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Vol. 10 | Issue 1 | November 2019 | Pages 64 | `100

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Dear Readers

It looks like the global slowdown is casting its shadow on the travel business, as even the organised players in the travel

sector are struggling due to slowdown. Travel spend is the first thing people put a break on when going is tough. However, these are just passing phases and with the spirit of moving forward, TTJ’s November issue is themed on inbound travel where we have attempted to focus on the new face of inbound tourism and where we have roped in some inbound tourism stakeholders to know their views and concerns.

India, since time immemorial, has been gravitating tourists from around the world with its myriad of mesmerising tourism products ranging from heritage and traditions to history and culture. With the passage of time, the country has undergone perceptible metamorphosis in all walks of life including the innumerable factors affecting the tourism industry viz, development of infrastructure, enhancement of connectivity, up gradation of facilities at tourism sites and much more. However, the industry in general feels that much more needs to be done to attain striking range. This is what is reflected in our topics, whether it’s about growing tourism in North East India, or maintaining the UNESCO Word heritage sites of India, or talking about Indian wildlife scenario and so on.

We, thus hope this issue will be an interesting read and will await your kind feedback, if any.

Ravi [email protected]

Travel Trade Journal (TTJ) • Volume 10 • Issue 1 • November 2019

Team Sampan

Editorial and Marketing Office :Sampan Media Pvt. Ltd., B-7/114A, 3rd Floor, Safdarjung Enclave, Near Sukhmani Hospital, New Delhi – 110029 Ph: 9560264443, [email protected]

All information in Travel Trade Journal (TTJ) is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions / views expressed by third parties in abstract or in interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher assumes no responsibility for material lost or damaged in transit. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisements Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.

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Inventum Global hosts Turkey’s biggest roadshow in IndiaInventum Global, Turkey’s largest MICE and wedding inbound b2b service

provider, today successfully concluded a two city roadshow hosted in the Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The program witnessed attendance from leading MICE operators and wedding planners based in India as well as shareholders of the most esteemed hotels of Turkey. Encouraging India’s growing interest in Turkey for MICE and weddings, the roadshow presented innumerable opportunities to network and exchange information, knowledge and expertise between the two countries.

Building business connections in India and representing the land of the Turks in all its glory, this was the biggest event organised by any Turkish inbound MICE and weddings service provider in India, celebrating the substantial increase of Indian visitors to Turkey over the past couple of years. With more than a hundred handpicked companies in attendance in each city, the event aided in increasing awareness about Turkey as the ideal destination for MICE as well as destination weddings.

Red Bull and Jordan re-define the tourist experience with a healthy dose of adventure

The typical tourist experience often consists of staying in hotels, sampling local cuisines and photo sessions at famous landmarks. But in stepped the game changers, Red Bull, as they sought to elevate that experience to new heights, and found the perfect place to do so: Jordan! Between its expansive canyons, stunning waterfalls and sparkling dunes- the terrain is naturally teeming with the spirit of adventure.

All that was left was to find the brave adventurers who could roll with the punches and go where few tourists have gone before, say hello to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, goalkeeper of the Indian National Football Team and Middle East drifting star Ahmad Daham.

Their task was but a simple one; to drift across the mesmerising landscape, taking in the best of Jordan on their way to the Dead Sea; all in a special, custom built car, witnessing the awe-inspiring sights from a completely new perspective.

The beauty of Wadi Rum may be breathtaking from 2,000 feet above the earth’s surface but the duo got to experience the finer details of its splendor up close and personal. Sand drifting across the landscape gets the adrenaline pumping in a way a hot air balloon ride just can’t do!

The next stop was Namala Road: This serpentine route has been used for centuries by the locals and has recently been refurbished and widened, considerably shortening travel time from Petra to Wadi Araba and the Dead Sea.

The two put it to the test: and it passed with flying colours as the Drift King effortlessly navigated the sharp turns and altitude changes with ease.

And with that, the two had finally reached the Dead Sea- where they could take a well deserved break in its therapeutic water.

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, a

harmonious blend of timeless heritage with

modern luxuryThe Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore

opened on October 1, 2018 in the heart of the Lion City’s Civic and Cultural district, bringing with it the promise of ultra-luxe European hospitality and no shortage of gastronomic adventure. The opening of the 155 room luxury hotel follows years of meticulous restoration and renovation by acclaimed architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Richard Meier, to bring out the best of the neoclassical-style Capitol Building 1930 and Venetian Renaissance-style Stamford House 1904, which are now linked. Much care was taken to restore their inherent Victorian beauty while infusing them with Kempinski’s signature bespoke hospitality.

