February - Travel News Digest

Volume V l Issue 7
Pages 40
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The Best of World Tourism at OTM Mumbai 2016
T
he world is set for the biggest travel trade show in India - OTM 2016, to be held in
Mumbai, India’s largest source market of travel, from February 18 to 20, 2016 at
the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Tourism within and out of India provides huge opportunities for the thousands
of trade professionals from around the world attending OTM 2016 to buy, sell and
be updated.
As per data released by India’s Tourism Ministry, it is estimated that in 2015, over
20 million Indians travelled abroad, close to 10 million foreigners came to India and
over a billion trips were taken by Indians within the country. The governments at
the federal and state levels have prioritised tourism as a key area for the economy.
With generous support from Wonderful Indonesia, over 500 trade professionals
from Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
Jaipur and Pune have been pre-qualified for participation in India’s largest hosted
buyer programme, to visit the OTM 2016. Additionally, over 3,000 trade visitors have
registered their participation online, underscoring the real business value of OTM.
The number of such committed buyers is increasing daily in the lead-up to OTM.
For the very first time in trade show history, the United Arab Emirates is leading
their participation with all its 7 emirates, making them the largest destination
exhibitor in OTM 2016. They are joined by several global destinations at OTM
2016 with the keenness to carve a piece of India’s projected 50 million outbound
pie – Indonesia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Thailand, New Zealand, China,
Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Bangladesh, Philippines, Maldives, Oman, Bhutan,
Seychelles, Israel, Rwanda, Romania, Fiji and Greece are all in place at India’s biggest
travel show.
Major Indian destinations are not far behind their international counterparts
with Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, West Bengal,
Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and many other states, present with large number of
sellers from each, to showcase India at its best.
All segments of travel and tourism industry are increasingly required
to use Information and Communication technologies, to stay competitive.
TechForum@OTM2016 is India’s first and only specialised business platform
connecting technology solution providers to the travel industry.
25 Hotspots of 2016  06
Indonesia
turkey
Maldives
Mauritius
UAE
thailand
Israel
fiji
Macao
Hong Kong
egypt
Japan
Oman
Philippines
Nepal
Seychelles
bangladesh
china
Shenzhen
TechForum@OTM will showcase latest travel tech innovations  03
OTM to felicitate India’s Top 100 Travel Producers  04
2
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
OTM 2016 Fact Sheet
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
Number of Exhibitors
1,100+
Number of Countries Represented
50
National Tourism Organisations
30
Focus Country
United Arab Emirates, The National Council of Tourism & Antiquities (NCTA)
Premium Partners
Turkey, Sri Lanka
Partner Countries
Indonesia, Mauritius, Thailand, Egypt
Feature Countries
Maldives, Philippines, Bangladesh, Oman, Seychelles, Japan, Macao, Nepal, China, Hong Kong,
Shenzhen, Romania, Israel, Rwanda, Bhutan, New Zealand, Fiji
States/UTs Being Represented
30+
Host StateMaharashtra
Partner States
Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Gujarat, Odisha
Feature States
Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
Hospitality Partners
Taj, Sahara Star
Supported By
Incredible India, PATA, OTOAI, ATOAI, ADTOI, IATO, IAAI, MTOA, TAAP, TAAN
Organised By
Fairfest Media
Focus Country
Host State
Premium Partners
Partner Countries
Partner States
Feature Countries
Feature States
Hospitality Partners
Official Publication
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Organised by
Editorial
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Administration
Editor & Publisher
Sanjiv Agarwal
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Nitin Telang
General Manager
Fatima D’Costa
Deputy General Managers
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Volume V • Issue 7
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3
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
File picture of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis taking a virtual tour at OTM Mumbai 2015
TechForum@OTM will showcase latest travel tech innovations
OTM has partnered with online travel-tech media
platform TravHQ, to organise two seminar sessions
and one unique concept called #StartupKnockDown,
an ultimate opportunity for upcoming travel startups to present their offerings to travel trade visitors
in Mumbai.
The first day will have a seminar session on Leveraging content to inspire travellers. Visual or text
plays a critical role in destination storytelling. Visually attractive content can go a long-way in inspiring
a traveller to explore a new destination or take a trip.
What are the social media content strategies for tourism brands? Beyond marketing can content lead to
consumer advocacy? How can we use different forms
of content e.g. video content to target potential travellers? Which are some of the successful content-marketing campaigns in the travel industry?
The second day will feature #StartupKnockDown,
a niche platform to connect, engage and deliberate on
travel technologies. The session is a prime opportunity for the travel start-ups to reveal their business
idea to the world. It aims to provide an ultimate
platform to uncover the hidden travel tech gems.
Selected travel start-ups will get an opportunity to
pitch onstage. The session aims to identify travel
start-ups which have launched recently and have a
MVP (Minimum Viable Product) offering. A highlevel panel will judge the pitches.
The third day will have a workshop session
on Leveraging online influencer Relationships in
Travel & Tourism. The role of online influencers has
become increasingly significant in the travel & tourism industry. A number of destination marketing
brands are now working with social media influencers to increase their footprint and reach. Panelists
will examine the influencer engagement opportunities in travel and tourism sector, will discuss successful influencer case-studies in the travel industry
(e.g. Kerala Tourism’s Blog Express, InstaWalk by
Goa Tourism etc.). How should one work with travel
influencers? How to measure the success metric while
working with influencers? Are Blogger-FAM trips
helpful?
TravHQ is an online platform that offers information, news, insights, reviews and opinions about the
travel industry, focusing primarily on technology,
social media, digital marketing and upcoming trends.
Leveraging content to inspire travellers
StartupKnockDown
Leveraging Online Influencer
Relationships In Travel & Tourism
Date: February 18, 2016
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Venue: Tech Theater, OTM Mumbai
Date: February 19, 2016
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Venue: Tech Theater, OTM Mumbai
Date: February 20, 2016
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Venue: Tech Theater, OTM Mumbai
Panelists
Judges
Panelists
Sesh Seshadri
Director
Lonely Planet India
Siddharth Dabhade
Head of Travel Business
Google India / SEA
Vineet Rajan
Founder
IndiBlogger
Lata Subramanian
Ex-CMO
Sterling
Sanjiv Agarwal
Founder & CEO
Fairtech / Fairfest
Siddhartha Joshi
Leading Travel Blogger
Prashanth Rao Aroor
CEO
IntelliStay Hotels
Sanjiv Swarup
Venture Capitalist:
Connecting Friends
Kavita Gnanamurthy
Skyscanner India
Hanisha Lalwani
Multi-Property Marketing &
Communications Manager
Marriott International
Ashish Pai
Corporate Strategy
Cox & Kings
Shelly Singh
Founder & CEO
Thursday Premiere
Moderator Daksh Sharma, Founding Partner, TravHQ & Iffort
OTM is the largest gathering of travel industry in India, and we thank the organising team for believing in the core idea of
#StartupKnockDown. The amount of visibility and opportunities for travel startups is unparalleled and we welcome everyone
to submit their nominations for a chance to get be selected for pitching session.
