed recently, the
U NWTO says that Asia - Pacific and West Asia a re foreca st to exh i b it strong growth of a round 9 % and 8 %
res pectively, while more moderate growth i n i nternational tou ri st a rrival s i s expected i n Europe, the Americas
and Africa. The report a l so revea l s that i nternational tou rist a rriva l s in 2005 g rew by 5 . 5 % , conti n u i ng the
u pwa rd trend witnessed in 2004. Last yea r, there were a n esti mated 808 m i l l ion i nternational tourist a rrival s ,
u p from 766 m i l l ion i n 2004. I n 2005 , t h e highest growth rate i n i nte rnational tou rist a rriva l s wa s i n Africa
esti mated to be 1 0 %. D u ri ng the same period, Asi a - Pacific regi stered an esti mated growth rate of 7 %, the
Americas 6 %, West Asia 7 % and Eu rope 4 %, the report a d d s. W h i l e l e i s u re tou ri sm is b e l i eved to have
outperformed busi ness tourism, the globa l M I CE (meeti ngs, i ncentives, conferences and exhi bitions) ma rket
h a s pi cked u p l a s t yea r, the report says. However, t h i s ma rket has seen c h a n ges with i n centive meeti ngs
i n crea si ngly being combi ned with busi ness meeti ngs to justify costs, save on tax and maxi mise em ployee
motivation . (Global tou rist a rriva l s l i kely to grow 4-5 pc, Sankar Rad h a krish n a n , B L . B, 28.0 1 .06, TOO)
T10 South Asi a
The emergency a nd fea r of i nsurgency have cast a shadow over touri s m . There a re no buyers for souve n i rs of
d i s p l a y at Kath ma n d u 's Tha mel , D u rba r S q u a re, Ki ng's Way a nd N ew Roa d , co nsi dered to be s h o p p i ng
pa ra d i ses. Shops sel l i ng a rtefa cts, h a n d icrafts, mounta i neeri ng gea rs a nd electro n i c goods l ook em pty, so
a re hotels a nd resta u ra nts. The steep decl i ne i n tou rism becomes gla ri ngly vi s i ble when you move outs i d e
Kathma ndu . There, o n e ca n a l so see t h e effect of long-drawn battle between the Maoists a nd t h e Government.
" B u s i ness is down a l most 70 percent. We get a major s h a re of our tou r i sts from I nd i a _ And we've only t i l l
May-end t o catch u p, " says Kri s h n a Katwa l , m a n a ge r of a hotel i n N a ga rkot. I t's not t h a t t h e Maoi sts a re
everywhere. I n fa ct, there's no sign of them a nywhere at major touri st dest i nations l i ke Pokhara, Bha ktapur,
Nagarkot, Jomosom etc. Though a bit u ncomfortable under the l oomi ng presence of a r my men who z i p past
a nd stop by to ta ke a close l ook, tou ri sts feel relatively safe a t many of the tou r i s m hotspots. I t's only the
fea r that is stopping them from flocki ng i n . But aga i n , the situation may be different in far-flung a reas of the
cou ntry that a re beyond the reach of the Kathma ndu's rul i ng class. (Kathmandu breathes easy u nder King;
But fea r fa ctor leaves Nepa l 's tou rism i nd u stry gaspi ng for breath, Ki ra n Pra ka s h , I E. B, 1 3 . 04.05, n O)
Ta rgeti n g rel igious tourists of South I n d i a , Nepal ; s hol d i ng road shows to woo them with specia l pa ckages to
the Pa s upa t h i nath temple, be sides offering tra d i t i o n a l fare s u ch a s t re k k i ng a n d l e i s u re h o l idays. After a
presentation a nd i nteraction with tour operators of the state the Nepa l tou rism Boa rd (NTB) Ma nager, M r.
Ujjwala Dal i , said the Himalaya n Ki ngdom witnessed a boom i n i nflow of I nd i a n tourists, prompti ng it to launch
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Documenta tion Update
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a focused ma rketing strategy for South I nd i a . The NTB has chal ked out s pec i a l package for a Pashu patinath
temple for the forthcom i n g Shivratri festival on February 26. Other a reas of i n te rest included l eisure holidays,
adventu re , trekki ng a nd honeymoon destinations, board officials said. ( N epal woos tourists from South I nd i a . ,
B L . C , 2 7 . 0 1 .06, n O)
Despite being h a u n ted by extre m i s m a n d its vul nera b i l ity to repeated n atur al c a l a m ities t h a t affected i ts
tou r i st dest i n a t i o n s , S ri L a n ka i s s p a r i n g n o efforts to keep i t s rich tou ri sm pote n t i a l a l ive. Several new
i n i ti ative s a re being conte m p l a ted to attract more tourists from I nd i a , particu l arly, Karnata ka . Sri La n k a n
tou rism m i n i ster A n u ra Bandara n ai ke, w h o w a s here i n connection with openi n g o f a n office o f his country's
board of i nvestments ( B O I ) , said that h i s government was tryi ng to attract both softwa re profession a l s a nd
tourists from I nd i a a s they, u n l i ke European tourists whose i nterest i s mai n ly cultural and educational , knew
his country's potential for i nvestment in both the a reas. Sri La n ka 's BOI a l so woul d embark on ' I nd i a s pecific
tourism pro motion cam pa ign' to encou rage I nd i a n s to vis i t the island. The present a rra ngement of 'visa on
a rriva l ' woul d conti nue si nce the system w a s expected to bri ng more visitors to his country, B a n d a ra n a i ke
said.
The h i ghest n u m b e r of tou rists ( 5 , 56 ,202) to Sri L a n k a was in 2004 fetch i n g a record reven u e of $ 4 1 6
m i l l ion. Thi s yea r's revenue i s expected to reach $ 600 m i l l ion. The tourist flow was u n abated despite tsunami
devastation; h e said a n d expected thei r n u mber to i n crease by 1 . 30 l a kh . I t was i n a n t i c i pation of t h i s that
Sri Lankan government was taking a num be r of i nitiatives to m a ke the tourists' stay safe a n d comfo rtable, he
s a i d . B a n d a ra n a i ke w a s ha p py to d is c l os e that t h e tou r i s m sector had generated a bout 1 . 1 2 l ak h jobs,
d i rectly or i nd i rectly, i n his country. The Sri Lan ka n government was a l so cons i deri n g bringing in a n ew law
soon provid i ng for s ett i ng up of bu reau s , even by p rivate enterpri ses, to p rofessiona l i se tou rism. The BO I
a l so wou ld be u pgrad ed to 'tou rism deve l o pment a uthority' a n d a rmed with more powers, backed by d u e
l egisl ations, to develop tou r i s m , Banda rana i ke sai d . S r i Lan ka woul d a l s o e m b a r k o n ' I ndia specific tourism
p romotion campaign' to e n cou rage I nd i a ns to visit the I sl an d . The present a rrangement of 'visa on a rriva l '
wou l d conti n u e s i nce the system was expected t o bring more visitors (Lanka wa nts t o attract touri sts from
State, VT. B, 26.05.05, n O)
Sri L a n ka n A i r l i ne s h a s tied u p w i t h the M a l aysi a n Tou r i s m P romot i o n Boa rd for a joint p ro motion of the
tourism destinations of thei r respective countries in Keral a . Sri Lan ka is currently promoting travel to the Far
Ea st from South I nd i a . The a i rl i n e has a n n ou nced attractive fa re s fo r travel to S i nga pore, Kua l a Lu m p u r,
Beiji ng, B angkok a n d Hong Kon g. The fares a re a n attractive 30% l ower t h a n n o r m a l fares. A rou nd 22 top
agents a n d tou r operators f rom T i ruva n a nt h a p u ra m a n d Kozhi kode wou l d be fa m i l a ri sed with the top
dest inations of the two countries in a 5 · night tri p coveri ng Colombo, M a l a cca a n d Kua l a Lumpu r. (Sri La nkan
ties up with M a l aysi a n tourism, ET. B, 1 5 .02.06, n O)
Trave l l i ng from I nd i a to Southea st Asia by road or rai l could soon become a real ity, with the concl usion of a
fea s i bi l i ty report on a rai l l i nk between I nd i a a n d Mya nm a r, w h i l e a n other study exa m i nes prospects for a n
I nd i a ·Viet n a m l i n k . The P r i m e M i ni ster, D r M a n mo h a n S i ngh, a nd Asean leaders felt t h e need t o e n h a n c e
connectivity between the t w o reg i o n s a nd s a i d that the fi rst stage o f the D e l h i - H anoi fea s i b i l ity study was
u nder way. D r S i ngh a l so discussed the trilateral road project between I nd i a - Myanmar-Th a i l a nd . A successful
c a r ral ly was held from Guwahati to Vient i a ne in Laos a few years a go, a proof of the geographical prox i mity
between I nd i a a nd Sou t h East Asia . ( P u s h for rai l , road l i nks p l a n with Mya n ma r, B L . B, 1 4. 1 2 . 0 5 , n O)
T20 South East Asi a
I nd i a n cou ples c a n now look forward to sol e m n i s i n g thei r marriages i n M a l aysi a . A s part of a n effort t o woo
I nd i a n s p l a n n i ng to get married , Tourism M a l aysia has sent a g roup of eight wed d i ng p l a n ners from I nd i a to
M a l aysi a to s h ow them fi rst h a nd what the cou ntry h a s to offer for those see k i ng to t i e the k not. Besi d e s ,
t here w i l l a l so be a b l e n d o f I nd i a ness a s M a la ys i a has 2 . 2 m i l l i o n I n d i a n s a n d a l l materia l s rel a ted to a n
I nd i a n m a r r iage a re easi ly a va i l a b l e there. Howeve r, a s i n t h e c a se o f other exoti c desti n a t i o n s , the t arget
audience is l i kely to he aff l uent I nd i a n s looking for a val ue-for-money p roposition. The p romoters of the new
concept a re hopi ng that with each weddi ng party havi ng a bout 1 00- 1 50 people, it would be a win-w i n situation
for M a l aysi a a nd the bride and groom. ( M a l aysia cou rts I nd i a n couples, B L . B, 04.09.05, T20)
W i t h i nc re ased tou r i st a rriva l s in M a l aysi a from I nd i a , p a r t i c u l a rly f ro m C h e n n a i , B a nga l ore, Koc h i a nd
Hyderab a d , M a l aysia i s work i n g out mod a l ities to i ssue e lectro n i c visa (e-vi sa).
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Authori sed t ravel a gents i n B a ng a l ore a n d other c i t i e s w i l l be a bl e to p rovi de t h e e-vis a . At p resent, v i s a
a p p l i cati ons a re routed to the Chenn a i Consu late. E-vi sa i s bei ng p l a n ned t o i ncrease t h e n um be r o f tourist
a rrivals from I nd i a , for which Tourism Malaysia has embarked on a Rs. 1 2·crore campaign. I nd i a has moved to
the 9th position a mong the countries that recorded maxim u m tourist a rriva l s . I n 2005 , the nu mber of I nd i a n
a rriva l s i n M a l aysia exceeded 2 . 1 0 l a k h s a n d the cou ntry i s t a rgeti ng 3 . 5 l a kh v i s i tors next yea r, w h e n
M a l aysi a celebrates i t s gol d e n j u b il ee. ( M a l aysi a p l a n s e·visa for I nd i a n tourists, T H . B, 03.03.06, T20)
Singa pore scrapped a four decade ban on casinos to boost tourism, clearing the way for compan ies i ncluding
Las Vegas Sands Corp a nd M G M mi rage to compete for the right to bu i l d a n entert a i n ment complex i n the
city. The government may a l l ow two casinos, i n downtown S i ngapore and on the island of Sentosa. It will seek
det a i led p l a n s from d eve lopers, having received 1 9 p roposa l s a l ready. Lee s a i d two c a s i no resorts may
c reate a s m a ny as 3 5 , 000 jobs. They may a l so l u re tour i sts to a c i ty to expa n d this yea r at h a lf the 8.4%
pace of 2004. The Chi nese c i ty of Macau, where 1 7 casi nos operate, had three ti mes the economic growth
a n d twi ce a s m a ny v i sitors a s S i ngapore i n 2004.
The p roject faces opposition i n a nation where fi l ms a re censored a n d drug dealers a re executed . Rel igious
and social groups such a s Foc u s on the Fam i ly say casinos m ay lead to more loan sharking a n d p rostitut i o n ,
a n d l u re peop l e i nto dept. To a l l eviate concer n , t h e government p roposed a S$ 1 00 d a i ly l evy o n citizens a n d
permanent res i d ents e nteri n g t h e cas i n o . (Si nga po re t o a l l ow c a s i nos to boost to u ri s m , a d d j ob s , F E . B ,
1 9.04.05, T20)
With I nd i a n s e merging as the top spenders a mong tourists visiti ng Si ngapore , the southeast A s i a n cou nt ry
i s now wooi ng the n ouveau riche f rom s m al l er towns a n d cities. I nd ia n s on a n average stay for six days a n d
t h e i r spen d i ng i s n e a r l y $ 300. J a p a n ese s p e n d h igher t h a n t h e m , but thei r a verage stay i s j u st f o r t hree
days. Si ngapore received a record 47 1 ,000 I nd i a n visitors in 2004, m a k i ng it sixth l a rgest visitor generati ng
m a rket. Tr i s rep resents a 25% g rowth over t h e p revi ous record of 3 7 5 ,000 I nd i a ns i n 2002. (Si nga pore
tou rism eyes towns, metros i n I nd i a , F E . B , 07.05.05, T20)
The S i ngapore Government is now focusing on the hospital tourism and education sectors. Service i ndustries
a rc a l s o be i ng encoura ged to set u p base. I nter n ation a l U n iversities i nc l u d i ng M assachusetts I nstit ute of
Technology ( M IT) a n d Sta nford have col l aborated with l oca l ones to offer d egrees i n the country. C u r rently
t here a re a ro u n d 4,000 students i n S i nga pore. l i T M u m ba i has a l so t i ed u p with NTU, S i n ga po re to offer
courses. The country i s a l so i nviting e nt repreneurs. Accordi ng to t h e World B a n k Report, Singa pore i s t he
second e a s iest p l a ce to set u p bus i ness. (Si nga pore s h ifts foc u s to hospita l to u ri sm, e d u ca t i o n , B L . B ,
1 7 . 1 2. 0 5 , T20)
A local gove r n me nt c a m pa ig n to a ttract more bathers to a South Korea n beach resort by offering i ncentives
to swi mmers wearing b i k i ni s has upset women's rights activi sts. Ahead of the peak su mmer bat h i ng season,
B u a n Cou nty a d m i n i stra tion south·west of Seo u l ren amed its Byeonsan Beach B i k i n i Beach a n d promi sed
wea rers of s k i m py swi msuits a 1 0 % discount on b i l l s for hotels, meal s and beach e q u i pment renta ls. The
cou nty put u p wa l l posters with pictu res of b i k i n i ·c l a d bea uties a nd the i n scri pt i o n : "Show off you r beau ty
and get a 1 0 % d i scount." Women's group s denounced the ca mpaign a s exploitation. "Th i s i s a n outrageous
attempt to sti mulate the regional economy by exploiting the female sex," said a statement from the association
of women activists of North Jeol l a Province.
A c a m p aign to a ttract more visitors should focus on p u b l i ci s i n g the county's "natural beauty i n stead of the
n a ked fem a l e body, " i t s a i d . But officia l s at the Bua n c ou nty office were u n repentant and sa id by telephone
that they had no plan to stop the campaign. " I don't u n derstand why they a re so angry. Thi s i s j u st part of a
p u b l i c i ty c a m pa i g n a i med a t promot i ng the n a m e of t h e B i k i n i Bea c h . We h ave n o i ntenti o n to exploit o r
commercial ise t h e female sex, " s a i d a n offi c i a l . (Bikini Beach a n gers women's grou p, BL. B, 09.07.05, T20)
T30 East As ia
C h i na's rapid economic growth has fostered a tourist boom a mong the m a i n l a nd C h i n ese, with South·east
Asia the favourite dest in ation, at least for n ow. The s u rge in package tou r gro u ps f rom C h i n a , an i mportant
sou rce of i ncome for the regio n , is a l so givi ng rise to an u nfla ttering stereotype: the loud, rude a nd cultu ra l ly
naive Chi nese tourist.
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6
The tide of t rave l lers from C h i n a m i rrors the emergence of v i rt u a l ly every gro u p of overseas tourists s ince
the Romans, from Britons behavin g badly in the Victorian e ra a n d ugly A meric a n s in post·war E urope to the
snap shot· h a p py Japa nese of the 1 980's.
So it is n ot much of a s u rpri se that touri sts from m a i n l a n d C h i n a , often goi ng a broad for the fi rst ti me, a re
l eavin g s i m i l a r compl a i nts i n their wake. But C h i n a i s a l so man ufactu ri ng its own twist on the age·old tale, a s
became a pp a rent i n July when a group of more than 300 from C h i n a took u m b ra ge a t i l l u stratio n s of a pig's
face on the i r check· i n vouchers at a casino resort i n p redom i n a nt ly M u s l i m M a l aysia .
So far; only a n estim a ted 2 % of C h i n a 's popul ation ventures a broad each yea r, a ccord i ng to a recent report
on Chi n a tour i sm by ClSA Emerging Markets in Hong Kong. But the World Tourism Organ ization predi cts that
C h i n a w i l l become the world 's fourth· l a rgest sou rce of overseas tourists by 2020. G roups from C h i n a began
trave l li ng to E u ro pe l a st yea r. And if the U n i ted States agrees to grant visas to C h i n a 's tou ri sts, a n a lysts say
it w i l l u ndou bted ly be a top desti nation.
Clean a nd safe, S ingapore, with its l a rge Mandari n·speaking pop u l ation, attracts more Chi nese tourists than
a ny of its Southeast Asi a n n e i gh bou rs. The typ i ca l visit to Si ngapore i s just t h ree days. The average i n come
i s sti l l below $2,000 a year, a n d most tour ists from C h i na s i gn u p for $250 package tours that w h i s k them
t h rough as m a ny a s five cou ntries in a week .
M a ny of these tours a re w h a t t h e i nd u stry c a l l s zero·do l l a r tou rs, provid i ng no profit m a rgi n . I nstea d, the
a gents m a ke thei r money by divertin g the i r grou ps to jewel l ers or restau ra nts that give them a com m ission
on s a l es .
Whi l e some a n alysts say C h i n a 's touri sts h ave d u bious benefits to regio n a l tour i s m , others a rgue that they
have a broader eco n o m i c i mp a ct . U n l i ke Wester ners or J a p anese who spl u rge on expen s i ve resorts a n d
spend thei r enti re vacation s u nbathi ng, they say, the C h i n ese devote a g reater pro- portion o f the i r hol id ay
t i me to sight· see i ng a n d shopping.
C h i n a 's tou r ists stan d a p a r t from other tourists i n other ways, say m e m bers of S i ngapore ' s h o s p i t a l i ty
i nd u stry. "They ' re m o re d e m a n d i n g , " sa i d Johnson L i m , who h a n dles g roups from C h i na for a local t ravel
agency. Boon Sang Li p, a souve n i r stand operator, put it more bl untly: "They l i ke to tal k i n a loud and not very
polite way." When they check i nto hote l s , for i nsta nce, many tourists from C h i na demand the top floors. Some
feel e ntitled to take souvenirs l i ke hotel p i llows. But much of the behaviour stem s from i nexperience. Chi nese
citizens may travel only to countries on a government·approved l i st. I ndividu a l travels, whi Ie possi ble, requ i res
onerous p aperwork, so most Chi nese t ravel in l a rge groups. For all the chal lenges, Chi n a 's tour i st m igrations
rep resent a l ucrative s o u rce of i ncome that countries l i ke S i nga pore a re vyi n g to attract. Cas i nos a re one
case i n poi nt. With c a s i nos i l l eg al in C h i n a , v i rtu a l ly every tri p a broad i nc l u d e s s u c h a v i s i t. (We l co mi ng
C h inese, But N ot T h e i r Style, Wayne Arnold , AA. D, 29 . 10 .0 5 , T30)
T40 Middle East/West ICentral Asia
Rus s i a says l i be ra l i s i ng its visa reg i m e w i l l be a major p o i n t on its a ge n d a with I nd i a i n the coming yea r. I t
hopes t o settle a l l outstanding issues concerni ng "immigration" and "re·admission" and conclude a n agreement.
The move foll ows pers i stent demands by I nd i a n busi nessmen and i ndustry a l i ke for easing the visa regul ations
in order to give a much·needed fi l l i p to the I n do· Russi a n b il ateral trade a n d a l so boost I ndian i nvestments in
Russ i a . Concerns had a l so been expressed after I nd i a came to be a s sociated with countries of potenti a l
i m m i grants w h o made the i r w ay i nto E u rope v i a Russ i a . ( R u s s i a w a nts t o e a s e visa ru l e s , R amesh
Ramach a n d ra n , AA. B, 26. 1 2. 0 5 , T40)
T50 Africa
Kenya tou r i sm has decided to step up its ca m pa i g n in I nd i a w i th a focu s on the FIT (free i nd i v i d u a l travel)
m arket. Over 32 , 000 I nd i a n s l a st yea r v i s i ted the Afric a n rep u bl i c , known world ove r for its w i l d l ife safar i s .
T h e n umber o f I nd i a n visi tors has been ris i ng s i nce 200 1 w h e n o n ly a modest 9,000 people visited Kenya .
The tou ri s m board offic i a l s s a i d I nd i a n a rriva l s were u p 3 1 % l a st yea r. Thi s yea r t h e ta rget w a s a 3 5%
2 0 05 - 0 6
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Documenta tion Update
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i ncrease i n traffic over the '05 base. I nd i a n visitor s pends was a lso on the rise s pending $200/300 a day, the
d u ration of stay in Kenya h a d gone u p from 4/5 days to 9/ 1 0 days n ow.
Tou rism recei pts for Kenya were i n the region of $550/560 m i l l ion l ast calendar. I nternational a rrivals were
a bout 1 .6 mi l l io n , spl it equa l ly between c ross· border tou r i sts a n d v i s i tors from outside the conti nent. The
l argest contingent of tourists was from Europe and the US, w h i l e I nd i a was the biggest contri butor from Asi a ,
offi c i a l s . (Kenya Tourism to Focus O n F I T Ma rket,
1 8.02.06, T50)
T60 Europe
An I nd i a n traveller to Europe now need never worry how to explore the contin ent. R a i l Europe, a joi nt venture
of the French a n d Swiss nationa l rai l ways, w i l l ta rget trave l l ers t h rough i ts newly·opened l i a i so n office i n
Bangalore. Ra i l Europe, ba sed i n Pa ris, i s i n c h a rge of promot i o n a n d s a l e of E u ropea n rai l ti ckets i n Asi a ,
Austri a , Africa a n d South America. I t h a s a lso opened a l ia ison office i n M u m ba i . Ra i l E u rope doe s n ot sel l
tic kets d i rect l y to the e nd-consum er, but promotes a n d sel l s t h rough a n etwork of 70 genera l sales a gents
t h roughout the world. Rail Eu rope offers Eura i l passes that ena bles one to visit 17 countries i nc l u d i ng Austria ,
Belgi u m , Denmark, F i n l a n d , Fra nce, Germa ny, G reece, H u ngary, Ita ly, Luxemburg, N etherl a nds, Norway,
Portugal , Rep u b l ic of I re l a n d , Spa i n , Swede n a n d Switzerland. It a l so offers poi nt-to-point t ickets and t ra i n
journey reservations o n t h e C h a nnel t u n nel t ra i n E u rost a r a n d t h e high·speed tra i n from Pa ris t o Brussels,
Amsterd a m a nd Cologne. The Eu ra i l pa sses entitle one to free o r d i scou nt fare travel on ferries and buses.
The price s range from $588 to $ 1 ,654. (Ra i l E u rope opens office in !3a ngalore, I E.C, 26.08.05, T60)
I Documenta t ion Update I 2 0 0 5
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I NTERNATIONAL ECO N O MY .
U 30 GATT/World Trade Orga n i sation
To wrest be neficial reci procity from t h e developed world , New Del h i set t o rob itself of t h e freedom t o reverse
FDI pol icies once they a re l i bera l i sed a utonomously. I n its revi sed offer on services to be made shortly under
WTO's Doha rou n d , I nd i a is l i kely to effect substantial q u a l itative i m p rovements in ' M odes' and the n u mber
of services. ( Fresh services offer may b i n d I nd i a to sectora l FDI caps, K G N a rendra na t h , F E . B, 2 5 .0 5 . 0 5 ,
U 30)
The Europea n Union offered ' i mproved' access for foreign com panies to its service i n dustries such as banki ng,
energy a n d tourism, a key step in negotiations for a global free t rade pact. The EU's revised offer comes a mi d
i n tense debate over how far too open u p t h e service sector across 25- nation bloc itself, with western European
countries a nxious a bout the prospects of l ow-cost competition from new members to the east. Sent by the
E u ro pe a n C om m i s s i o n to the Geneva - ba sed Wor l d 'Trad e O rg a n i sa t i o n (WTO), the offer exe mpts f rom
i nternational competition sensitive sectors that provide public services. (EU widens access to services for
WTO dea l , F E . B, 0 3 . 06 . 0 5 , U30)
I nd i a h a s s a i d t h a t the ' e nvironment p roject a p proach' ( E PA) it sugge sted for i d entifyi ng envi ron menta l
goods for preferenti a l t a riff treatment c a nn ot be compleme nta ry to the ' l i st a p p roach' bei ng promoted by
developed countries l i ke the US a n d the E U. Stating that it was a sta nd a lone a p proa c h , I nd i a i nvited Wor l d
Trade Orga n isati on (WTO) members t o del i be rate on the structu ral a n d substa ntive d i mensions o f the E PA .
C urrently, d i scussions a re on a t t h e WTO c o m m i ttee on t r a d e a n d env i ro nment (CTE) on ways to i d e nt ify
e nvi ron menta l goods that should be given preferenti a l ta riff treatment by members. The Doha d ec l a ration
(whi c h is the ba s i s for the on-going rou nd) had man dated the e l i m i nation of ta riff a n d non·ta riff barriers to
trade in envi ron menta l goods and services.
As per the l i st a pproa c h , members a re supposed to agree on a l ist of e nv i ron mental products which wou l d
be given preferenti a l tariff t reatment. I nd i a , however, feel s that the a pproa ch i s com p l i ca t ed a s i t i s very
d ifficult to a rrive at a consensus on what p roducts shoul d q u a l i ty as environment products. I nstea d , I nd i a i s
a dvocati n g t h e E PA , u nder which p referenti a l ta riff treatment wou l d b e o n ly given to t h e p rod ucts used i n
i dentified envi ronmental projects.