4
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
OTM to felicitate India’s Top 100 Travel Producers
WINNERS
Tour Organiser
Travel Lounge
Spiceland Holidays
Wellcome Tours
Impression Tourism Services Pvt Ltd
Travnet Tourism Services Pvt Ltd
Cleartrip.com
Travel Boutique Online
Makemytrip.com
Neptune Holidays
Akbar Travels India Pvt Ltd
Via.com
Yatra Online Pvt Ltd
Expedia.com
GoIbibo.com
Intersight Holidays
Kesari Tours Pvt Ltd
Click 2 Travel.in
Girikand Travels Pvt Ltd
Club 7 Holidays Pvt Ltd
Classic Holidays
Flamingo Transworld Pvt Ltd
Cox & Kings Pvt Ltd
Ark Travels
In - Time Travels
Rezlive.com
All Four Seasons Travels
Cox & Kings (India) Pvt Ltd
Aatithya Trips Pvt Ltd
Ezeego One Travels & Tours Ltd
Akshayya India Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Travel Designer India Pvt Ltd
Pearl Travels
Arzoo.com
Regal Voyages Pvt Ltd
Musafir.com
Uniglobe Odyssey Tours & Travels
Riya Travel & Tours (India) Pvt Ltd
Jagsons Travels Pvt Ltd
Amigo Travels Pvt Ltd
Akshar Travels Pvt Ltd
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd
Pathfinders Holidays
Paramount Travels
Air Travel Enterprises India Ltd
Kuoni-SOTC Pvt Ltd
Swosti Travels
Anjali Travel & Tours
Veena World
Windstar Holidays & Tours Pvt Ltd
Bonton Tours
Blue Bird Travels
Navbharat Travels
Voyagers Club Tours Pvt Ltd
Riya Holidays
Eco Tours (PUGMARKS)
Shakti Travels
Global Odyssey
Aaryan Leisure & Holidays
Akquasun Group
Travel Tours Pvt Ltd
Blue Star Air Travel Services (India) Pvt Ltd
Tamarind Tours
Aarohan Tours & Travel Pvt Ltd
Atlas Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Heena Travels
Travel Tours
Travel Designer
Vayu Seva Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Voyage Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
TL Hospitality (India) Pvt Ltd
Baywatch Travels Pvt Ltd
Hi-Tours
Bhagyashri Travels Pvt Ltd
Air Travel Enterprises Group of Companies
Viking Tours & Travel
Ashok Etravel World Pvt Ltd
OM Holidays
Unicorn Holidays & Travel
Air Aman Travels Pvt Ltd
Ace Travels Pvt Ltd
Creative Tours & Travels
Freedom Holidays & Leisure Travel Pvt Ltd
D Pauls Travel
Gainwell Enterprises Pvt Ltd
Sahibji Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Lohanas Holidays
Taj Tours
Etravel.co.in
Acma Travels Tours Pvt Ltd
Jagadish Air Travels Pvt Ltd
Ascon Travel Pvt Ltd
Travel World & Travel World Holidays
FCM Travel Solutions
Ezeego One Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Millennium Travels
Windex Tours & Travels
World Wide Travels
Rainbow Vacations
Carewell Travels & Tour Pvt Ltd
Odyssey Travels Ltd
Victoria Travels Pvt Ltd
Ravine Trek
RUNNERS UP
29Three Holidays Pvt Ltd
7th Heaven Tours & Travels
A T Seasons & Vacations Travel Pvt Ltd
Abercrombie & Kent India Pvt Ltd
Adyar Travel Bureau Pvt Ltd
Agwani Travels (India) Pvt Ltd
Altair Services Pvt Ltd
Aman Holidays
Amazing Vacations
Astral Travels Pvt Ltd
Authentic Travels Pvt Ltd
Baboo Travels
BCS Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
BNG Travels
C R Holidays
Caravan Travels
Carnation Holidays
Chennai Metro Travels Pvt Ltd
Comfort Holidays
Creative Vacations
Cruise & Travel
Crystal World Tours Pvt Ltd
Daffodils Holidays
Dattu Tours & Travels
Deccan Holiday Tours
Designer Destinations
Destination Travel Services
Diana World Travel Pvt Ltd
Dravidian Trails Holidays Pvt Ltd
Eastern Travels
Eastern Travels Pvt Ltd
Footprint Leisure Pvt Ltd
Garha Tours & Travels
Gem Travels
Globus Family of Brands
Go India Journeys
Good Wind Travels
Goodwill Travels & Holidays Pvt Ltd
Guideline Travels Pvt Ltd
Gujaral Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Hammock Leisure Holidays Pvt Ltd
Hansa Holidays
Harsh Travels
Harvey India
Hasmukh Travels Pvt Ltd
Holiday Bliss
International Travel House Ltd
Jetways Travels Pvt Ltd
JTB Travels Pvt Ltd
K K Holidays & Vacations
Krishna World Travels
Lancer Holidays
Le Passage to India
Mercury Travels
Mig Travels
Minar Travels (India) Pvt Ltd
Nimbus Tours & Travels
Nutan Travels
Om Raaga Conferences & Services
Omega Travel & Tourist Agency
Orbitz Corporate & Leisure Travels (India) Pvt Ltd
Ottila International
Parveen Holidays
Pawas Tourism
Peekay Holidays Pvt Ltd
Pegasus Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Planet Hospitality
Prasanna Holidays
Radiant Holidays
Raja Rani Travels Pvt Ltd
Shakthi Tours & Travels
Simas Holidays Pvt Ltd
Southern Travels
SSR Holidays
Star Tours
Starline Travels Limited
Trans World Travels
Travel Express
Travel Masters India Corp
Travel Voyages (India) Pvt Ltd
Travellers Choice Pvt Ltd
Travstarz Holiday & Destinations Pvt Ltd
Trip Go Trip Tourism Pvt Ltd
TSI Yatra Pvt Ltd
TUI (Select Vacations)
Udaan
Unicorn Travels
UNIGLOBE Sameera
Utopia Travel Services Pvt Ltd
Vacations Exotica
Viceroy Holidays
World of Vacations
Worldwide DMC
Zenith Holidays
NOMINEES
Albatross Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Asarvawala Akhilbharat Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Dook Consulting Services Pvt Ltd
Far Horizon Tours Pvt Ltd
FCM Travel Solutions (India) Pvt Ltd
Hoysala Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Just Holidays
Parul Tours & Travels
RHS Holidays
Shree Harshil Tours & Travels
Starline
The World Traveller
Travel Air (Madras) Pvt Ltd
Travel Explorers
Agarwal Holidays
Arika Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Dakshin Vacations Pvt Ltd
Diana World Travel Pvt Ltd
Dolphin Tours & Travels
J M Mehta Travel & Tour Co Pvt Ltd
Jewel Holidays
Journeymart.com
Krisia Holidays & Travels Pvt Ltd
Magellan Travel Services Pvt Ltd
Metro Travels Pvt Ltd
Pearl Holidays
Radheshyam Travels Pvt Ltd
Sagger World Holidays
South Wind Travel Agents Pvt Ltd
Spring Holidays Ltd
STIC Travels Pvt Ltd
Swagatam Tours
Swiss Holidays
Travel Club
Triton Travels Pvt Ltd
Triway Travels Pvt Ltd
Vensimal World Travel
Visa Travels
Airworth
Bajaj Travels
Champion Travel & Tour Pvt Ltd
Clickurtrip.com
Emerald Airways Pvt Ltd
Hi Tours
J N Rao Travel Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd
J V Travels
Jetair Tours
Kabra Travel Services
Make Plans Holidays
Neelkanth Tours & Travels
Pashankar Tours
Raj Yatayat Pvt Ltd
Syrisa Travels Pvt Ltd
The Wanderers - Wanderers Leisure Travels Pvt Ltd
Travel Oyster India Pvt Ltd
Uniglobe Napolitan Travel
Varun Travels Trade & Investment
VFS
Ananya Tours Pvt Ltd
Chirag Travels Pvt Ltd
Dewan Travels Pvt Ltd
FCM
Flight Center Travels Pvt Ltd
Fly High India Holidays
International Travel House
Maitreya Holidays
Neptune Travco Pvt Ltd
Nirva Tours & Travels
Panache World
Safeway Travels
Sai Pooja Travel
Sheeraz Tours
Taanya Tours Travels & Freight Forwarders Pvt Ltd
The Wings
Welcom Travels
Beacon Holidays Pvt Ltd
Bluemoon Travels
Compact Travels
Cutting Edge Events Pvt Ltd (T/A Cutting Edge Travels)
Deepa Travels
Diplomatic Travel Pvt Ltd
Dynamic Tours Pvt Ltd
Equino Fun Holidays
Gitanjali Travels
Horizons Dream Vacations Pvt Ltd
Incredible Vacations
International Travel House Ltd
Leisure Tours
Lovern Tours
NCS Travels & Tours
Oyster World Tour & Travel Pvt Ltd
Pristine Travels Pvt Ltd
Shah Travels
Shree Sati Travels Pvt Ltd
SK Tours & Travels
Travels & Rentals Pvt Ltd
Yorker
Ambe World Travels
Arunodaya Travels
Beleast Travels Pvt Ltd
Bird Group