M a ny deve lo p i ng countries have expressed thei r i n a b i l ity to contri bute effectively to the debate a n d h ave a
perception that the ' l i st a pproach' only succeeds i n expanding market access for developed country products
without concomitant benefits to developing countries.
According to I nd ia 's p l a n s , a l l countries should p ut i n place a Designated National Authority (DNA) to identify
envi ron mental projects. The WTO CTE would formulate late the criteria to be a ppl ied by the DNA in determ i n i ng
if a n envi ronmental project q u a l ifies for tariff concessions on envi ronmental goods a n d services. The D NA's
role woul d be that of exa m i n i ng a pp l i cations i n l ight of those c rite ria . (I ndia pushes for eco p roject a pproach
for ta riff benefits, Amiti Sen , FE. B, 07.07.05, U 30)
I nd i a h a s stepped up i ts efforts to stre n gthen its a l l i a n ce with G - 3 3 cou ntries a n d h a s a l so become a n
aggressive pa rtner i n the A B I grou p (Argent i n a , B raz i l a n d I nd i a ) t o ta ke on t h e U S , E U a n d other nations a t
the proposed WTO m i ni sterial meeti ng. As a part o f its strategy, I nd i a , a m i d renewed bonhomie w i t h the US
and EU, has p l a n ne d to a ggre s sive l y seek a com m i tment from t hese countries on cross border services,
specifica l ly trade reform that wou l d e n s u re outsou rci ng to I nd i a i s n ot p ro h i bited. I n d i a has put forwa rd a
services offer which makes fresh commitments on Mode 3 (a l l owi ng establ ishment of commercia l presence)
a n d Model 1 (coveri n g c rossbord e r s u pply of services). I t has a l so ca l l ed u pon the US a n d other nations to
l ower custom duties. I n d i a has a lready communicated to WTO members i ts stand on further i mp rovement on
M od e4 (services a n d trade). M od e 4 a d d ressed t h e movement of n a t u ra l person s a n d rel ates to visa
regul ations. ( I nd i a to see k commitments on outsourc i n g a t WTO meet, Sa njay Jog, F E . B, 1 6.09.05, U30)
2005
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U n d ou bted ly the outcome of the Sixt h M i n i steria l Conference of the Worl d Trade Orga n i sation (WTO) that
con c l uded i n Hong Kon g on December 25 was mod est. The biggest achievement is that the Mini steri a l did
not flop. A second col l a pse after Ca ncun would have been real ly disastrous for the multilatera l tra d i ng system .
Whi le a fa iled M i n i steri a l puts t h e a genda i n a reverse gea r, a successfu l o n e at lea st sends a positive s i gn a l .
The second i m portant result i s, for the second time i n a row, countries of the South not only rem a i ned u n ited,
but rei n forced their unity, tel l ing the North that enough is enough.
Ca ncun to Hong Kong: After the Cancun fiasco, i t took three-fo u r months for the negotiators to come to the
negotiating ta ble and resume the dia l ogue. Th is resulted in the "July Package " , w h i ch once a g a i n ra i sed the
e�pectat i o n s of the deve l o p i ng countries. A l a s , the e u p h o r i a c reated by the J u ly Fra mework Agreement
proved short-l ive d . Back home, WTO members s uccum bed to the rea l politic a nd started s inging in d ifferent
tunes. The result: The Doha Roun d once aga i n pl unged i nto serious cri s i s . Thi s is evi dent from the fact that in
the run up to the Hong Kong M i n i steria l , the draft decla ration was supposed to be released after the General
Cou n c i l (GC) meet i n g of J u ly 05, i n what was ca l led "J u ly A p p roxi mations" . But the GC meeti n g fa i led to
evol ve a consen sus.
What happened at Hong Kong? The Hong Kong M i n i sterial Meeti ng began on a pessim istic note. I t turned i nto
a fou r·corner contest, w i t h the G·20 a n d the G · 3 3 on one side, a nd the EU, the US a nd the l ea st deve l o ped
cou ntries ( LDCs) on the other. As usua l . d eveloped countries started sheddi ng croco d i l e tears for LDCs. A
plethora of hollow promises i n the form "ai d for trade", duty- a n d quota ·free ma rket a ccess a n d many more
were served to the LDCs. The main objective was to shift the focus from the core agenda of trade l i bera lisation.
The G·20 a n d the G·33, on their pa rt, tried to be practi c a l . They rea l i sed that it wou l d be foo l i s h to expect any
a mbitious result from Hong Kong, given the prevai l i ng d ivergence of opinions on agriculture. They deman ded
that on export subsid ies, as per the " Ju ly Fra mework" Agreement, the WTO members had to agree only on
the end date of their e l i m i nation, which woul d have been the easiest thing to implement.
U nfortunately, i n stead of d i scussing this, the two major t ra d i n g giants, the E U a n d the US, got enta ngled i n
a dog a nd cat fight over givi ng food a i d to poor countries. Fi n a l ly, o n December 1 6 , the fi rst·ever joint G-20
and G ·90 M i n i steri a l · level meet i n g took p l a ce. The Commerce M i n i ster, Mr Ka m a l Nath, and his Brazi l i a n
counterpart, Mr Celso Amorin , were both i nstrumental i n buil d i ng this grand a l l i a nce of 1 1 0 cou ntries covering
four·fifth of the h u m a nity. Thi s thwarted and ca l led the bluff of the rich cou ntries to l u re the LDCs and d ivide
the u n ity of the South.
End res u lt of Hong Kong: The outcome of Hong Kong was modest, w h i c h was not u n ex pected . The m a i n
demand of the G·20 t o eliminate export subsidies by 20 1 0 was not accepted by the EU; i n stead , a compromise
date of 2 0 1 3 was agreed with some fron tloa d i ng. This a l so c u l m i nates w i th the EU Common Agric ul tu ra l
Pol i cy refor m . What i s most u nfortu n ate i s t h a t the l an g u a ge o n export s u bs id i e s h a s been made m o re
complex. The G·20 c a n no more say that t h i s wi l l be e a sy to i mp lement. On p rovid i ng d u ty a n d quota-free
market a ccess to LDCs, the dema n d of i nc l ud i n g a l l products has not been accepted unequivocally. However,
the text o n non-agricultura l market a ccess ( NA MA) gives a sense of comfort to some extent a s ta riff peaks
a n d e sc a l a t i o n wou l d be red uced or a pprop r i a te l y e l i m i n a ted by u s i ng the Swiss For m u l a w i t h m u l t i p l e
coefficients. P reference eros i o n , w h i c h is o n e o f t h e major fea rs o f LDCs, has been recogn i sed i n the text.
Lessons from Hong Kong: Developing cou ntries need to develop a n a l ternative to Northern ma rkets. Thi s i s
only pos s i ble through greater South·South cooperation o n trade a nd economic i ssues. This shou ld a lso cover
the l a rger issues of technica l assista nce and capacity-building. Greater South·South trade will further strengthen
differe n t South a l l ia n ce s i n the WTO w h i c h , at present, a re more pol i t i c a l i n n a t u re. Over the l as t decade
( 1 990·200 1 ), developi n g economies have grown much faster tha n developed ones and tra nsition countries
a nd a re expected to conti n u e to do so in the coming yea rs. (Another s how of South sol i d a rity, Pradeep S.
Mehta & Pra n av Ku m a r, B L . B, 29. 1 2 . 0 5 , U30)
U31 GATS
As trade tal ks gather force towards the Sixth M i n i steria l Meet at Hong Kong, the Genera l Agreement on Trad e
i n Services (GATS) con t i nues to stu m p negotiators. With only 50 cou ntries (counti n g t h e 25 EU membe rs a s
one) maki ng 'offers' s o far, services, a long with agricu lture, is expected to b e a key a rea of co ntention a t the
December summit.
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GATS continues to be ' worki ng progress': A mong the 1 2 services sectors u nder the GATS, tou rism has seen
t h e most a c t i o n . At l a st count, 1 25 of its 1 48 m e m bers had m a d e c o m m i t ments to open t h e i r tou r i s m
sectors. The i m p l i cation of t h i s i s t h a t most WTO members c o n s i d e r free trade rules i n touri s m a s good
poli cy. I nd i a a l ready has a highly l i bera l i sed tou ri s m policy a n d i n a submission to the WTO in January 2004,
it signalled its i ntention to further open up.
Tourism is a very complex sector, closely l i n ked to abroad range of economic, soc i a l and cultura l pol i cies a nd
has s pi l l -over i mpacts i nto many other sectors of a n economy. U nfortunately, pol i cymakers seem obl ivious to
these concer n s , reflected by the fact that tour i s m pol i cy i n the country i s characteri sed by l a c k of p roper
laws a nd violations of those in p l a ce.
Recent a n a lysis by EQUAT I O N S, a p o l i cy resea rc h N G O · b a sed i n B a n g a l ore, shows it is p reci sely t h i s
envi ronment of u nderdeve loped pol i cy a n d poor i m plementation, combined with t h e pressure t o m a ke Gats
c o m m it me nts that c reates a rea l t h reat to the a dva n ce me n t of a s u sta i n able tou r i s m pol i cy. G ive n the
d i ve rsity that exists in terms of tou rist dest i nations i n I nd i a a n d correspond i n g pol i cy req u i rements, it i s
optimal that the representative governments of the area effectively enforce planning, regul ation and monitoring
of tourism projects. 'It is wel l recogni sed that GATS w i l l i ntrude i nto these democratic s pa ces, as commitments
made by the commerce mi nistry wi l l a pply to a l l regional and local gove rn ment a uthorities, ' says K T S uresh
of Equations. Ta ke the case of the recently passed Keral a Tou ri s m (Conservation a n d P reservation of Areas)
A ct , 2005 . The Act a l l ows the Keral a gove r n ment to d ec l a re a ny a rea i n the state a s a tou r i s m zone a nd
empowers a committee to regulate a ctivities i nside such zones. Equations says such l egislation, that recognise
the need for s u sta i na b l e p l a n n i ng a n d dece nt ra l i sed poli cy, w i l l run a fo u l of GATS. I n J a n ua ry 2004, I nd i a
signalled its i ntention t o have n o q ua ntitative l i mitations o n foreign enterprises i n the hotel s a n d tour operator
category. Says Equations, this mean s that the national a n d , more i mportantly, regional and local governments
w i l l not be a b l e to restr i ct the activities of foreign touri s m providers i n eco l ogic a l l y-fragi l e tou ris m a reas.
'Added to a freeze o n s u s ta i n a b l e pol i cy this h i t s a t the h e a rt of d emocra t i c decision m a ki ng, ' says Mr
Suresh . (Tourism: sunset for susta i n a ble pol i cy? Local governments need to be kept in the loop before maki ng
commitments, Benny Kuruvi l l a , FE.C, 1 5.06.05, U 3 1 )
The I nd i a n delegation a t t h e World Trade Organ i sa tion h a s s u b mitted a Revised Offer i n Augu st 2005 i n the
ongoing negotiations u nder the Genera l Agreement on Trade i n Services (GATS) of the WTO. The revised offer
i s conditional on other WTO membe rs.
The backgro u n d of t he revised offer i s a s fol l ows. As part of the ongo i ng negotiations, offers were i n i t i a l ly
made i n the Doha Round i n sectors/ su b·sectors covered i n the com mitments made i n the U ruguay Rou n d .
T h e seven sectors covered were:
•
Busi ness services
•
Communication services
•
Construction a n d related engineeri ng services
•
Financial services
•
Health rel ated a n d soc i a l services
•
Tou rism a nd t ravel rel ated service s
•
Tran s port services
Expanded offer: The revised offer i ncludes fou r other sectors in which either i nitial offers were not made i n the
Doha Rou nd or commitments were not taken in the U ruguay Rou nd. These a re distribution services, education
services, enviro n mental services, a n d recreat i on a l , c u l t u ra l a n d s porting services. I n a l l , the revi sed offer
covers 1 1 sectors.
Supply modes: I nd i a is more i nterested in M odes 1 a nd 4. The Mode 4 i n terest a ri ses from the p resence of
a l a rge s k i l l ed a nd competitive workforce. O n the other h a n d , core competen ce i n IT e n a b l ed services w i l l
e n a b l e I nd i a to t a ke a dva ntage o f Mode 1 or c ross·border supply o f services. T i l l now, I nd i a h a d been very
conservative i n its overa l l a pproa c h . I n fact, i n areas such as financi a l services, commitments l agged beh i nd
even a utonomous l i be ra l isati o n . I t i s hearte n i ng to note that, given the suc cess that I nd i a h a s achieved i n
respect o f services export a n d t h e bu rge o n i n g foreign excha n ge reserves, t he re i s n ow more confid e n ce
while conducti ng i nternational trade negotiations.
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List of sectors: As mentioned earl ier, I nd i a has offered extensive comm itments i n a n u m ber of new sectors/
sub-sectors. I mp rovements have a l so been m a de in the existi ng commitments i n a n u m ber of sectors.
I nd i a had a l ready made a substa nti a l Mode 4 i n itial offer by i nc l u d i ng a l l categories of natura l person s such
as i ntra-corporate transferees, busi ness visitors, contractual service suppliers and i ndependent professiona l s.