Black Grape Holidays
Carlson Wagonlit
Cruise Professional
Durga Travel, Bangalore
Fortune Tours & Expo Pvt Ltd
Holiday Bash International
Horizon Holidays
Inorbit Tours Pvt Ltd
Journeys & Destinations
Kobawalas Travel House
Landmark Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Lawrence Travels & Tours
Northwest Safaris
PL Worldways Ltd
Planet India Travels Pvt Ltd
Sun & Sand Tours & Travels
Sunday Pure Holiday
Sunrise Tour & Travels
Tejas Tours & Travels
Travair Connections Ltd
Travel Exchange
Travel Inn India Pvt Ltd
Travelite (India) & KTC (India) Pvt Ltd
Trial Blazers Tours India Pvt Ltd
Tulsidas Khimji Holidays Pvt Ltd
Weldon Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Wings Travel & Tours Pvt Ltd
Avesta Travel & Tours Pvt Ltd
Bhagwant Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Business Travels
Concab Travel
Corporate Flyers
Erco Traveld Pvt Ltd
Flexi Tours
Garg Holidays Pvt Ltd
Gaurav Travels
Geanis World Holidays
Holidays Moods Adventures
Jetsave
Kumaar Holidays
Mamata Airwings
Midtown Travels Pvt Ltd
N Chirag Travels
Passion & Pleasure
Pioneer Aero Travels (M) Pvt Ltd
Pricol Travel Ltd
Rasi Travels
Shikhar Travels
Travel Masti Holidays
Travel Spirit International Pvt Ltd
Tusker Travels Pvt Ltd
U&I Holidays Pvt Ltd
Vacation Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Wilderness Experience Travels Pvt Ltd
AR-ES Travels
Ascon Travel
Coromandel Travels
European Holiday
Fantasy Tours & Travels
Gilpin Travel Management
Global Conference Management Group
Golden Phoenix Travels Pvt Ltd
Hana Travels Pvt Ltd
India Tours & Travel Pvt Ltd
India Vision Tours & Travels
Kulinkumar Holidays Family Group Tours
Marshall International
Milesworth Travels & Tour Pvt Ltd
Nomad Travels
Prakriti Holidays
S A Southend Travels Pvt Ltd
Siddarth Travels
Snow Leopard Adventures
Snowlion Expeditions Pvt Ltd
The Travel People
Travel Agent N Tour Operator
Travel Experts
Trust Travel & Tours Pvt Ltd
Uday Tours & Travels
Unique Global Hotel Alliance Pvt Ltd
Vedaa Tours
Welgrow Travels
World Travel Studio
Ashlin Travels
BCD Travel India Pvt Ltd
Bombay Travels
Conquer Travels
Coronation Travels
Cupid Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd
Devrishi Tours & Travels
DGS Travel House Pvt Ltd
Eco Adventures Pvt Ltd
Engee Holidays
Flight Shop
Hari Om Holidays
Hiz Trvl Network
Holidays By Weldon
Hotels & Travel
Keshav Forex & Travels Pvt Ltd
Matheson Bosanquet Ent Ltd
Pacific Worldwide
Paras Holidays
Pristine Vacations
Regency Tours Pvt Ltd
Sawhney Tours & Travels
Spring Travels
Sterling International
Sunrise Travels
Swift Travel International Pvt Ltd
Travel Bureau
Travel Optionz Holidays Pvt Ltd
Travellers World Ltd
Tybros (India) Tours Pvt Ltd
XLNT Tours & Travels
Y Not Travel
Airworth Travels & Tours Ltd
Alka Airlink
Bathija Travels Pvt Ltd
Celebrations India
Choice Tours & Travels
Dejavu Holidays
Flightshop / FCM
In Air Holidays
Jetage Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd
Platinum Incentives & Events Pvt Ltd
Raj Vyoma
Rave Tours & Travels
Red Carpet
Shervani Hospitality Ltd
Travellect
Uniglobe Kocchar Travels
Zaka Group
Arrivals Air Services
Caair Travels Pvt Ltd
Cougar Motorsport Pvt Ltd
Futura Travels Ltd (Essar Group)
High Flyer
Holiday Merchants
Hopco Travels Pvt Ltd
Island Holidays
Jain Tours & Travels
Joy Travels
Khanna Enterprises
New Airways Travels (Delhi) Pvt Ltd
NIT Worldwide
Northern Railways
Sahara Global
Spirit of India Tours & Travels
Stellar Holidays
Sunflight Travel
Tourkraft
Travel Services International (TSI)
Treasure Tourism Corporation Ltd
Vedic India Travels
Windmill Holidays
Fundoo Vacations
6
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
Focus Country
United Arab Emirates, The National Council of Tourism & Antiquities (NCTA)
Seven Emirates One Destination
The United Arab Emirates has accomplished many remarkable things over the past 40 years. Thanks to the pioneering vision of their founder
Sheikh Zayed, the UAE is now truly a global country, with over 200 nationalities living and working there, and has rightfully earned its reputation as the economy of tomorrow and a model for emerging markets everywhere. The mission of National Council of Tourism and Antiquities
(NCTA) is to tell their nation’s story and preserve these ancient values that make them great, to instill in their people a sense of pride and legacy
while sharing their success with the rest of the world. The United Arab Emirates is a holidaymaker’s paradise. With pristine beaches, cool blue
water and a gleaming skyline, the UAE is quickly named as a favourite destination by vacationers from around the world. Along with palm-laden
hotels, shiny yachts and colossal malls that would make even the most dedicated shopper wide-eyed with wonder, new attractions are opening
up all over the country, drawing new audiences and appealing to an ever more diverse set of vacationers.
Abu Dhabi
Vision
To position the United Arab Emirates
as the leading tourism hub regionally and globally
Ajman
Dubai
Mission
Consolidation of efforts between
the tourism authorities in UAE to
identify UAE as a leading tourism
hub and co-ordinate the efforts to
preserve and maintain UAE’s antiquities through unified external representation and co-operation with
international organisations, governmental and non-governmental
Values
Fujairah
Leadership: Create young leaders
that can stimulate a group of
people to work toward a common
goal
Excellence: Adopt the principles
of excellence and strive for
continuous improvement
Ras Al Khaimah
Sharjah
Respect: Respect the cultural
values and principles of local
community and history, the
expectations of visitors and the
needs of employees
Learning: Adopt an active role
in continuous learning and
the formation of educational
experiences
Credibility & Transparency:
Ensure all interactions reflect the
cultural values of transparency,
credibility and morals
Umm Al Qauwain
Innovation: Appreciation of
creativity and encouragement of
new ideas and innovations
Sustainability: Creation of
sustainable solutions adopting
‘green’ standards
www. ncta.gov.ae
Turkey
Turkey, located at the
crossroads of Europe and Asia
makes it a country of significant importance, with so much
to offer to travellers - breathtaking natural beauty, unique
historical and archaeological
places, some of the best hotels
and touristic infrastructure
and a tradition of hospitality at competitive prices.
Turkey is considered to be one of the richest countries in terms of archaeology and is the biggest ‘open
air museum’ of the world, a repository of all the civilisations. It has always been a bridge between the
East and West and has been noted by scholars as the
‘melting pot’ of various cultures. Every type of traveller has multiple opportunities to create memories
and experiences to be a part of – from culture and
heritage, religion, luxury, backpacking, food trails,
weddings and honeymoons, skiing, health tourism,
golf and sports. From its excellent location on the
world map and accessibility to the cosmopolitan lifestyle it affords everything from a vibrant city atmosphere to immense natural beauty and makes every
traveller feel completely at home in this beautiful
abode.
Ozgur Ayturk
Coordinator, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Republic of Turkey
www.goturkey.com
Hotspots
2016
Explore the Diverse Land
of Flora & Fauna
Meet the
Mughals, Mystics, Monks
and the Maharajas
Paharpur Buddhist Monastery, Bogra
Paharpur Buddhist Vihara is one of the ancient
archaeological sites in the Indian-Sub-Continent, built
in 781-821 AD by Dharmapala, the 2nd king of Pala
Dynasty. It is a World Heritage site, which is 282
kilometers drive from Dhaka, taking six and half hours.
Site museum houses the rare antiquities and artifacts of
the ancient civilization. The rural ambience and
tranquility around the site is enjoyable for the tourists.
S
undarbans which means "Beautiful forests" is the largest littoral mangrove
belt in the world and an UNESCO world heritage site. Guarded by the majestic
Royal Bengal Tigers, Sundarbans is the home to a vast assortment of amazing
organisms. It contains not just mangrove swamps, but the forest is considered
as one of the greatest eco-tourism sites which has wide ranges of flora and
fauna for the tourist to enjoy.
There are thousands of spotted deer,
hundreds of other amazing
creatures including birds, reptiles,
amphibians and abundance of
Golpata trees- which are not only
beautiful but also provides livelihood
for thousands of people living inside
the forests. Numerous meandering
streams, rivers, creeks and mesmerizing biodiversity have enhanced its
charm to a great extent.
THE SHROUDED OF MYSTERY
T
he name “Dhakeshwari” means “Goddess of Dhaka”.
Dhakeshwari temple is the place where all the major events and
festivals of Hindu religion are celebrated in the temple complex
with great enthusiasm and excitement in a pious manner.
Indonesia
Having heard plenty of
great things about Indonesia,
a first-hand experience is long
overdue. Indonesia, comprising over 17,000 islands, boasts
an endless list of unique destinations, exciting activities
and cultural events which are
at the very pinnacle of tourism attraction. Indonesia itself offers a wide variety
of tourism options. Ranging from shopping to dining, natural to architectural destinations, as well as
wellness to nightlife activities, the country undoubtedly has it all. This time, in OTM Mumbai, Indonesia’s
booth is filled with 12 tourism industries consisting of
tour operators, hotels, and others tourism sector that
come with tons of destination. Come and visit us at
OTM 2016 booth no. B 800 and explore more of the
Wonderful Indonesia.
Dr Arief Yahya
Minister of Tourism, Indonesia
www.indonesia.travel
Hotspots
2016
Mauritius, known for its
beautiful beaches, lagoons and
reefs also offers fun activities
like sea kart, kite surfing, deepsea fishing, trekking, paragliding, quad biking, scuba diving
and skydiving. You can also take
a walk with the lions or go deep
into the sea in a submarine. For
golf lovers, it has eight championship level courses,
laid out in the most amazing locations. Mauritian cuisine, like its population, is colourful and crossbred,
offering Continental, Creole, Indian and Chinese delicacies. 72,000 Indian tourists visited Mauritius
in 2015, an increase of 18% as compared to 2014.
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) India
promotes Mauritius as an affordable luxury destination with an emphasis on families, honeymoon, golf
and MICE.
Vivek Anand
Country Manager
MTPA – India
www.tourism-mauritius.mu
8
Mauritius
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
Thailand
Thailand has started to welcome the segments like groups
of women travellers and senior
travellers and we are going to
focus the year’s promotions on
them. Groups of women travellers might be married or single,
professionals or housewives,
senior or very young but we’re
witnessing an increasing number of ‘all girl groups’.
Thailand’s amazing value-for-money shopping across
global brands, local brands and street markets; its spas
and holistic wellness and the fact that it is safe for
women travelling alone attract this segment. In 2016,
we will promote wellness and shopping as expected
to this segment but also promote diving, adventure,
culinary lessons and Muay Thai (as a fitness form that
doubles up as a self-defence technique) to this segment. Thailand’s rich and engaging culture, presented
in interesting forms like theatre and dance beside cultural sites; the people’s inherent respect and caring
attitude towards elders; the pleasant weather that is
comparable to India’s, the fact that it is short haul and
therefore not too tedious to reach and the availability of Indian food make Thailand appealing to India’s
senior citizens. Of course, we will continue to focus
on luxury and weekend travel in 2016. Our efforts
towards increasing spend and length of stay across
segments will be carried forth into this year as will our
endeavours to take the Indian traveller beyond Bangkok. Showcasing new region is significant and we will
specially focus on Krabi, Koh Samui (with Koh Phangan particularly for the younger market), Chiang Mai
and Chiang Rai in the coming year even as we open
the doors to Koh Kood, Koh Lanta, Koh Raya, Koh
Chang, Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin.
Soraya Homchuen
Director (Mumbai Office)
Tourism Authority of Thailand
www.tourismthailand.org
Hotspots
2016
Over 2015, Egypt has witnessed a partial recovery from
the turmoil that happened after
the great revolution of 2011.
A real success in fulfilling the
political road map towards the
full stability state and a tremendous reform process towards a
transparent developing economy have both reflected positively in a very good
growth rate of 27.2% in total footfalls from India
to Egypt 2015 compared to 2014. The good result
encourages us to put a plan of the further growth rate
of about 48% in 2016 to fully recover to the figures
of 2010 which was the peak year for the Indian market. We believe that Egypt deserves a bigger share of
the Indian market as it offers both the uniqueness and
the variety at the same time. With ambitious promotion plan, active participation in the large travel fairs,
strong advertising campaign and bigger partnership
with travel trade fraternity in India, we believe the
mission will not be difficult at all.
Ismail A Hamid Amer
Egyptian Tourism Counsellor
www.egypt.travel
10
Egypt
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mumbai Ofce No. 45,
4th Floor, Free Press House, Free Press Journal Marg,
Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400 021 - INDIA
Tel.: (91-22) 2204-2727 to 28 Fax : (91-22) 2204-2729
Email : tatmumbai@tat.or.th, tatmumbaimail@gmail.com
w w w. t o u r i s m t h a i l a n d . o r g
facebook.com/TourismAuthorityofThailandMumbai
Maldives
Maldives Marketing and
Public Relations Corporation
(MMPRC) together with the
Tourism Industry of Maldives
are excited to kick off the Visit
Maldives Year 2016. The year
began on a strong note with
the welcoming event of the
first tourist to visit Maldives in
2016. A free holiday gift was handed to the tourist
and special stamps that would be on every visitor’s
passport throughout the year, was revealed.
Mohamed Adam
Director
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation
www.visitmaldives.com
Hotspots
2016
The Philippines is a traveller’s delight. An archipelago of
7,107 islands, it is an aquatic
playground with various water
sports options. In the Philippines, Boracay is one of the
most-preferred islands among
Indian travellers. The sevenkilometre long island showcases magnificent white sand beaches with accommodations ranging from $25-300 per person. One
can enjoy activities like parasailing, a paraw (native
outrigger boat) tour of the island, waterskiing, cliff
diving, helmet diving or snorkelling. There are over
20 dive sites catering to all levels of experience. One
can indulge in a relaxing massage on the beach or
at a spa with mesmerising views of the sea and relish the wide variety of cuisines available including
Indian delicacies. As the sun goes down, head to one
of Boracay’s bars for a taste of the island’s nightlife. The variety of drinks will keep you in high spirits while live bands and pounding disco music will
entertain you.
SanJeet
Tourism Attaché
Philippines Tourism Marketing Office, India
www.tourism.gov.ph
12
Philippines
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, a land of exhilarating mix with fascinating history, vibrant cultures,
panoramic beauties, historical
ruins, flora and fauna, hills and
forests, sandy sea beaches and
wildlife, is waiting to welcome
you on the occasion of ‘Visit
Bangladesh 2016’. You will easily be impressed with so much variety of attractiveness within such a small geographic boundary. The
world’s longest sandy beach - Coxsbazar; the world’s
single largest mangrove forest - Sundarbans; Oceanic
Kuakata; Coral island - Saint martins; the green roof
of the country - Bandarban; a land of colorful Indigenous groups and Lake City - Rangamati; the scenic
beauty of the hilly regions, historic and archaeological sites, etc. are of life time experience for travellers.