Sectors/ sub·sectors offered i nclude the following:
1 . Busi ness services: Professional services; accounting & book·keep i ng serv ices (excluding a uditing services);
a rchitectural services; i ntegrated e ngineering services; and urban plan n i ng and l andscape architectural services.
Medical a nd dental services: Veterinary services; and services provided by m idwives, nurses, physiotherapists
a n d pa ra· medical services.
R&D services : R&D in agri cultural sciences; and R&D in soc i a l sciences and h u m a n i ties.
Rea l estate services: O n a fee or contra ct b a s i s .
Ren ta l / leasing services (without operators)
Other busi ness services: Ma n agement consult i n g services; services incidental to fishi ng; services i ncidenta l
to e nergy d i stri bution (excl u d i n g e n e rgy tra d i n g a n d l o a d d i s pa tc h functions); p l a ce ment a n d s u p p l y of
person nel ; ma i ntena nce a n d repai r of equipme nt (not i nc l ud i ng ma ritime vessels, a i rcraft or other transport
equi pment); buildi ng clean ing services; packaging services; convention services; and s pecialty design services.
2. D istribution services (exc l u d i ng l ive a n i m a l s)
- Com m i ssion a gents' services coveri ng sales on a fee or contra ct basi s of: a gricultura l raw materia l s; food
products excluding beverages and tobacco; machinery, i ndustri a l equipment and veh icles; furniture, household
goods, hardware and i ronmongery.
- Wholesale trad e services: a gricultura l raw materi a l s ; food p roducts exc l u d i ng beverages and tobacco;
texti les, c l ot h i ng, and footwear; household a p p l i a nces, a rticles a n d e q u i pment; m i scel l a neous con s u mer
goods; machi n ery, equipme nt a n d s u ppl ies
3 . Education services: H i gher education services
4. Environmenta l services: Refuse d isposal services ; and sanitation and s i m il a r services
5 . I n s u r a n ce and i ns u ra nce rel ated services: Life i ns u ra nce; and services a uxi l i a ry to i n su ra nce such a s
conSUltan cy, actuari a l , risk a ssessment.
6. Banking and other fin a n c i a l services (exc l u d i ng i n s u ra n ce): Asset management such a s cash or portfoli o
management, all forms o f collective i nvestment management, pension fund management, custodi a l , depository
a n d other trust services.
7. Tou rism a nd travel rel ated services : Tou rist guides services.
8 . Recreation a l , cultura l and s porting services ( other than a u d i o-vi s u a l services): E nterta i n me nt services
( i n cl ud i ng theatre, l ive bands a n d c i rcus services); and sporting a nd other recreat i o n a l servi ces (exc l u d i ng
l ottery, ga m bl i ng a n d betting services)
9. Tran s port servi ces : M ariti me t ra ns port services.
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Maritime auxi l i a ry services: maritime cargo h a n d l i n g services; storage a n d w a rehousing services i n ports;
customs c leara nce services; contai ner station and depot services; maritime agency services; mariti me freight
forwardi ng services; i nternational rental ! charter of vessels with crew or on bareboat basis (excluding cabotage
a nd offshore transport); m a i ntena n ce a n d repa i rs of seagoing vessel s ; s h i p broking service
- A i r tran s port services: mai nte n ance a nd repai r of a ircraft.
( I nd i a expa nds a ccess offer u nd e r GATS, Abhijit Roy, T H . B, 03. 1 0.05, U 3 1 )
U41 Worl d Ban k
O n h i s f i rst v i s i t t o I nd i a after t a k i ng c h a rge, World B a n k P re s i de n t Pau l Wolfowitz , w a s confronted w i t h
voc i fe rous protests a ga i n st "the Ban k's pol icies a n d conditionalities o f water privatisation th rough t h e back
door. " The message of the agitators to the World Ba n k c hief was: " H a nd s Off Water. " I n his meeti n g here
with three representatives of the protesti ng environmenta l i sts, water a n d women's groups u n de r the banner
of Citizen's Front for Water Democracy, M r. Wolfowitz i s understood to have sai d that he was n ot aware of the
i ssue. "Th e n stop giving l o a n s for water privatisation. We w i l l decide what to do; the Ba n k does not have to
i m pose its fi n a n c i a l muscle to h a n d over o u r water su pply a n d water services to globa l corporations," the
thre e rep re sentatives - Va nda na Sh iva of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology a nd Ecology;
S.A. N aqvi of the Water Workers' A l l i an ce ; a nd Amarjeet Kau r of the N ational Federation of I nd i a n Women
told M r. Wolfowitz.
Memora ndum submitted: D r. Shiva said that the representatives impressed u pon the B a n k chief that "water
was sacred i n I nd i a a n d we wil l n ot a l l ow its commodificati on." The B a n k bel i eves i n p rovi d i ng " a l l water for
some (through privatisation a n d h i gh ta riffs) a n d no water for most, whereas we bel ieve in some for a i L " The
people's rep resentatives s u b m i tted a m e mora ndum to M r. Wol fowitz . The memora nd u m poi nted out that
over the yea rs the Bank gave l oa ns to I nd i a to build la rge dams and d ri l l deep tu be wel l s ma k i ng the rivers
and aquifers d ry.
The memora nd u m sai d : "Firstly, the ban k is u s i n g its loans a s conditionality for privati sation. Secondly, i t i s
reducing the u niversal a ccess system o f p u bl i c uti l ities to a privi leged access t o i n d u stry a n d 24x7 supplies
for rich u rba n a reas. Thi rd ly, i t i s d i verting l i m i ted and sca rce water from rura l a re a s to u rb a n a reas, thus
undermi n i ng the M i l lenn i u m Development Goal to reduce by half the proportion of people without susta i n a ble
access to safe d ri nk i ng water. Fourthly, the Worl d Bank is forci ng governments a nd public uti l i ties to i ncrease
water tariffs a n d to commodify water, undermi n i ng people's fundamental right to wate r as pa rt of the right to
life.
Fifthly, s ince its p rojects a re based o n non-susta i na bl e wate r u se, World Ban k p rojects a re fa i l i ng as i s clear
i n the case of Soni a Vihar plant i n Del h i a n d Veeran a m project in Ta mil Nadu. (Hands off water, protesters tel l
World Bank president; Demonstrations a ga i n st bank's Policies, conditionality; Wolfowitz says he i s not aware
of i ssue, T H. B, 3 1 .08.05 , U4 1 )
U43 Asia n Devel opment Bank
The Asia n Deve l o pm e n t B a n k ( A D B ) i s l i kely to fund a development p roject i n n o r t h Ka rn a t a k a costi n g
around $400 million. The Karnataka U rban I nfrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUI D FC) Managing
Director, M r K . P. Krish n a n , said that a n ADB team w i l l soon visit the State to d i scuss the i ssue with offici a l s
from t h e State Govern me nt. Add ress i ng a workshop o n "Sh a ri ng best practi ses on u rban sector projects i n
I nd i a , " said the eight·year project would need the Centre's a pproval before i m plementation. M r Krishnan said
a bout 25 tow n s w i l l benefit from the project. The ADB has recently funded p rojects l i ke the $ 1 45 - m i l l io n
project i n 1 0 towns i n coastal Karnataka a nd a $ 1 07 · mi l l ion project i n Mysore, M andya, Maddur, Channapatn a ;
Ramnagaram a n d Tumkur. M r Krishnan s a i d the A D B is tryi n g to streaml i n e i t s project processi ng norms to
reduce the lead ti me from conception to loan a pprovals. (ADB may fund development project i n north Karnataka,
B L . B, 1 4.05.05, U43)
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) i s to spend nearly $ 1 b i l l ion over the next three years on projects a imed
a t developing closer regional cooperation . The $952-mi l l ion is part of the bank's Centra l Asia Regional Economic
Cooperation (CA R EC) programme, which was a p proved earlier t h i s month_ CAR EC w i l l focu s on tran s port.
e nergy a n d trade in the 2006-2008 progra mme, which i n cl udes 1 6 major projects tota l l i ng $943 m i l l io n and
1 3 technical assistance projects total ling $9 m i l lion. The program me is an a l l iance comprising eight countries
- Afgh a n i sta n , Azerba ija n , C h i n a , Kaza khsta n , Kyrgyzsta n , Mongol i a , Taj i kistan a nd Uzbekistan a nd six
multilatera l i n stitutions: ADB, Europea n B a n k for Reconstruction and Development, I nternational Moneta ry
Fund, I slamic Development B a n k , U nited Nations Development Program me a n d World Bank. (AD B to push $
1 bn programme for regional cooperation, FE. B, 25. 1 1 .05, U43)
Non -governmental organ isations ( NGOs) and socia l gro u ps a cross Asia and I nd i a a re a l l set to come together
to protest agai n st the Asian Development Bank (ADB) sched u l ed to hold its 39th A n n ua l Governors' Meeti ng
(AG M) in Hyderabad from May 3-6. The Governors a re t he h ighest l evel of decis i o n m a kers i n the A D B a n d
t h e current Chai r o f t h e AGM i s U nion F i n ance M i n ister P. Chidambara m .
Over 6 0 projects: The A D B i s t h e thi rd l a rgest source o f development fi n a nce i n t h e Asia - Pa cific region, next
to the World Ba n k a n d t he J a p anese Government. I n 2004, the A D B 's tot a l l e n d in g was $ 5 . 3 b i l l ion which
was u sed to pro mote 64 projects in the publ i c policy sectors. Private sector a s s i st ance was to the tune of
$ 807 . 2 m i l l i o n . The A D B 's l a rgest borrowers i n 2004 were C h i n a a n d I nd i a , each receiving $ 1 .3 b i l l io n ,
a bout 2 4 % of t h e total lending.
Net i mpact : Descri bi ng the Hyderabad AGM a s an opportu nity to work with the groups in A n d h ra Pradesh,
the People's For u m Aga i nst ADB has cal led movements, comm u n ities, organ i sations a nd activists in I nd i a
a n d a c ross A s i a to rise u p a ga i nst neo- l i bera l i s m . Whether t h rough World Ba n k or A D B p rojects, t h e net
impacts o n communities a n d societies a re the same, espec i a l ly on the rural and u rban poor, workers, agraria n
commun ities, Dal its, tri bals, women , peasants, f i s h workers, hawkers a n d s l u m dwel lers, the Forum s a i d . The
A D B i s a secretive, non-transparent a n d u na ccountable i nstitution, the Forum has pointed out. The ADB does
not faci l itate publi c participation in development p l a n n i ng a n d access to i nformation. I ts projects conti nue to
d i splace hundreds of thousands of people across the region with l i ttle or no compensatio n , it s a i d . (Ca l l for
protests agai nst ADB, Aarti Dhar, T H . B, 26.03.06, U43)
The Asi a n Development Bank plans to l aunch several types of a theoretical Asian currency u n it (ACU) comprising
a b a s ket of A s i a n c urrencies, and w i l l a nn o unce deta i l s by the end of J u ne. Masa h i ro Kawa i , head of the
ADB's office of regional economic integration, declined to say what types of u nits the M a n i l a-based i nstitution
p l a n s to i ni ti a l ly l au n ch a long with an a l ready p l a nned ACU, u s i n g the ASEAN+ c u rrencies which it hopes w i l l
eve nt ua l ly l e a d t o AC U -denomi nated b o n d i s s u a n ce. B u t he s a i d the A D B cou l d consider compi l i ng other
u nits that i ncl ude t he Ho"n g Kon g a nd Ta iwa n dol l a rs, the I nd i a n rupee, a nd c urrencies of other members.
AS EAN + 3 comprise A S EA N 's 10 members p l u s C h i n a , J a p a n and South Kore a . ASEAN g ro u ps Bru n e i ,
Cambod i a , I ndonesi a , Laos, M a l aysia , Mya nmar, t h e P h i l i pp i nes, S i ngapore, Tha i l a n d a nd Viet n a m . (AD B
pla ns t o l a unch 'theoretica l ' common currency for ASEAN p l u s 3 , B L. B, 28.03.06, U43)
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CU LT U R E AN D SOCI ETY .
Xll Soc i a l a n d Pol itical Systems
B i n a kadatti became the fi rst gra m pa n ch ayat i n the Ka rnata ka , where the newly ele cted members of t h e
gram panchayat comme nced t h e i r work w i t h a l ot o f a d m i n i strative a n d financial powers t h a t Panchayat Raj
I nstitut i o n s i n t h e cou ntry n ever enjoyed before. B i n k a d a katti Gram P a n chayat, w h i c h covers t h e nea rby
H i re h a n di go l vi l l age too, a rranged its fi rst gram s a b h a to d i sc u ss the for m u l at i o n of the five·yea r pl a n i n
genera l a n d its first a n n u a l p l a n for 2005-2006.
Acco u nta b i l i ty: U nder the Ka rnataka Pa n chayat Raj Act, gram s a b h a s have been conceived as bod ies to
w h i c h the gram p a n chayats a re a ccountable a nd to whom the p a n c h a ya t s shou l d p resent a ccou nts, a n d
con s u l t them o n t h e for mu lation o f p l a ns . The A c t a l so h a s a provision for w a rd sab h a s t o e n s u re g reater
partici pation of the people in the run n i ng of the l owest of the three-tier Pa n chayat Raj I nstitutions.