Bangladesh is a land of tourists, researchers, wildlife
and nature lovers. During the year of Visit Bangladesh
2016 you will come across the rich cultural heritages
and history of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Tourism Board
is ready to extend necessary facilities to welcome you
and ensure your stay very comfortable here in Bangladesh. Visit Bangladesh anytime where there is something for everyone. Your dream will come to a reality
in this beautiful land.
Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir
CEO
Bangladesh Tourism Board
www.tourismboard.gov.bd
Hotspots
2016
Oman has witnessed 13%
growth in Indian arrivals from
January - October 2015 in
comparison to the same period
in 2014. We have also seen an
increase in MICE and Destination Weddings taking place
in Oman. The increase can be
attributed to the fact that we
have managed to convert the ignorant traveller to an
informed traveller and worked very closely with the
travel trade to educate them about the destination
and its offerings. The destination being geographically
very close to India also acts as an advantage for us as
Indians can visit Oman during the long weekend holidays. Also, the air connectivity is excellent with several airlines flying from various Indian cities directly
into Oman. The picturesque beaches, golden sands,
mighty mountains and luxurious hotels that Oman
offers are unmatched and will definitely entice Indian
travellers looking for a new holiday destination.
Oman
Lubaina Sheerazi
India Representative
Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman
www.omantourism.gov.om
14
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
Seychelles
Considering increase in the
number of direct flights from
Mumbai and diverse activities
and experiences available in
Seychelles we will actively tap
the long weekend holiday segment in India. India celebrates
hundreds of festivals in a calendar year with many of them
celebrated in the country. As a result, 2016 has several festivals falling close to weekends giving Indians
a chance to plan a quick getaway over the extended
weekend. Seychelles’ proximity and hassle free visa
formalities make it an ideal long weekend destination.
This is also in line with the trend of Indians increasingly taking multiple short holidays over a long international holiday. We will promote these holidays to
drive traffic among the non-honeymoon segments
like family, adventure, wellness, celebrations, MICE,
eco-tourism, etc. and especially drive traffic during
non-honeymoon months. Since these long weekends
are not applicable in other markets, especially Europe,
we are confident that resorts, airline and DMCs will
support us in this initiative by offering attractive
holiday deals.
Sherin Naiken
CEO
Seychelles Tourism Board
www.seychelles.travel
Hotspots
2016
The upcoming Destination & Trend of Japan will
be on the ‘Cherry Blossom’. Japan has countless
cherry blossom trees with thousands of cherry blossom viewing spots all over the country. Starting from
the end of March, the first Cherry blossom flower in
southern Kyusyu and spread northwards to Tohoku,
Hokkaido. They usually bloom for a week and it is
said to be the most beautiful at their final stage. People celebrate and cherish their beauty while it lasts.
Japanese bullet train is most convenient and reliable
way to travel between cities. From March 26, 2016
onwards, a new bullet train will start operation, and
make Tohoku & Hokkaido more accessible from Honshu. You will easily access northern parts of Japan by
the E5 Type Shinkansen, similar to the one which will
be introduced in India between Mumbai-Ahmedabad in the future. The northern part of Japan is full
of attractions including rich nature, tradition and outdoor leisure activities. There is plenty of delicious seafood, Japanese liquors, farm produce and dairy products to sample.
Daisuke Kobayashi
Director
Japan National Tourism Organisation
Japan
www.jnto.org.sg/india
16
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
akagera national park
nyungwe national
park
volcanoes
national
park
Lake kivu
live
entertainment
in kigali
Rwanda’s Top 5
DESTINATIONS
Volcanoes National Park
Two and a half hours north of Kigali you will find Volcanoes National Park, home to most of
the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Rwanda is among only three countries in the world
where you can trek to see the majestic gorillas up close – a truly once in a lifetime experience.
Lake Kivu
Kivu is one of Africa’s Great Lakes, with deep emerald-green waters and a shoreline of
magnificent mountains and fishing villages. The lake is dotted with uninhabited islands that
can be explored by boat and provide the perfect location to relax and enjoy the peace of
Rwanda’s countryside.
Nyungwe National PARK
Nyungwe is one of the oldest rainforests found anywhere on the continent. The lush, green
forest is home to over 300 bird species and 13 primate species including chimpanzees and
TravelRwanda
TravelRwanda
colobus monkeys. Take a stroll through the canopy along a 70m high walkway for exhilarating
views of the rainforest.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda’s largest national park is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life. The
lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands make Akagera an incredibly
scenic reserve. The park is home to the elusive Shoebill stork, seven newly introduced lions,
elephant, leopard and the shy but stunning roan antelope.
Kigali
Rwanda’s capital provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend getaway. As one of the
safest cities in Africa, Kigali is quickly becoming a favourite for East African and international
tourists. Savour the tastes of international cuisine at the city’s best restaurants and enjoy live
music at the many clubs and bars in Kigali.
@TravelRwanda
RWANDATOURISM.COM
Macao has grandiose plans
in store to warmly welcome
and amuse visitors this year.
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is dedicated
to making the city shine with its
extraordinary elements including history, culture, leisure and
entertainment, fostering the
sustainable and diversified development of local tourism as it goes toward the direction of building the city
into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. There are
lots of festivals, events and activities to watch out
in this year. The year begins with the Lanterns Festival, the Chinese New Year, the Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Monkey followed by the Firework Festival, Macau Grand Prix, the Lights Festival,
Food Festival and much more. This year MGTO will be
aiming to foster smart tourism development, develop
innovative and diversified tourism products, optimise
mega events and festivals and increase the effectiveness of promotional activities to draw more valueadded visitors to Macao. MGTO will also continue to
collaborate with other tourism partners in the Pearl
River Delta region to promote it as one joint destination to discerning Indian travellers.
Macao
Arzan Khambatta
Head of India Representative Office
Macao Government Tourism Office
www.macaotourism.gov.mo
Hotspots
2016
Nepal, as travellers’ paradise, will always prevail. Land
of Everest and Lord Buddha’s
home-Nepal, an unending tale
of timeless legacies, will put a
smile on your souls. Be there
and see for yourselves, how
the country and people have
triumphed with renewed zeal
and energy in a short span of time since last April.
With good weather, well-packaged itineraries, eager
travel industry, excellent services and world-famous
Nepali hospitality, Nepal’s tourism awaits the surge
of Indian visitors for the upcoming biggest festival of
Lord Shiva. Visit the holy temple of Pashupatinath for
revered blessings and Naturally Nepal this spring for
rejuvenation.
Deepak Raj Joshi
CEO
Nepal Tourism Board
www.welcomenepal.com
18
Nepal
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
ENTERTAINMENT DOESN’T GET
ANY BIGGER & BETTER
THAN THIS!
motiongate™ Dubai
Embark on an immersive journey into
the fantastic world of Hollywood films!
Play the hero with your favorite
characters across 27 action-packed
rides and attractions.
DubaiParksandResorts
@dubaiparksresorts
LEGOLAND® Dubai
The ultimate theme park destination
for families with children aged 2-12
featuring 40 LEGO® themed rides,
shows and attractions.
DubaiParksandResorts
@dxbparksresorts
LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob configurations, the Minifigure, DUPLO and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2015 The LEGO Group. LEGOLAND is a part of Merlin Entertainments plc.
Welcome to Dubai Parks and Resorts, the first integrated resort destination in the Middle East. From
LEGOLAND® Dubai and LEGOLAND® Water Park to motiongateTM Dubai and Bollywood ParksTM Dubai, experience
the wonders of three world-class theme parks and one waterpark with over 100 attractions in all. It will also host
RiverlandTM Dubai, a grand entrance plaza with premium retail and dining along the waterfront, as well as
LapitaTM Hotel, a Polynesian-themed family resort. So come 2016, experience a world of fun, adventure and
hospitality unlike any other.