Deci sions: The gra m sabha i s at l i berty to return governments schemes that a re of no releva nce or u t i l i ty to
them and prepare their own plan for the a l l·round welfare of the people of that particular area. They (members)
should e n su re that no person s lept h u ngry a nd no c h i l d i s out of schoo l .
Vision: Mr. B a l i ga r ( Principal Secretary, Dept o f Rural Development & Panchayat Raj) u nvei led a vision u nder
w h i c h the vi l lage p a nchayat cou l d go in for p l a n n i ng, m eet the needs of i nfra structure , secure eco n o m i c
ema nci p a t i o n b y givi n g w o r k to every pai r of h a nd s , a n d prov i d i n g a purposeful role f o r the Stree Sha kti
grou p s. The p a n c h ayat could cons i d er identify i ng the agri c u l tural l a bourers a n d a rra nge to get them five
guntas of l a nd so that they coul d go in for cul tivation of vegetables a n d fruits which should m a ke them sta nd
on their feet. (A hi storic d ay in pa nch ayat raj h istory, M a d a n M o h a n , T H . B, 0 5 . 04.05, X I I )
State governments a n d U nion territories have been a sked to com pl ete the mappi ng for different tiers of the
Panchayat Raj I nstitutions ( P R l s) i n the next three months. The m a pp i ng was to be completed by the end of
the l a st fi n a n c i a l yea r. The 1 1th five-yea r P l a n wou l d be ba sed on the p l a n s prepared by the D i strict P l a n n i ng
Committees, which woul d consolidate the p l a n s prepared by panchayats and municipal ities. The 1 2th Finance
Commi ssion has recommended a provi sion of Rs 20,000 crore for panchayats for five yea rs, accord i ng to a n
officia l release. The meet ing, chai red by Wajahat Habi b u l l a h, Secretary, M i n i stry of Pa nchayati Raj, was held
to review the progress of the implementation of the 1 50 recommendations of the seven round table conferences
of state Panchayati Raj ministers held l ast year. The process was to be underta ken on the bas i s of identification
of a ctivities relating to the devolved functions of P R l s through the princi ple of su bsid i a ry. ( Ea rly ma p p i ng of
pa n ch ayats sought , FE. B, 1 3.04.05, X I I )
The U nion M i n i ster of Law a n d J u stice, K . R . B h a rdwaj, said that the Government was drafting a separate law
on pa nchayat cou rts (gram nyaya l ayas) w h i ch wou l d be i ntegrated i nto the existi ng Pa n chayati Raj system
but not at the cost of d i l uting the q u a l ity of j ustice. Stating that he had a l ready sta rted i nteractions with the
M i n i stry of Panchayati Raj, a n d the National Advisory Council ( NAC), Mr. Bhardwaj said he would consult non·
governmenta l organ i sations that had worked i n this field before d rafting the l a w.
Poi nt i ng out that the existing panchayat system had become politici sed i n m a ny states, Mr. B h a rdwaj s a i d
t h a t people i n rural areas should not feel t h a t their rights woul d he s natched away b y t h e proposed panchayat
courts. M r. B h ardwaj sai d that the p l a n for pa n chayat courts wou l d i nvolve at least 2000 courts a n d more
than 4000 j udges. He s a i d that he woul d l i ke to i nvolve more women j udges a n d that the Government woul d
i ntroduce t h e element o f legal a i d by paying for legal a i d l awyers t o a ss i st t h e courts. (Pa nchayat courts l a w
bei n g drafted, Rural people w i l l be protected: Bhardwaj , S iddharth N a r ra i n , T H . B, 2 1 . 08. 0 5 , X I I )
The Centre a sked state governments not t o d ivert funds mea nt for Pa nchayats, sayi n g such "interventions"
d i srupt the effective fu ncti oning of the l ocal bodies. "I a m of the strong view that the funds sanctioned by the
gover n ment s hou l d d i rectly go t o the p a n chayats a n d t here s ha l l be no i nterru ption and i n terve ntion by
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a nybody, " M i n i ster of State for External Affairs E A h med said. I n such a scenari o "panchayats find i t difficult
t o fulfi l t h e i r roles d u e to p a u ci ty of fun d s . " (Centre asks states n ot to d ivert funds of local bod ies, F E . B,
2 5 . 0 1 .06, X l ! )
U n i on Min ister for Petroleum and Natura l Gas a nd Panchayati Raj M a n i S h a n ka r Aiyar expressed shock at the
state of the Pa nchayati Raj system i n Lakshadweep. H e said that there was no Panchayati Raj worth its name
i n La kshadweep. H e was completing a one-day visit to the U nion Territory during whi ch he attended a combined
meeting of vil l a ge a n d district panchayats at Andrott. Mr. Aiyar said that it was a tragedy that the governance
was virtu a l ly concentrated i n t h e h a n d s of bure a ucrats ren deri n g the pa n chayats mere append a ge s to a
whol ly Government-run a d m i n i strative system of pla n n i ng a n d representation. He said u n less the Centre set
an exa mple of outstanding Panchayati system i n U nion Territories, as it was responsi ble for U n ion Territories,
it woul d become an e m ba rrassment for the Govern ment to seek better Pa nchayat i Raj system in States. Mr.
Aiya r said that he, a long with Mr. Reghupathy, had worked out a draft action p l a n for reviving the Pa nchayati
Raj system in the a rc h ipelago, which was agreed on between the Central officia l s and a spectrum of e l ected
vi l l a ge a nd d i strict panchayat members. The a ction p l a n would be fi n a l i sed i n Del h i . (Panchayati Raj o n ly i n
n a me i n Lakshadweep: M i n ister, TH . B, 2 5 . 0 1 .06, X l ! )
X12 Tri bes a n d Deve l opment
T h e Centre has decided to a mend the Forest Conservation A c t 1 980 t h a t wi l l enable Schedu l e Tri be s to get
owners h i p rights on the l an d where they were l ivi ng. The a mended l eg i s l ation wi l l be tabled in the M on soon
Session of Pa rliament. Tri b a l s have no right on the land where they l ive. The total population of triba l s in the
country is 8.5 crore. Now the government has decided to a mend the Forest Conservation Act 1 980. Provisions
of the FCA s h o u l d be suitably a m e nded t o a l l ow d eve l o p me n t a ctivities to be taken up i n si d e the forests.
Most of the states a re dema n d i n g a m e n d ments t o t h e a ct to fac i l i tate the regu l a ri sation of settl ements
i nside forests. (Centre may a mend act to h e l p tri b a l s get l a n d , P ra mod Kumar, AA. B, 24.0 7 . 0 5 , X 1 2)
X14 H u m a n R i ghts of Tri bes
The Punarvasan Sangharsh Samiti (PSS), Nandurbar, and various other tribal rights organ isations i n Maharashtra
have l a u n ched a month·long campaign for the i mmed i ate tabl i ng of the Schedu led Tri bes ( Recognition of
Forest R i ghts) B i l l , 2005 in Parlia ment even a s conservationists a n d the Forest Depa rtment are o pposi ng its
provisions.
Encouraged by the i ntroduction of the N ational Rura l E m ployment Guara ntee B i l l in Pa rlia ment, t here h a s
b e e n mobi l i sa t i o n i n the a di v a s i a re a s o f M a h a ra s htra f o r the b i l l to be pa ssed . S i nce A u gu st 1 6 , from
N a n durba r in Maharashtra , the P SS has l a unched a series of mass meet i n gs i n va rious tri bal pockets, which
wi l l end i n Gandhi naga r i n Gujarat, on Septem ber 1 9 .
T h e Cam pa i gn for S urvival a n d Dignity, a federation of a divasi a n d forest people's orga n i sations from a cross
the country, h a s been puffi ng pressure for t h re e yea rs for secur i n g forest rights to t r i b a l people. The B i l l
e nvisages , for the fi rst t i me, recognition of the rights of forest·based commun ities.
However, even a s the Forest Depa rtment says t h i s b i l l w i l l sound the death kne l l of I nd i a n forests, vi l lages i n
Melghat a n d other p rotected a reas a re q uite kee n on h a vi n g t h e i r rights restored t o t h e m . The affected
people do not seem to have much knowledge of the b i l l a nd its provisions. The B i l l proposes "to recogn i s e
a n d vest the forest r i ghts a n d occu pation i n forest l a nd i n fo rest dwel l i ng schedu led tri bes w h o have been
resi d i ng i n such forests for generations but whose rights cou l d not be recorded."
O bject i o n : The M i n i stry of Enviro n ment a nd Forests has a l ready stated i n a n ote that i t doe s not a gree with
the i ntrod uction of the proposed b i l l . In a meeti ng held in J a n u a ry this yea r, the MoEF said that there i s no
n eed to bring i n a fresh law as sufficient provisions a l ready exist u nder the Forest Conservation Act and the
gui d e l i n es i ss ued in 1 99 0 . I t a l so s a i d t h a t the d raft b i l l puts a q uestion mark o n t h e very existen ce of
N ational Parks a n d Sanctua ries where the current pol i cy is to shift the habitations outside t he protected a rea
as has been done a l ready in the Melghat Tiger Reserve.
K i s hore R i t h e of t h e A m ravati ba sed N at u re Conse rvation Society s a i d t h e n ew b i l l w o u l d reg u l a r i se
encroac h ments a n d pave the way for contra ctors to offi c i a l ly denude forests. The Bombay N atural H i story
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Society ( B N H S) h a s a lso opposed the b i l l . The B N H S bel ieves that the B i l l i n its p resent for m w i l l neither
promote forest conservation nor socia l justice. (Ca m pa ign for forest rights to tri bal ; I mmedi a te tabl ing of the
Scheduled Tribes ( Recognition of Forest Rights) Bi l l dema nded, Meen a Menon, T H . B, 24.08.05, X 1 4 / X20a)
A day after violence c l a imed 1 3 l ives in Ka l i nga N agar, serious que stions are bei n g raised on the i na dequate
reh a b i l itation pol i cy of the Orissa Government which clea rly triggered the bloody clash betwee n the triba l s
a n d the a d m i n i stratio n . Eve n a s the i ncide nt h a s sent shock waves a n d the agitated tri b a l s conti nue to stage
roa d b l ockade for the secon d s u ccessive day, the State Government i s sti l l undec i d ed about a ny i nq u i ry.
Meanwhi le, negotiation for withd rawal of load blockade was conti nuing. The Government had acqu i red 2,000
a cre of l a n d at Kal i nga Naga r, Duburi in 1 992 for the i ndustria l complex. As per R&R package drawn up t he n ,
the oustees were give n Rs 3 7,000 per acre a s compensation. However, n o eva cuation w a s m ade. Of t h a t big
c h u n k , the Tatas were h a n ded over 2 ,000 a cre i n Decem be r 2004, A tota l of 760 h o u sehol d s were to he
ousted by their project. Last year, fol lowing continuous protests, the State Government announced an enhanced
package which offered Rs 25000 per acre ex·gratis on the origi n a l compe n sation, a l ong with an a ssura nce of
one guara nteed job per fa m i ly. ( Day after, Orissa rehab pol i cy u nder sca n ner. I E . B, 04. 0 1 .06, X 14)
The tri ba l s of Ka l i nga N a g a r in Ori s s a 's J a j p u r d i strict h ave taken a vow not to va cate t h e i r land to m a ke
space for steel p l a nt s or other i nd ustries. The ki l l i ng of 1 2 tri bal s i n pol i ce firing rece ntly has steeled thei r
resolve to fight aga i n st d i s p l a cement a n d l oss of l ivel ihoods.
The n u m be r of t r i ba l s having proof of t he i r l a nd is very s m a l l in the region. A vast majority in Cha n d i a a n d
nearby vi l lages could be termed as encroachers of government l a n d as they do not posses l a n d of their own .
They l a ck l a nd rights, as t here h a s been no l a nd settlement i n the locality si nce 1 928. The lan dless triba l s a re
equal ly involved i n the agitation aga i nst i n dustria l i sation a s they have l i ttle hope of getti ng compensation for
their evictio n .
H ighway blocked: Two k m away from Chand i a , a ctivi sts o f Vistha pan Vi rodh i J a n m a n c h , a n orga n i sation of
l ocal t r i ba ls, a re blocking the Daita r i · Pa radi p express highway at Gobarghati si nce the day of the fi ri ng. "The
a uthorities have never taken our demand of adequate compensation a n d rehabil itation seriously, while many
r i c h peop l e a n d outsiders have managed to a c q u i re l a nd rights i n recent yea rs . Over 80 % of the tri ba l s i n
t h e a rea a re l a n dless," said Chakradhar H a i bu ru , president o f t h e Janmanch. "Through o u r agitation, w e wil l
n ow t a ke u p the p l ight of the tri ba l s d i s pl aced i n the past a c ross the State a n d p revent setti ng u p of new
i n d u st ries in tri bal pockets."
The effect of the fi ri ng seems to be s prea d i ng to other pa r ts of the State. H u n d re d s of tri b a l s blocke d the
e n try poi n ts to Rou rke l a c ity deman di ng that the Rou rke l a Steel P l a nt return its s u r p l u s l a nd which i t had
taken from t hem a bout 50 years ago. The tribal s who started a n i ndefi nite economic blockade of the township
set a t l east s i x ve h i c l e s afi re on the outski rts of the city. (Ka l i nga N agar tri b a l s t a ke vow n ot to vacate l a n d
f o r i n dustries, P raful l a D a s , T H . B, 1 1 .0 1 .06, X 1 4)
Based on a report submitted by the National Human Rights Commission ( N H RC) S pecial Rapporteur Chaman
Lal on t he steps ta ken by the Ka rnat a ka Government for the rehabi l itation of t ri b a l fa m i l ies d is p l aced by the
Kabi n i Reservo i r and B a nd i pu r N a t i o n a l Par k p rojects, the N H RC has expressed its s a t i sfact i o n with the
Govern ment's efforts. Fam i lies i n a n d around N. Begur i n H . D. Kote taluk of Mysore district were displaced by
the construction of the Ka b i n i Reservoi r p roject i n early 1 970s a n d the for mation of the Ba n d i p u r Project
Tiger National Park i n 1 973·74. A status report fi led before the commission by the Deputy Commissioner of
Mysore on measures for 1 54 tribal fam i l i e s d i s pl aced by the Ban d i pu r P roject Tiger N ational Park shows that
the G overn ment has i ssued certificates of agricultu ra l l a n d a nd residentia l p l ots and benefic i a ries' identity
cards to them. The Government has t a ken steps to construct two residential l ayouts for them a n d deposited
Rs. 1 1 .80 l akhs for power connections in the l ayouts. ( N H RC happy with rehabi l itation efforts, TH. B, 04.02.06,
X 1 4)
Alienating l a rge tracts of tribal l a nd without consulting the tri bals, i n the name of d evelopment, was a clear
violation of the rights vested in the 5 th Schedu l e of the Constitution, said Comm u n i st Party of I ndia (Marxist)
Poli t Bureau member Brinda Ka rat. The M i n i stry of Environment was cleari ng a n umber of p rojects without
p rotect i n g the b a s i c rights of tri b a l s, w h i ch woul d be ra i sed in Pa r l i a me n t . She s a i d t h a t the i ssue w a s
d i scussed a t t h e pa rty Tribal Committee i n New Del h i . " I n J ha rkhand, t h e State Government has entered i nto
42 memoranda of u n dersta n d i n g to a l ienate l a rge extents of l a nd for sett i ng up even p rivate project s , " she
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s a i d . 'The Tatas have even a clause i n the MoU, which does not permit the Govern ment to give out d eta i l s of
the l and a l ienation, those fully a n n u l l i ng the basic motive of the I nformation Act," Ms. Karat said. Tri bals were
being given a raw deal i n Andhra Prades h , Chhatti sgarh a n d J harkh a n d , she sai d . Referri ng to tile Pol avaram
i rrigation project as d i sa strous, she said that 3 ,725 hectares of prime forestl a nd woul d get submerged , but
envi ronment cleara n ce was given i n j u st two days. ( P rojects cleared in violation of tri b a l rights, says Brinda
Ka rat, T H . C , 20.02 .06, X 1 4)
X20a Acts, B i l l s , Ord i n a nces
Some of the greenfield specia l economic zones (SEZ) in the cou ntry that had been l a ngu i s h i ng for l a c k of
regul atory cia rity a re getti ng active aga i n w ith the S EZ Act set to get the nod soon.
Scra p p i ng the 'sunset c l a use' mooted by the F i na nce M i ni stry w i l l pave the way for smooth flow of F D I . The
Commerce M i n i stry had been s u p po r t i n g the i nd u stry's stance o n t h i s i ssue, a n d the i m pa sse co u l d be
solved o n ly with the i ntervention of the Prime M i n i ster's office.
As per the S EZ Bil l , which was clea red, an i ncome tax holi day s p a n n i ng 1 5 yea rs h a s been p ro posed, w here
the first five years is 1 00 % tax free and the ensui ng blocks of five years each wil l have part i a l a nd conditiona l
tax hol i d ays. W h i l e it i s sti l l shy of 20 years a s demanded by t h e i n d u st ry, i t w a s o n ly too g l a d to t a ke i t .
(SEZ A ct t o pave w a y for F D I f l ow, V i n o d Mathew, B L . B, 0 7 . 0 5 . 0 5 , X20a)
Much i s s po ken a bout the proposed Tri b a l B i l l 's concern for welfa re of schedu l e tri bes. The Left parties a re
u n h a p py with U n ion U nited P rogressive A l l i a nce ( U PA) Government for not i ntroducing the B i l l i n Parlia ment.
I n rea l ity, the B i l l is neither goi ng to help the tri bes nor w i l l give them rights over the l a nd they dwe l l on. On the
one hand, the B i l l w i l l destroy whatever forests rem a i n i n the country, w h i l e making t he tri bes continue to l ive
i n sub·human conditions. Worse i s that it w i l l spell doom to w i l d life, which is protected only i n three to four %
of the l a n d of the country? I nteresti ngly, neither w i l d l ife biologists nor forest conservationists were i nvolved i n
p re p a r i n g the B i l l . Whi l e the soc i o l ogists a rgue for ' h a rm o n i o u s co·exi ste nce of t ri bes' a n d ' s u st a i n a bl e
deve l o p m e nt ' , i n rea l i ty, 80 % o f t h e l a n d h a s been u ti l i sed by h u m a n bei ngs. Bes i de s , over 1 6 % of the
rem a i n i ng l a nd i s n ot p rotected . For the wi l d l ife, the only solution i s com plete i solation and protection. Th i s
woul d a l so hel p conserve t h e l a s t tra ct o f ' su stai nable l a n d ' . The B i l l contravenes various Forest Acts. There
a re a l ot of contra d ictions wit h i n the proposed draft B i l l itself, which, w h i l e a llowing collection of m inor forest
produces ( M FP ) for 'l iveli hood of tribes ' , it prohibits their use for commerc i a l pu rposes. No one knows how
non ·commerc i a l collection of M FP w i l l i mprove the l ives of tribes. (Tri bal B i l l : W here sociologists t a ke over
forests, V i n ay Madhav, I E . B, 07 .06 . 0 5 , X20a)
With w i l d l ife enthusiasts a n d tribal rights a ctivists divided on the proposed B i l l to recognise tri bals' right on
forest l a nd , the M i n istry of Environment is d raft i n g an a lternative B i l l to tone down the exi sti ng one. Those
o p posed to the exi s t i n g B i l l p repare d by the Tribal Affai rs M i n i stry say that if the hold of tri ba l s on; forest
l a nd is strengthened , it w i l l i nterfere with wil d l ife conservation. The decision to draft the new B i l l was taken at
a recent meet i ng of the Cabi n et Com m ittee on Tri ba l Affa irs. The two B i l l s w i l l be compared before one i s
a ccepted.
The Envi ron ment M i n i stry's a lternative deviates from the Schedu led Tri bes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill
2005 o n t h ree key poi nts: It puts a c a p o n the tot a l a mount of land that wou l d be given to t r i ba l s . The
previous B i l l had no l i mit. The new Bi l l will not i nclude w i l d l ife s a n ctua ries a n d protected forests i n the l a nd
c l a i ms. I t wi l l , however, endow l ivel i hood rights to those l ivi ng o n forest margins. ( M i n i stry works on 2nd tribal
l a nd Bi l l , N i r m a l a Gana pathy, I E.C, 1 5 .09.05, X20a)
P romising that a new B i l l to protect the rights of the unorga n i sed l a bour sector in the country wou l d soon be
i ntroduced in Parli a ment, U PA chairperson Soni a Gandhi said the Centre was confident of solvi ng the problems
of the working c l a s s in the country. "We a re a l so considering a pension scheme for the aged a n d women i n
t h i s sector, a s wel l a s schemes such a s health i n surance". The Congress president cited sta t i sti cs, sayi ng, i n
Mahara s htra, only 1 0% of the l abour class worked i n t h e organ i sed sector a n d stressed that u n less they got
proper wages a n d their problems were not solved, the country's progress would not be complete. ( Unorganised
Sector B i l l comi ng: Son i a , EI B, 24.02.06, X20a)
I
Documentation Update
I 2 0 05 - 06
X2I I n d i a's Deve l opment
T h i s yea r, a s t h e first five-ye a r review o f p rogress towa rds t h e M i l le n n i u m Development Goal s a pp roaches,
I nd i a can be p roud of i ts a ccom p l ishments. In J a n u a ry, the M i l le n n i u m Project report a nnou nced that I nd i a
was o n a better tra c k than sever a l other developi ng countries t o rea c h the M i l le n n i u m Deve l opment G oa l s
(M DGs) by t h e target date of 2 0 1 5 . I n d ia 's commitment t o redu c i n g poverty i s reflected i n t h e n umerous
i n i t i atives it h a s take n , l e a d i ng to the p rogre s s made ove r the l ast decades. Three-fou rths of I n d i a 's poor
popul ation , or 1 93 m i llion people, l ive in rura l a reas. Schedu led Tri bes and Schedu led Castes a re a mong the
poorest in I nd i a and const i tute 40 % of the i nterna l ly d is p l aced popul at i o n . These grou ps, and e s pecia l ly
wome n , suffer a higher i ncidence poverty, greater vul ne rabi l i ty a n d l ower soc i a l status tha n others. Targeting
rural poverty, particu l arly a m o n g Sched u l e d Tribes a n d Schedu led C astes, and wome n , w il l better enable
I ndia to reach i ts ful l development potenti a l i n a susta inable manner. (Enabli ng rural fol k to overcome poverty,
Len n a r t Bage, T H .C, 09.05.05, X2 1 )
Even a s I nd i a a p pears to be a t the forefront i n terms of economic growth , i t cont i n ues to l a g i n the q u a l i ty of
l ife as measured by its H u m a n Development I ndex; it remains u nchanged at a low 1 27 among 1 77 countries.
I n comparison, t he U nited N ations' H u m a n Development Report 2005 has a word of prai se for neighbouring
Bangladesh i n view of the ra pid human development i t has achieved i n spite of its moderate growth . Despite
its l ow r a n k i n g i n the H D I c a rried out each yea r by the U ni ted N ations Development P rogr a m me ( U N D P),
I nd i a , however, has shown progress in HDI va l uation, h avi ng gone u p from . 595 l ast year to .602 in this year's
report.
No d ec l i n e i n poverty: The U N D P report on h u m a n development has clearly brought out the fact that w h i l e
I n d i a h a s moved a head a n d joi ned the p remier league o f world economic growth, t h e a ccelerated g rowth has
not res u l ted i n a commensurate decli ne in poverty. O n the H u m a n Poverty I ndex ( H P I · I), i t i s sti l l ra n ked at
58 a mong 103 develop i ng countries. ( I n d i a stil l beh i n d in human deve lopment: U. N . report, T H . B, 09. 09.05,
X2 1 )
X22a R ight to I nformation
A path·breaking bil l seeki ng t o p rovide right t o i nformation w a s passed by t h e Lok S a b h a amidst a n opposition
boycott with P r i m e M i n i ster Ma n mo h a n S i ngh a sserti ng the meas u re woul d see t he dawn of a new e ra i n
governance a n d e l i m in ate the scourge of corru pt i on .
I ntervening i n t h e discussion on Right t o I nformation B il l , 2005, S ingh said everyon e, i n c l u d i ng civil servants,
shou l d see the measure i n a "positive spirit" and "not as a d raconi a n l aw for paralysi ng government". The P M
wa nted the b u reaucra cy t o consider t he b i l l a s a n i nstrument for i mprov i ng gover n ment c itizen i nterface
resu lting in a friendly, caring a nd effective government. The b i l l was passed by a voice vote after government
got 1 50 a mendments to the d raft approved by the house. The PM said the R ight to I nformation B i l l was "more
fa r·reac h i ng a n d effective" t h a n the exi st i n g Freedom of I nformation Act. "It h a s the widest possi bl e reac h
covering centra l a n d state governments, Panchayati Raj i nstitutions, local bodies a n d reci pients of government
gra nts , " h e s a i d . ( LS nod for R ight to I nformation B i l l , VIB, 1 2.05.05, X22a)
Ratanja n vil l age, over 5 0 k m from here, in M a h a rashtra was recently i n the news. About 50 persons sat on a
h unger str i ke i n front of the Tal u ka Agric u lture Office at Barshi earl i er this month demandi ng i nfor mation on
the schemes i mplemented in thei r vi l l age u nder the Employment Guarantee Scheme. In M ay, the vi l lagers had
sought i nformation u nder the M a h a rashtra Right to I nformation Act ( M RT I ) on n a l l a h bu n d i ng, farm ponds,
contour b u n d s a n d other works goi ng o n i n the vi l la ge. However, i t was not given to them. Thi s gave r i se to
suspi cion that a l l was not wel l . There were compla i nts of i nflated muster rol l s , fudged payments and false
work records. U n der the MRT I , i nformation has to be provided within 1 5 working days fai l i n g whi ch the officer
concerned is l ia b l e to be pena l ized . ( R i ght to i nformation el u d e s vi l l agers, U nd e r the M a h a ra shtra Act.