OPENING 2016
Bollywood Parks™ Dubai
LEGOLAND® Water Park
Splash your way through the only water park
in the UAE designed for children 2-12 and
their families. Experience 20 LEGO themed
water slides and attractions including a wave
pool and the unique Build-A-Raft River.
The first theme park in the world
dedicated to all things Bollywood!
From simulation rides to a Broadway-style
epic Bollywood musical, get ready for
an experience unlike any other.
dubaiparksandresorts.com
China
The initiative of Visit India
Year in China 2015 and Visit
China Year in India 2016 is not
only a glorious calling to the
tourism fraternity in our two
countries, but also a significant
opportunity for both sides to
strengthen tourism exchange
and cooperation.
Li Jinzao
Chairman
China National Tourism Administration
www.travelchina.gov.cn
Hotspots
2016
Experience Life, Do Travel!
Tel: (+632) 524 2222
Mob: (+63) 9175291437
Email: domestic@shrofftravel.com
www.shrofftravel.com
Hong Kong
We are pleased to see that
arrivals from India to Hong
Kong maintained healthy
growth in 2015. Hong Kong is
indeed the perfect destination
for Indian families and young
visitors, and they can also enjoy
a 14-day visa-free period. Once
in Hong Kong, they can experience an exciting array of events throughout the
year with world-class attractions all of which is in
our famous cosmopolitan, friendly setting. The Hong
Kong Tourism Board attaches great importance to the
Indian market and will work closely with our trade
partners in India, as well as neighbouring destinations
Macao and Shenzhen, to promote inbound travel to
the South China region, including these three cities.
We look forward to welcoming more Indian visitors
to Hong Kong in 2016.
Anthony Lau
Executive Director
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)
www.discoverhongkong.com
Hotspots
2016
Shenzhen is a coastal city in
Southern China, which is situated on the east coast of Pearl
River Estuary and adjacent to
Hong Kong. It is also a major
transport hub for travellers
entering and departing China.
In 2010, Shenzhen earned a
place on the New York Times’
list of the world’s 31 must-visit destinations. In 2014,
Shenzhen received more than 100 million tourists.
To enrich travellers’ experience, five themed itineraries were developed for travellers to explore. They are
‘coastal romance’, ‘theme park’, ‘cultural innovation’,
‘sports and leisure’ and ‘urban charm’. Shenzhen, nowadays, is not only to demonstrate an important role
for the outbound travel in China and but also to play
an important role in all overseas markets.
Shenzhen
Yang Yongqun
Deputy Director-General
Culture, Sports and Tourism
Administration of Shenzhen Municipality
24
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
Israel
2015 saw the growing trend
of Indian travellers exploring
new places for their holidays.
This trend will only increase in
2016 with more Indians eagerly
looking for new destinations.
Israel is a vibrant country with
vast diversity and rich culture.
The modern country is filled
with outstanding history, exciting events, stunning
attractions and thrilling nightlife, perfect for a holiday.
Israel is a perfect destination for a family vacation or
a honeymoon and also offers a nice vacation experience such as wine tourism, ski activities, desert tourism, etc. It has desert conditions, snow-capped mountains and stunning beaches all within a short distance,
making Israel a complete experience.
Hassan Madah
Director - India
Israel Ministry of Tourism
www.goisrael.in
Hotspots
2016
Fiji is an archipelago of
333 sun-kissed, picture perfect islands tucked away in the
South Pacific, close to Australia and New Zealand. For the
perfect holiday, choose from
affordable accommodation all
the way through to exclusive
5-star resorts or even a private
island all to yourself. You can choose to relax and
unwind in one of Fiji’s world-class spas and beaches
or indulge in the many activities and experiences
that Fiji has to offer – from skydiving to dirt biking
to river rafting to scuba diving to trekking to cultural
tours. Whether you chose to travel to Fiji with your
spouse, partner, family or friends – your holiday will
offer everything you expect and more.
Fiji
Kajal Somaiya
India Representative
Tourism Fiji
www.fiji.travel
26
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | February 2016
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
MoT launches strategies to
serve hospitality & tourism
sector with skilled manpower
Effectively servicing the Hospitality and Tourism Sector with skilled
manpower is a pre-requisite for the
actualisation of tourism-specific
expectations. The Ministry of Tourism has put in place a two-pronged
strategy in this regard – i) Institutionalising skill testing and certification, and ii) commissioning preservice skill development training
programmes of short duration.
The Ministry of Tourism has put
in place a mechanism for skill testing and certification of the existing
29
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
service providers. As of now, 45 institutes – IHMs (Institutes of Hotel
management) and FCIs (Food Craft
Institutes) – have the authority to
test and certify in four hospitality
trades namely food production, food
and beverage service, bakery and
housekeeping.
The Ministry of Tourism had, in
the year 2009, launched an initiative entitled ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’,
to impart, through short duration
training courses, employable skills
in certain hospitality trades. The
total number of persons trained till
the close of November 2015 is over
2,29,000. The initiative is meeting
two important objectives – first, it is
giving the sector the option of skilled
hands at the lowest rung of service
hierarchy, and second, it has grown
into a strategy for poverty alleviation
owing to its built-in, even if unsaid,
pro-poor slant.
Dr Mahesh Sharma chairs first
meeting of National Medical &
Wellness Tourism Promotion Board
The first meeting of ‘National Medical &
Wellness Tourism Promotion Board’ was
held recently under the Chairmanship of
Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C)
for Tourism & Culture & Civil Aviation. Key
members, including representatives of wellknown hospital chains, other stakeholders
and the representatives of related Government Departments, Tourism & Hospitality
sectors and experts in various disciplines
including Wellness and Yoga participated in
the meeting.
Dr Mahesh Sharma, the Chairman of
the Board and the Minister of Tourism
announced that three Sub-Committees
would be constituted immediately to look
into the issues such as Regulatory, Accreditation and Marketing. He mentioned about
the role of Government as a facilitator and
that the private sector has to continue to lead
the medical and wellness tourism sector. The
Board will function in an effective, responsible, and time bound manner to find solutions for immediate concerns in the efforts
of health and tourism sector. He added that
India’s competitive advantage, which lies in a
large pool of well-trained medical professionals, and its cost competitiveness compared to
other countries, will certainly take this niche
segment of tourism to its greater height.
The Board plans to build up a Data Bank
of available resources in the field of Medical
and Wellness services in the country and to
develop a mechanism to disseminate such
information to the source markets.
India Tourism promotes Spirit of
India Run by Pat Farmer, an Ultra
Marathon Australian Runner
The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of
India along with State Tourism Departments of the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,
Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and
Kashmir and Union Territory of Chandigarh are supporting ‘Spirit of India
Run’ by Pat Farmer, an ultra marathon runner from Australia. Farmer
will run over 4,600 km in 60 days starting from Kanyakumari and finishing
in Kashmir. He has initiated his run
on January 26, 2016, celebrating India’s
Republic Day and Australia Day.
Farmer is a multiple world record
holder for endurance running and has
run from the North Pole to the South
Pole, and across Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Middle East and
North America. He has served eight
years as a Member of Australia’s Parliament, with three years as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Science
and Training. He has raised millions
of dollars for worthy causes during his
20-year running career.
Farmer will run on an average
70-80 km daily through the states of
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu
and Kashmir and cover a distance of
4,600 km.
‘Spirit of India Run’ is aimed at
cementing relations between India and
Australia; encourage tourism and personal relationships with a view to create awareness of India as a ‘Must Experience’ destination for travellers from
Australia; and support causes and charity which in the current endeavour is to
raise funds for education of girl child.
‘Spirit of India Run’ is also being
supported by Indian Association of
Tour Operators (IATO), Federation of
Hotels and Restaurants Association of
India (FHRAI), Hotel Association of
India, Indian Heritage Hotels Association, etc.
A dream destination
Tel: 011-26236525 | Email: mauritius@omtourism.com
www.tourism-mauritius.mu
30
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
Maharashtra
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
MTDC and Pawan Hans offer helicopter tours of Mumbai
A MoU has been signed between the Maharashtra
Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and
Pawan Hans to start city tours on a helicopter for tourists. The scheme known as Mumbai Darshan became
effective from January 2016.