i nformati on has to be provided to people withi n 1 5 work i n g days, Meena Menon, T H . B, 22.09.05, X22a)
X32 Women a n d Law, Viol ence a ga i nst Women
The Protect i on of Wome n from D omestic Vio l e n ce B i l l c l ea red by the c a b i net is l o n g overd u e a n d path·
brea k i n g in m a ny ways. For the first time, l awma ke rs have widened the defi n ition of 'domestic violence' to
i nclude verbal , emotional a n d economic violence. The B i l l a lso covers relationsh i ps outside marri a ge. But we
can't be comp l a cent, because experience shows that l aws a l one can not cou nte r violence aga i n st women. I n
I nd i a , the res ponse to d o me st i c violence has been to reassert women's res po ns i b i l i ty for pol i c i ng men's
2 0 05
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06
I
DO(,ll1llenla tiol l Update
I
violence. Few efforts have taken u p the challenge of 'prima ry prevention ' ; i nterventions i ntended to stop men
a nd boys from u s i ng a ggression . Without a radical goa l to e l i m i nate rather t h a n respond to m a l e violence
aga i n st women, prevention tends to be d i rected towards victim s or potentia l victim s . E mpowering women i s
not enough to combat domestic violence. To break the cycl e of violence, w e need to move beyond a n emphasis
on women's respon s i b i l ities a n d stri ke at the root c a u se : gender soc i a l i sation . We h ave to involve men a n d
t h e you ng t o combat domest i c violence i n I nd i a . ( R a m bos N ot Wanted At H o m e , Domest i c violence B i l l
necessa ry, but not sufficient, M a l i ni Sen , TOI . B, 05.07 . 0 5 , X32 1 X20a)
X40 C h i l d re n
The Centre rel e a sed a national p l a n o f action for c h i l d re n , i t s goa l s ranging from e n d i n g fema l e foeti c i de to
aboli sh i ng c h i l d l a bour. Action P l a n 2005, which l i sts goal s and strategies in 1 2 key a reas, i s an u p date of a
s i m i l ar p l a n d rafted i n 1 992. It a im s at e l i m i na t i ng c h i l d l a bour from hazardous occ upations by 2007, a n d
" p rogre s sively m ove" towa rds i t s c o m p l ete era d i ca t i o n . C h i ld re n below 1 0 s hou l d b e removed f ro m the
workforce by 20 1 0. (Centre releases nat i o n a l a ction p l a n for c h i l d re n , AA.B, 2 l .08.05 , X40)
X41 C h i l d R i ghts
Draft C h i l d ren's Rights B il l , 200 5 , copies of which have been circulated among l egis la tors and general public
for e l iciting thei r views a nd suggestions on it, h a s proposed to i ntroduce several c l a u ses, i nclud ing the rights
of the child for education and health, prohi bition of child l abour, protection a gainst child abuse and constituting
a State Com m ission for Chil dren to oversee the i mp lementation of the provisions of the Act a nd constitution
of a spec i a l court for children.
According to Law a nd Parl i a mentary Affairs M i n i ster H . K. Pat i l , who is i n strumental i n preparing the d raft with
a s s i stance from l eg a l experts in the State, the B i l l i f i ntrodu ced in the Asse mbly w i l l set a trend .
The rights of chi ldre n enshrined i n the B i l l a re to enjoy childhood, learn accord i ng to his taste, ski l l and talent,
a nd no i ndividual or i nstitution s h a l l i nterfere with their basic freedom. The B i l l has provi ded spec i a l c l a u se s
t o protect girl c h i l d against a ny kind of d i scriminat i on a nd n o girl wi l l b e denied access t o education, m i n i mu m
l evel o f nutrition, a ccess t o health services, a n d exploited i n household activities a s u n p a i d l abour. A l l forms
of viole nce agai nst girl c h i l d - p hysical a nd mental a re prohi bited. The Govern ment wil l formulate and e nforce
a regulation cal l ed Child Code to lay the norms of behaviour a n d i nteraction of adults, espec i a lly, u se of s l a ng
a n d a bu s e i n conversation with c h i l d re n . The Government w i l l esta bl i sh c h i l d pol i ce stations after t he Act i s
enacted t o safegua rd c h i l d re n from cri m i n a l s . The pol i ce w i " b e sensitized t o t h e i ssue o f c hi l d abuse , h e
a dded . (Draft B i l l for ensuring speci a l rights o f c h i l d , If t h e B i l l i s i ntroduced i n t h e State Assembly, It wil l set
a tre n d , says H . K. Pati l , T V S i va na nd a n , T H . B, 29.08 . 0 5 , X4 1 )
X42 Ch i l d La bour
The Andhra Pradesh govern ment h a s confi rmed that t he menace of c h i l d l abour is ram p a nt in the state.
Offic i a l s h ave establ i shed that in the cotton seed farms in Adoni in Kurnoo.l a bout 3 1 ,000 m i nor c h i ldre n a re
engaged. Further, a mong these children i nclude a large number of girls. Thi s apart, the government has found
t hat engagement of child l a bour i s growing i n fou r di stricts i ncluding Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Kurnool a n d
M a h boobnagar. C h i l d ren below t h e a ge o f 14 yea rs i nclud i ng g i r l s were bei ng exploi ted i n various u n s k i lled
services at restau ra nt s , grocery shops, farm l a nd s , plastic m a n ufacturi ng, agri - processing etc . Besides,
they a re being e n ga ged as domestic serva nts i n the state, a gover n m ent survey poi nted out.
Accordi ng to a n esti mate, there a re a bout 40,000·c h i l d l a bo u r i n N a n dya l a nd a nother 4 5 , 000 in Ku rnool
a rea. (Menace of c h i l d l a bour rampant in Andhra , F E . B, 24.0 5 . 0 5 , X42)
I n response to a query by the National H u m a n Rights Commi ssions ( N H RC) the Maharastra Government has
a greed to su bmit a report i n two weeks detai l i ng its course of a ction a ga i n st e mployers using c h i l d l a bour. A
senor official i n the Chief Secretary's office confirmed that the N HRC notice, which fol l owed the recent detection
of over 400 c h i l d l a bourers by the Mumbai pol i ce, had been sent to the Departments of La bour a n d Women
a n d C h i l d Welfare. On J u ne 1 , the M u mbai Police rescued 465 c h i l d l abou rers working i n various i nd u stria l
u ni ts, i ncludi ng shoe making, bag making, zari and buffing. The raids were conducted with the help of the "Say
No to C h i l d Labour Tas k Force, a coa l i t ion of 46 NGOs. Fol lowi n g the rescue operation, the NGOs c o l lected
i nformation from the c h i l d ren regardi ng their hometowns and employers. ( Report on c h i l d l a bou r soon; Move
fol l ows N HRC notice to M a h a ra stra, TH . B, 1 2.06.05, X42)
I
Documentation l Tpelote
I 2005-06
•
Z
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M ISCELLAN EOUS .
ZIO N GOs
The Orissa government is contemplating blackl i sting some non-government organ i sation (NGOs) i n the state
which it says a re posi ng hurdles i n the ongoing industri a l i sation process on the pretext of soci a l and environment
i ssues. A confi d e n t i a l n ote prepared by the sta te home depart m e nt h a s recommended d eba rri n g at l east
four non-government organ i sations that a re perceived to be i nvolved i n a nti-i ndustry activities i n tribal pockets.
The non-govern ment organ i sations on the firing l i ne a re Rayagada-based Agragamee, Ankura n , Laxma n N a i k
society of Rural Development a n d Weaker Sections I ntegrated Development Agency. The home department
has recommended that the government stop a l l grants to these four non·govern ment organ i sations a n d ask
the centre to cancel thei r l i cences under the Foreign Contri but i o n Regulation Act.
It may be noted that, eager to accelerate the process of i nd ustria l i sation , the Orissa government has signed
up steel , a l u m i n i u m and a l u m i n a p la nts i n the past one yea r.
Some of the projects a re i n remote tri b a l belts where these non-government organ i sations a re mostly active.
The state h a s l ost a few projects i n the past to protracted a gi tation by t ri ba l s backed by the non-government
organ isations. (Orissa p l a n s to ban a n t i · i nd u stry N G Os, D i l l i p Satapathy, BL. B, 30.06 . 0 5 , Z 1 0)
Central Soc i a l Wel fa re Boa rd pres i dent Raj a n i Pat i l s a i d the Boa rd wou l d set u p a t a s k force to monitor
NGOs. She sa i d more t h a n 20 ,000 N G Os come u nder the Board , of which the State accou nts for 794. It
receives com p l a i nt s aga i n st N G Os and thei r office·bearers, she s a i d . (Ta s k force to monitor N G O s , I E . B,
06.0 1 .06, Z 10)
2 0 05 - 0 6
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DOClll1U'll i u t iol1 Updu l e
1
• TSR - TSU NAM I .
General
To prevent a dec l i ne i n the number of tourist s visit i ng I n d i a after tsu n a m i , the Government i s tak i ng u p with
the World Tou ri s m Orga n is a t i o n (WTO) t h e i ssue of refra i n i ng from d e scri b i n g t h e country as an u nsafe
desti nation. U nion Tou rism M i n i ster Ren u k a Chaudhury sa i d 'we a re ta k i n g up the matter with the WTO i n
S p a i n a n d a l so ta ke u p w i t h those countries w h i c h had posted a n ' a d v i so ry' i n website s caut i o n i n g i t s
citi ze n s aga i nst trave l l i ng t o I nd i a , particu larly the north eastern region i n view of i nsurgency ' . Ms Chaudhary
s a i d her M i n istry had written to the U n i on H ome M i ni stry to revi ew its restricted area permit (RAP) pol i cy
prevalent i n some pa rts of the north e a st, to enabl e more tou rists to visit those a reas. (Tou rism advisories:
I nd i a to take u p matter with world body, F E . B, 1 6. 04.05 , TSR)
The I nternation a l Fi n ance Corporation, the World Bank G roup's private sector fi nancing arm, has sai d that i t
w i l l provide u pto to $ 1 50 m i l l ion a s loa n s to compani es that c a n help reconstruct commercial tourism ventures
i n tsu n a m i ·affected countries i n South Asia a nd South·east Asia . The l o a n s wi l l be gra nted on commerc i a l
terms a nd a re a i med a t esta b l ished hotel companies that req u i re capital for recon struction o r refinanci ng, a n
I FC p ress release sai d . I t said the firms should b e committed t o sound social a n d envi ro n mental poli cies with
a posi tive t ra c k record in opera t i o n s a n d a portfo l i o of properti e s cateri ng to d i fferent segments of t h e
m arket. ( I FC t o support tsunami tou ri sm, AA. D, 1 6 .05.05, TSR)
Kee p i n g u p with the National Common M i n i mum P rogra mme's p ro m i se of provid i n g a gove r n ment that i s
'tra n spa re n t a nd accountable a t a l l t i mes ' , P r i m e M i n i ster M a n mo h a n S i ngh h a s come out w i t h a report,
Tsun a m i - a report to the n a t i o n . The report, released recently, deta i l s the a mount rece i ved a n d spent on
tsunami·related rehabilitation and recon struction work in the country, as a l so how far the work has progressed
i n t he affected states .
The esti mated total pac kage for tsu n a m i rel ief, rehabil itation a n d reconstruction was R s 1 1 ,907.29 crore, of
which Rs 3 ,644.05 crore came from the speci a l Rajiv G a n d h i Rehabil itation Package a pproved by the Centre,
R s 3 , 6 1 0.35 crore was received from multi l a tera l agencies a n d d i stributed a mong states, and RsA,652.89
came from other sources, l i ke P l a n assistance, ba nks, financial i n stitutions etc. (PM releases tsun a m i- related
a i d , rehabi l itation report, FE.B, 06 .06.05, TSR)
Along the fa mous white sa n d s of P h u ket's Patong beac h , stray dogs outn u m ber tou r i sts, who six mont h s
after t h e tsu n a m i a re sti l l staying away from t h e o n c e packed shore. Although tourism off i c i a l s i n I n d i a , S ri
Lanka and the Maldives a re cautiou sly opti mistic a bout the future, visitors rema i n rel uctant to visit Tha i l and's
beaches, where half the tsu n a m i victi ms a re bel i eved to be fore ign hol iday · m a kers. Thai a uthorities a d m i t
touri s m has been slower t o rebo u nd t h a n they had hoped, a n d i nd u stry offi c i a l s s a y they expect t h e comi ng
pea k travel s e a so n sta rti ng i n N ovember to be wea ke r t h a n n o rm a l , w i t h a fu l l recovery p os s i b l e by l a te
2006. Thai land's nationa l economy has absorbed the shock even a s i t sputters on high oil prices, but tsun a m i ­
h i t p rovi nces a re pay i n g a high p ri ce. Offic i a l n um bers f o r the fi rst q u a rter o f the yea r pa i nt a d i re picture:
a rriva l s of Swedes a n d Britons, who usua l ly visit in greater nu m be rs t h a n other nationali t i es , a re d ow n by
67% over the same period l a st yea r.
German touri sts have d ropped off by 74% a n d French 70%. Asian touri sts a re a lso stayi ng away: a rriva l s of
South Koreans a re down by 64% a nd J a panese by 86%. (Touri sm's slow recovery a long tsuna m i · h i t beaches,
FE.C, 20.06.05, TSR)
O n e yea r o n , most of t h e a ffected resorts have a c h ieved a n i mp ressive t u r n a r o u n d , a n d some a re even
better t h a n before. "Most hote l s that were h i t , certa i n ly i n Sri L a n k a , took the t i me to m a ke s i gn if i c a n t
developments a n d , a s a result, c li ents a re experienci ng a much better holiday than before t h e tsun a m i , " sai d
Louise Newton of S r i Lanka s pec i a li st Somak Hol idays.
Repai ri n g the d a mage to tourists' perceptions of t he region has been h a rder. Hotels may have been q u i ck to
re·ope n , but tou r i st s h ave been slower to retur n , pa r ti c ula rly to a reas that took a d i rect h i t , leav i n g m a ny
properties with e m pty rooms for much of l ast yea r.
The Andaman coast of Thai l a nd had 1 5 to 20 % fewer visitors from key regio n s such a s the U K l ast yea r than
i n 2004, while visitor n u mbers to the M a l dives were u p to 25 % down for the f i rst 10 months of l a st yea r and
Sri La n ka suffered a 7 % d rop.
Resorts on the A n d a m a n coast, w h i c h suffered terri b l e d a m age, have made a remarkable recovery. Most
hote l s i n P h u ket, the l argest resort affected, h ave reopened, some after extensive refurb i s h ment.
However, in nea rby Khao Lak, which was j ust fi nding its feet as a holiday dest ination when the tsun a m i struck,
it's a differe nt story. The death tol l there topped 2 , 000, and several hotel s were destroyed. The prestigious
A n a ntar a , for i n sta nce, w i l l not be reb u i l t . Britons h ave been s l ow to ret u rn to the whole of t h e A n d a m a n
coast. Visitor n u m bers t o Tha i l a n d a s a whole were u p 5 % i n 2005 , b u t n u m bers t o t h e Andama n a rea were
down by 1 5 to 2 0 % .
T h e B ay o f Benga l bore the b r u n t o f t h e t i d a l wave, so the cou ntry's m a i n tou ri st dest i n a t i o n s su rvived
rel atively u n scathed. The southern tip of the coast a l state of Keral a a n d the A n d am an I sl a nds were hit, but
the touri st resorts were n ot affected .
U K a r riva l s were u p a bout 1 6 % l a st yea r, p a rtly d u e t o the l a u nch of a tra nche of n ew fl i ghts by B r i t i sh
Ai rways, Vi rgi n A t l a n t i c , A i r I n d i a a n d Jet Ai rways . A i r fares h ave fa l l e n a s a resu l t . Thi rty·two of the 7 2
resorts i n the M a l d ives were affected by the tsun a m i , b u t only 1 5 a re sti l l closed . O n ly one o f the fl ooded
resorts, the C l u b Med Faruko l h ufu s h i , wi l l not reopen.
The i s l a nds have been given a wide berth by the I ta li a n s , Germa n s a n d Ja pa nese since the tsunami but the
British have been more res i l ient. The tsu n a m i has done n othi n g to deter i nvestment i n the M a l dives, where
the l oss of l ives was rela t i ve ly s ma l l , a n d severa l new resorts a re d u e to o pen t h i s yea r a n d n ext. A n ew
l uxury yacht, t he Ran i a , which can be h i red with its own private i sl a n d , h a s a l ready been l a u nched, a n d Fou r
Seasons w i l l open a seco n d l u x u ry hotel i n t h e Mald ives i n February.
M a l ay s i a suffered only s l i ght d a m a ge , having been l a rgely s h i e lded by t h e i s l a n d of S u m atra . D a m a ge i n
Pen a ng , such a s sand i n swi m m i ng pools, f looded resta ura nts a n d debris o n beaches, was qu i ckly cleaned
up. (Ts u n a m i one yea r on: Tou rist resorts achieve a rema rkable turnaroun d , L i nsey McNei l l , B L . B, 02. 0 1 .06,
TSR)
I n the aftermath of l a st yea r's cataclys m i c tsun a m i , D r. G regory Stone of the N ew England Aquarium co· l ed
a n expedi tion to survey the d amage caused t o Tha i la nd's cora l reefs.
As reported i n a recently released tec h n i c a l report avai l a bl e on the New Eng l a n d A q u a ri u m website a n d i n
December's i ssue of N ational Geogra phic, t h e expedition's results i nd i cate a quick recovery for most of the
reefs.
The d ive tourism i ndustry is a major part of the region's economy a n d l ocal ly caught fish a re a primary source
of prote i n i n the d i et of the people i n the reg i o n . The coral reefs there a re a mong the most bea utiful i n the
world.
An i nternati o n a l tea m of eight scient i st·divers, led by Dr. G regory Stone of B oston a n d D r. Gerald A l l e n of
Austra l i a , t rave l l ed to the coast of Thai la n d a pprox i mately three a n d a h a lf months after the tsu nami struck
in order to ra pid l y a ssess the extent of d a mage to reefs.
••••
After more than 500 d ives at 56 sites, t hough the team found plenty of d a mage, there a ppea rs to be rea son
fo r opti m i s m . Of the reefs a ssesse d , 36 % s howed very l ittle to n o d a mage, w h i l e 50 percent showed a
moderate a mount of tsun a m i - related damage. O n ly 1 4 % of the su rveyed reefs had suffered severe damage .
The scientific team con c l uded that the rare devastation of the tsunami was less of a l ong·term threat to the
2 0 05 - 06
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cora l reefs than ongo i n g h u m a n -caused damage such a s over-fis h ing, poorly pla n ned coasta l development
a nd global warming. (Tsun a m i : coral reefs ca n recover quickly, T H . B, 06.0 1 .06, TSR)
Tam i l N a d u & Pon d i cherry
The Tam i l N a d u Tourism Development Corporation has brought out a colourful brochu re as a post-ts u n a m i
u pdate t o i nstil confidence i n trave l lers. Accord i ng to the broc h u re , a " temples i n t h e t s u na mi -h i t a reas a re
u n affected ; bea c h resorts i n M a m a l l a p u r a m o n the East Coast Road stret c h , w h i c h were affected by the
tsunami are functioning aga i n ; there was no l oss of life of foreign tourists; most of the major tourist a ttractions
i n the State a re located i n land a nd were not affected; a nd new monuments were u nearthed at M a m a l l a pura m
a fter t h e tsu n a m i . The pa m ph l et h a s p i ctu res o f t re a s u re s u n e a rthed from t h e sea by t h e t s u n a m i a t
M a ma l l a pu ra m , the m a ngrove forest o f P i ch ava ra m , the D a n i s h Fort a t Tra nqebar (Ta ra n g a m b a d i ) , t h e
Vel a nkanni C h u rch i n N agapattin a m , a nd the Vivekana nda Rock Memori a l at Kanyaku mari a nd t h e Pam ba n
B r i dge a t Ra meswara m . I t a l so h a s p ictu re s o f m a ny overse a s tourists a rrivi n g by l ux u ry l i n e rs a fter the
tsu n a m i . ( Brochure to a l l ay fears of tourists, T.S. Shankar, T H .C, 05_05.05, TSR)
With a view to revita l i se the economy of the tsu n a m i - ravaged d istricts, T N c h i ef m i nister J J aya l a l ithaa h a s
sought a 1 O-year exemption from excise duties on goods manufactured by new i n dustri a l u n its which operate
i n the a ffected regi o n _ I n a l ette r to the P r i me M i n i ster, s he a l so req uested a t h ree-yea r exe m p tio n from
excise d uties on steel , cement, pipes a n d other construction materia l s u sed for esta b l i s h i n g new i nd ustria l
u nits i n t h e tsu n a m i affected d istricts. S h e d rew a p a ra l l e l , where i n t h e Cen t re h a d is sued si m i l a r ord e rs
gra nting excise d uty exe m ption to excisable goods ma nufactured by new i n dustri a l u nits i n Kutch which was
d eva stated by a m a s sive ea rthqu a ke on J a n u a ry 26, 200 1 . (Jaya seeks 1 0 yea r exc i se hol i day in tsu n a m i ­
h i t a reas, TOI . B, 08.06.06, T S R I M I l )
The Pondicherry government has chal ked out several plans for promoti ng ethnic·cum-l ifestyle based tourism
a t the t s u n a m i · ravage d coa stal h a mlets of the U ni o n territory. Accord i ng to rel i ef a n d reh a b i l itation
commissioner B V Selva raj , every settlement which has been created under the Tsunami Rehabil itation Project
wou ld be p rovided with a strong i nterface for promot i ng l i festyle based tourism having l ively i nteraction with
the fishing and coasta l communities. Proper landscaping wou l d be done in these hamlets a nd cottages woul d
b e constructed i n such a way that the i nfra struct u re woul d e ncourage foreign a nd domestic tou ri sts t o visit
these vil lages. The enti re a ctivity is being consciously developed as a part of providing alternate and diversified
vocation for you ng fishermen. Moreover, the eth nic· c u m · l i festyle based tourism wou l d be eco-friendly a nd
employment i nten sive. Deta i l i ng the tsunami reh a b i l itation work, he said that t i l l now, 1 3 non-gove r n ment
orga n is a t i o n s and the gove r nment of Ma h a ra shtra h ave been worki ng in c l osely with t h e Pon d i cherry
government to construct 4,997 hou s es for tsunami·affected victims i n 22 settlements. ( Now, tsunami hamlets
to be tou ri st spots, AA. D, 2 7 . 02 .06, TSR)
And a m a n & N i cobar I s l a nd s
Envi ronmental i sts have slammed a tourism deal by I ndia's tsunami· h it Andaman i s l a nd s with Thailand, saying
such a m ove w o u l d dest roy its fragi l e ecol ogy a n d e n cou rage the sex trade. The Dec. 26 tsu n a m i k i l l ed
thousands of people on I ndia's remote Andaman a nd N icobar i s l a nds, caused massive envi ron menta l damage
a nd decimated the s m a l l tou rism i ndustry i n the ra i n forest-covered i s l a nds ri nged by cora l reefs. I n a move
to breathe new l ife i nto the shattered economy, a uthorities signed a five-yea r deal i n J une with the resort town
of P h u ket i n Tha i l a n d , fa mous for its beaches but a l so for a bu rgeon i ng sex trade. The dea l wou l d a l l ow
tourists v i s it i ng P h u ket to t a ke a short f l i gh t to the Andama n s . But environ menta l i sts warned the i s l a n d s '
i nfrastructure a s we l l a s its ecology cou l d not cope with a big n um be r o f tou rists. ( Envi ro nmental i sts f l ay
I nd ia's Thai tourism p l a n , FE. B, 04.08.05, TSR)
The Andaman and N i cobar I sl a nds admi n istration has said it w i l l provide at least one d a i ly wage job for a year
to each fam i ly affected by the tsuna m i . About 6,3 1 3 fam i lies have been identified for the scheme after a door·
to·door survey was conducted . Prime M i nister Ma nmoh a n Singh a nnounced l ifti ng of the ban on recruitment
in the U ni o n Territo ry to fi l l the 650 vac a n t Gove r n me n t posts. He sa i d there wou l d be an i ncre a se in the
n u mber of a nga nwadi workers. The a d m i n i st rat i o n h a s a lso d rawn a n a ction p l a n for agriculture, a n i m a l
husbandry, fisheries a n d rural development. (Manmohan a n nounces l ivel ihood plans for Andaman a n d N i cobar,
Aarti Dha r, T H . B, 06.0 1 .06, TSR)
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Documenta tion Update
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2005 -0 6
• Source I ndex .
Code
Newspaper
BL.B
Business Li ne, Banga lore
FE.B
Financial Express, Bangalore
ET.B
Economic Times, Bangalore
IE.B
I nd i a n Express, Bangalore
AA.B
Asian Age, B angalore
DH. B
Deccan Hera l d , Banga lore
TOI . B
T imes of I nd i a , Bangal ore
VT. B
Vijay Times, Bangalore
TH.B
The H i ndu, Bangalore
AA. D
Asian Age, Delhi
FE.D
Financial Express, Del hi
ET.D
Economic Times, Delhi
IE.D
I nd i a n Express, Delh i
TOI .D
Ti mes of I nd i a , Del hi
TH.D
The Hindu, Del h i
HT.D
Hi ndustan T i mes, Del h i
TP.D
The Pioneer, Del hi
TS.D
The Telegraph, Delhi
I E. C
I ndian Express, Chenn a i
FE.C
Fi nancial Express, Chennai
ET.C
Economic T i mes, Chennai
BL.C
Business Line, Chenn a i
HE.G
The Hera l d , Goa
GT.G
Gomatak T i mes, Goa
NT.G
Navhi n d Times, Goa
Readers a re welcome to w rite to u s for a ny of the m ateria l s l i sted in the U pd ate.
though we would request for a contribution towa rds photocopy and mai I i ng expenses.
•
•
•
Esta b l i shed
in
EQUAT I O N S
1985,
is
a
research,
campaigning a n d advocacy organisation charged with a
vision of democratisingtourism.
We bel ieve that the alternatives to the current models of
mass touri s m are viable and have demonstrated this i n
i nnovative partnerships that place local
communit ies'
needs and rights at the center of decision-making and
benefits of tourism development.
We b u i l d networks of people
grassroots orga nisations,
local communities, panchayats and local self governance
bodies, activists, researchers, trade unions, legal a n d
policy experts-who are concerned,
ensuring
that
tourism
a s we are, with
p l a n n i ng,
p o l i cy
and
i m p l ementation i s equitable, people·centred and just.
I n the last two decades, ou r work has focused on the
i m pacts arising out of
u n regulated and irresponsi b l e
tourism development i n I n d i a and the develop i ng world.
We do this through research, information analysis and
dissemi nation, campaigns, advocacy and lobbying. We - .
actively, support communities and local groups i n their
efforts
to
cha nge
the
paradigm
of
unjust
and
unsustainable tourism development.
The DocUpdate is a compilation of media reports and
research articles on tourism and development issues. The
publication a i ms to provide a n analytical perspective to
the debate on tourism and development and i s useful for
researchers, tourism institutes and activists.
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