The helicopters take off from Juhu airport and fly
northwards, keeping to the city’s western side to avoid
interfering with air traffic to/from Mumbai airport.
The base fare of approximate `320 per minute excluding taxes has been arrived at between the state government and Pawan Hans, with a 10-minute inaugural
launch ride to cost about `3,200 per person.
Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia, IAS, MD of MTDC said, “Initially two choppers are in service for Mumbai Darshan.
The idea is to provide an enthralling experience to the
tourists and boost potential tourism in the state. Gradually, we will shift rides and tours to south Mumbai and
then to Matheran, Murud-Janjira, Aurangabad (AjantaEllora), Nashik, Shirdi, Konkan beaches and Tadoba
forest near Nagpur.”
Goa
Goa to promote seaplanes, helicopters and amphibious vehicles
Goa, which is expected to draw around 7.5 million visitors in 2016, would be boosting its tourism with seaplanes, helicopters and amphibious vehicles.
Goa Tourism Minister, Dilip Parulekar said, “The
sea plane project will start shortly. We have already
signed a contract with Mumbai-based MEHAIR
company, which will run the sea planes connecting the Dabolim airport to different rivers across the
state. While the seaplanes and helicopters will be flying across the state from the Vasco-based Dabolim airport, plans are afoot to start amphibious vehicle services for tourists which will take them from cities to
inland water routes.”
Parulekar said that seaplanes would land in the
Mandovi and Chapora rivers during the first phase
and the tourists would be directly flown from the airport to the heart of the coastal state.
The state tourism department would also commence private helicopter services connecting Dabolim airport to various helipads. “Semi-government
organisation Pawan Hans has already entered into an
agreement with us wherein they will fly tourists from
the airport to various helipads in places like Aguada,
Old Goa and Canacona,” added Parulekar.
The tourism department is also ready with four
amphibious buses which it intends to launch in the
state after proper approval is obtained from the Union
shipping ministry.
Gujarat
PM Modi’s royal Darbari Tent in Kutch thrown open for tourists
The special darbari tent, where Modi stayed for
three-days during National DG conference at tentcity Dhordo in Kutch, has been thrown open for
tourists.
The Super Rajwadi accommodation is the latest
attraction at the annual three-month-long desert festival in Dhordo’s tent city. “The tent is going to be an
added attraction at the site,” said N Srivastav, Managing Director of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TGCL).
The super luxurious tent spread over 1,600 sq ft
in the desert includes a dining room, meeting room,
executive lounge, change room, gym and two bedrooms. While traditional Kutch interiors and plush
wooden furnishings give the suite a regal look, a temperature control system helps occupants weather the
ups and downs of the desert climate.
Tourists are charged `8,000 per night excluding meals. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel was
the first guest to stay in the tent after she inaugurated the Rann Utsav. The Consul General of France
stayed there as well. This exclusive tent is part of the
350-odd tents set up in White Rann of Kutch.
32
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
Uttarakhand
First helicopter service between Haldwani and Munsiyari
Uttarakhand has launched the first helicopter service between Haldwani and Munsiyari town, offering tourists the chance to enjoy the aerial view of
the Himalayas.
The service, known as heli-taxi, will be run by
the tourism authority of Kumaon region and will
provide an aerial view from a height of 8,000 to
10,000 ft.
“A guard would be available whole time for the
security of the helicopter and the services. The service is primarily for Munsiyari but when you fly,
you have a wide view of the Himalayas and it is a
spectacular view during the sunny days. The service is also for those who have not visited Munsiyari
ever,” said District Magistrate of Nainital, Deepak
Rawat.
The service costs `15,000 for a return trip and
`8,000 for one-way, with 14.5% tax added to it. The
whole journey would take 90 minutes, with the oneway flight taking 45 minutes.
Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Dinesh
Dhanai congratulated the initiative and added that
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
the service would be beneficial not only for the
tourists but also the residents of the area.
Jammu and Kashmir
J&K to promote tourism under new slogan See J&K in a New Light
Jammu and Kashmir government made a fresh pitch
to attract tourists under the new slogan ‘See J&K in
a New Light’.
There are many initiatives taken to attract tourists from across the world which includ a festival calendar of J&K for 2016, newly built convention centres for MICE tourism, upgraded golf courses with
attractive golfer packages and many others.
Jammu and Kashmir are also undertaking measures to promote the state as a year-round destination for golf tourism and MICE activities.
Secretary Tourism Farooq A Shah, in an interactive session with the best names of the country, highlighted the upgraded infrastructural facilities and
services being offered for such activities in the state.
He said the state has some of the best venues such as
SKICC, Clubs at Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg
which have the capacity to host national and international standard conferences and events. Similarly,
the golf courses in Jammu and Srinagar are equipped
for assuring best golfing experience.
“When it comes to Jammu and Kashmir as a
tourist destination, we are the best in the country,”
asserted Shah.
The paradise on earth has also been captured
with its exquisite beauty in the ‘Jammu and Kashmir’
tourism advertisement, launched as part of the
Incredible India campaign.
Himachal Pradesh
Kangana Ranaut, the new brand ambassador of Himachal Tourism
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has become the new
face of the tourism industry of Himachal Pradesh. The
National Award Winner has conveyed her consent to the
government via email.
Kangana had sought details from the department pertaining to shooting locations, ad agency and transportation facilities, amongst others. “We have sent a detailed
plan and also requested her to suggest the agency of her
choice for shooting the ads,” said Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board’s Vice Chairman, Vijai Singh
Mankotia. Mankotia will soon visit Kangana in Mumbai
to discuss the plan.
Tourism in the state is a `5,000 crore industry and contributes around 10% of GSDP; it is likely to increase to 15%
by 2020. The state earns `30 crore per annum as taxes
from tourism business. Himachal Pradesh is expecting
the tourism business of the state to prosper after Kangana joins the project. The state will promote religious
tourism, Buddhist circuit as well as the water bodies that
come under the ‘Unforgettable Himachal’ campaign. The
actress hails from Bhambla village of Mandi district.
33
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
Delhi
Delhi Tourism highlights historical city’s spooky side
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
The Delhi tourism department has created a section of
its annual diary which has been dedicated to haunted
sites, angry djinns and terrifying screams.
The pages highlight the spooky side of the city,
printed in tints of blue and black and talk about monuments and sites which may offer visitors a paranormal experience.
“A map of the seven cities of Delhi is attached to this
diary… to give it a historical flavour. The diary describes
some “paranormal experiences” visitors have had in
these “haunted” places. That is if you don’t mind running into ghoulish beings and being slapped by invisible hands, according to the diary. “Every Thursday,
locals can be seen lighting candles and incense sticks,
offering bowls of milk and grain to appease the djinns,”
states the tourism department’s diary. One of the two
monuments featured prominently is the Jamaali
Kamaali Masjid. In 1535, renowned Sufi saints Jamaali
and Kamaali were buried here.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh to boost water tourism with Hanuwantiya Island
Located in the reservoir of Indira Sagar Dam on
river Narmada, Hanuwantiya Island is the latest destination to be developed by the Madhya
Pradesh government to promote water tourism.
Investing an amount of `8 crore, the Madhya Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation
(MPTDC) has constructed a boat club that offers
one cruise and two motorboat rides, a restaurant, and 10 cottages to accommodate tourists.
A 10-day Water Festival will be organised by
MPTDC on the island from February 12-21, as
desired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with his secretary and MPTDC commissioner, H R Rao monitoring the preparations.
A tent city with 120 tents will be set up in
order to accommodate the tourists attending the
festival. Activities such as water sports, kite flying and volleyball will be on offer. Visitors will
also relish the Food and Craft Bazaar to be set
at the place.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan Tourism’s new logo and brand identity campaign
Rajasthan has launched a multi-year, multi-modal,
multi-narrative and multi-crore global campaign to
galvanise tourism in the state with a view to raise the
annual tourist arrivals past the 50 million mark by 2020.
Unveiling the campaign, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said, “Tourism is the world’s biggest industry and Rajasthan, with its rich heritage, is poised to
fully exploit the opportunities the state offers. Tourism
has a huge multiplier effect by way of creating direct
and indirect jobs, which improves the economic status
of people across the state. Our plan for tourism is nested
within the broader Rajasthan model of development,
which has three pillars – job creation, social justice and
effective governance.”
The campaign will play an important role in the Government of Rajasthan’s vision of doubling the annual
footfall of international tourists from 1.5 million to three
million by 2020. A new logo and brand identity have
been launched for the campaign. The campaign also
includes a new website and an advertisement print,
TV and outdoor spots which are aimed at attracting
both the seasoned traveller and the youth to explore
Rajasthan in a whole new way.
The hashtag for the state tourism is #MyRajasthan,
and the tagline ‘Jaane Kya Dikh Jaye’ works well with
the campaign which has been designed by Ogilvy and
Mather.
34
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
West Bengal
West Bengal Tourism to launch new brand campaigns
Shah Rukh Khan, the state brand ambassador, came
to the city recently and shot a new television advertisement riding on a tram in the Maidan area. The 45-second TVC, which will be broadcasted from March, will
have Khan introducing a foreign lady tourist to the city
inside the tram.
“The idea is to project Bengal as the sweetest part of
India. Whether it is the culture, food, nature of people,
language, music or in gestures, everything is very sweet.
This is what makes it unique,” informed Sumanto Chattopadhyay, the adman who is shooting the promotional.
Department officials said they have asked the ad
agency, Ogilvy & Mather, to prepare 8-10 such commercials in which different parts of the state will be shown.
“There will be 8-10 clips of 45 seconds each. We
will showcase the heritage of Kolkata and Bishnupur, major tourist attractions like the hills of Darjeeling, islands of Sundarbans, tea gardens and forests of
Dooars, tribal and natural beauty of the Junglemahal
area and cruising in the river Ganges,” said A R
Bardhan, Principal Secretary, West Bengal Tourism
Department.
According to officials, the West Bengal Tourism
Department will also start a new outdoor campaign
‘Experience Bengal’, at the airports of Delhi, Mumbai
and Kolkata to attract more tourists to the state.
“Our outdoor campaign is starting in the next
few days from the airports of Kolkata, Mumbai and
Delhi. This is just the beginning and more outdoor
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
campaigns will be gradually launched,” tourism
department officials said. “SRK will feature only in
the TVC. We will also have a campaign in print media
as well as FM channels,” added an official.
Odisha
Odisha Tourism to develop 40 new eco-tourism spots
In a bid to promote eco-tourism, the state government
of Odisha has decided to develop 40 new eco-tourism
spots.
This decision was taken at a high-level meeting
under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary A P Padhi.
He further directed the Forest and Environment
Department to develop suitable facilities including a
waste disposal provision at eco-tourism spots.
A target of five years has been set for developing
the new destinations into eco-tourism sites, said SC
Mohapatra, the Forest and Environment Secretary.
He further revealed that the investment made for this
project is around `100 crore. Accommodation facilities for 15 to 20 families will also be developed in every
major eco-tourism spot in the state.
Available data shows a constant increase in tourist footfall in eco-tourism spots over last three years.
The government has decided to put in place a centralised online system for advance booking of accommodations at these spots.
Karnataka
Heli-tourism to take off in Karnataka to lure more tourists
Karnataka has finally realised its dream of developing heli-tourism. In a fresh bid to capitalise on
the potential of helicopter tourism, the government is working on several initiatives, including
dedicated helipads and separate helicopter corridors by involving private players. The government hopes the plan will give an impetus to infrastructure development in a state where land is at
a premium and road development is often mired
in land acquisition problems.
“With the increase in foreign and domestic tourists to Karnataka every year and analysing the age and income profiles of tourists,
there’s immense potential for heli-tourism.
With the improvement in connectivity, we hope
to see a rise in their visits,” said Pradeep Singh
Kharola, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism
Department.
The government has identified three circuits
to begin with where transport infrastructure is
weak viz. Coastal, Heritage and Malnad circuits
comprising major tourist and pilgrim centres,
with plans for further developments. Tourism
experts have also pointed out that helicopters
will be useful in medical emergencies, accidents
and evacuations.
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
COVER STORY • 35
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38
TRAVEL NEWS DIGEST | february 2016
Mumbai: 18-20 February ‘16
Dubai Parks and Resorts
promises world class theme
park experience
Adlabs Imagica to
open two theme
parks in India
Dubai Parks and Resorts is on track to open
in October 2016, and will feature motion gate
Dubai – a unique theme park showcasing some
of Hollywood’s most beloved characters from
DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Studios and Lionsgate as well as the region’s first
LEGOLAND Park and LEGOLAND Water
Park. It will also feature Bollywood Parks
Dubai, the first ever theme park based on the
sights and sounds of Bollywood. The entire
destination will be connected by Riverland
Dubai – a retail, dining and entertainment
walkway. Guests can stay at the Lapita Hotel, a
Polynesian-themed resort catering to families.
In addition to this, there will be featured
intellectual properties from globally recognised
Adlabs Entertainment’s Adlabs
Imagica is planning to open two
more theme parks in northern and
southern regions of the country in
the next three to five years. The company might lay the groundwork for
the same in Delhi NCR area in North
and Hyderabad or Bengaluru in
South India.
“We want to promote our property as a large multi-days holiday
destination. In addition to Water
Park and Rides Park, we will add
Snow Park and adventure in this
calendar year. Fiscal 2016-17 is the
first year when all the elements of
Taj celebrates the
official opening of
Taj Santacruz, Mumbai
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces recently announced the
opening of its luxury hotel
Taj Santacruz, Mumbai.
Strategically located just off
the Western Express Highway, the hotel offers a vantage point of access, with
proximity to the city’s financial and entertainment centres. The newest addition
in Taj’s home city and the
fourth group hotel in the
financial capital, Taj Santacruz is a tribute to this historic city and its pulsating
cosmopolitan spirit.
“We are delighted to
extend the legendary Taj
hospitality with the opening
of Taj Santacruz in Mumbai.
With its distinctive design,
spacious rooms and warm
service, Taj Santacruz is a
luxurious new addition that
is symbolic of the cultural
melting pot that is quintessentially Mumbai. The
hotel captures the spirit of
the city and offers curated
experiences to its guests,
deep rooted in its culture,”
said Pankaj Sampat, General Manager, Taj Santacruz, Mumbai.
Farhat Jamal, Senior
Vice President - Operations
(West-India) & Africa, Taj
Hotels Resorts and Palaces
said, “Taj Santacruz will
set a benchmark for luxury in North Mumbai, with
its unparalleled Taj service,
elegantly appointed rooms
and contemporary restaurants. It will be an oasis for
business and leisure travellers alike. It is the new jewel
in the Taj crown.”
and well-loved movies and brands, bringing
leaders and experts from the global leisure and
entertainment industry to create a family destination that is expected to draw 6.7 million visits
in 2017, the first full year of operation.
“We believe that Dubai Parks and Resorts
will give Indian nationals even more reasons to
visit Dubai in addition to their current reasons
including visiting their relatives and to enjoy
shopping. We aim to create a high growth, high
return family entertainment business based
on internationally recognised brands with the
long-term appeal,” said Nevil D’souza, Head Sales, Dubai Parks and Resorts.
the theme park will be operational,”
said Adlabs Entertainment CEO
and Director Kapil Bagla.
Adlabs Imagica will also add 171
rooms to its hotel, Novotel Imagica
Khopoli in this calendar year, which
at present offers 116 rooms.
The company is expected to clock
a turnover of `240-250 crore in the
current fiscal year as against a turnover of `190 crore in the previous
financial year. It currently operates a
theme park and a hotel on the Mumbai-Pune expressway.