Today, the Capitol Kempinski has pride of place in the integrated luxury lifestyle complex, which also boasts exclusive residences, the restored Capitol Theatre and a premium mall. It is the Kempinski brand’s first hotel in the Lion City, and adds to its 76 five-star hotels and residences in 34 countries around the world, including Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, and Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin.

Hotel Leelaventure completes its sale

transaction with BrookfieldHotel Leelaventure Limited (HLVL) has

completed the transaction with BSREP III India Ballet Pte. Ltd. / its affiliates (‘Brookfield’) for sale of the Company’s hotel undertakings in Delhi, Bengalore, Chennai and Udaipur, hotel operations business, and 100 per cent shareholding in Leela Palaces and Resorts Limited (its wholly-owned subsidiary) which owns property and holds licenses for the development of a hotel in Agra (collectively ‘Undertakings’). A few procedural formalities are pending and would be completed shortly.

The total consideration of ` 3950 crores was received from Brookfield on October 16, 2019 and the entire consideration, net of transaction-related costs of ` 70 crores were used to repay the banks and financial institutions who were lenders to the company, in full and final settlement, as one-time settlement. The lenders have issued release letters to the company whereby they have confirmed that there are no further dues payable by the company and have thereby released all the security interest created in that regard including security on assets which are not part of the sale of undertakings to Brookfield.

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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu


The Postcard Hotel is on track to go international with the addition of two more properties

The latest entrant in the Indian luxury hotel space, The Postcard Hotel, is all set to receive guests in Sri Lanka and Bhutan this November. After a successful start of three hotels in Goa, the brand’s first international venture will be the stunning mountain setting of Bhutan and the historic town of Galle in Sri Lanka. Globally no luxury brand has expanded this fast with international openings in its first year of operations.

“We handpick our locations and our hotels, so that guests have an authentic experience. Sri Lanka is the perfect location to explore the cultural landscape of the charming town of Galle, steeped in history dating back hundreds of years. While Bhutan, with its rich culture and breath-taking landscapes has long been on the bucket list of most exclusive and luxury travellers. Guests will now be able to enjoy the best of luxury Indian hospitality that perfectly complements the unique splendour of these destinations,” says Kapil Chopra, founder and CEO, The Postcard Hotel.

Vietjet inks deal with Airbus for 20 latest generation A321XLR aircraft

New age-carrier Vietjet and aircraft manufacturer Airbus signed a contract for 20 brand-new A321XLR aircraft on October 31 in Toulouse (France). The first aircraft will be delivered in 2023, making Vietjet one of the first carriers in the world to operate Airbus’ newest ‘extra-long-range’ version. With a range of up to 8,700km, the innovative model will serve Vietjet’s fleet of international flight network expansion plans in the near future.

On this occasion, the two parties also signed an agreement for two additional A320/A321 aircraft Simulators (SIM) for pilot and technician training, increasing the manufacturer’s investment to Vietjet Aviation Academy to three SIMs. The two additional aircraft Simulators will also help increasing the capacity for training at the Vietjet facility. Vietjet President and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury co-signed the important contract during the official visit of Thao and Vietjet’s top leaders to Europe.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts welcomes 16 new member hotels

Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand representing more than 750 hotels, resorts, and residences across 85 countries, is pleased to announce the addition of 16 new member hotels to its global portfolio between July1 – September 30 2019. From a country retreat featuring Michelin-starred cuisine in the north of England to asoon-to-open Floridian resort on Choctawhatchee Bay, each of these distinctive new member properties will spark wanderlust among travelers seeking new and authentic one-of-a-kind experiences around the globe.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announces

organisational enhancements in the Asia Pacific Region to

support ongoing growthNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

(NYSE: NCLH), a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Oceania Cruises (OCI) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC), has today announced a number of strategic organisational enhancements in the Asia Pacific region(APAC).

The new direction will see Steve Odell spearhead the company’s upper-premium and luxury brands as Senior Vice President and Managing Director OCI and RSSCAPAC and Ben Angell leading the contemporary brand as Vice President and Managing Director NCL APAC.

Ben Angell’s new appointment as Vice President and Managing Director NCL APAC will see him oversee the sales, marketing and passenger services functions for NCL across the APAC region. Reporting to Ben will be Felix Chan, Vice President and General Manager NCL Asia, who will continue his successful leadership of NCL brand in the region.

“I am incredibly excited to be part of NCL’s strategic expansion in the fast-growing APAC market, further growing NCL’s share of the upper-contemporary cruising space for which the brand is renowned,” said Mr Angell, Vice President and Managing Director Asia Pacific at NCL. “I am also delighted that Felix Chan will continue his role for NCL in the region and build on the impressive growth he and his team have already achieved in our key Asia markets.”

A fruitful FAM trip hosted by Czech Tourist Authority for

Indian agentsCzech Tourism India Office recently

organised a familiarisation (FAM) trip for leading MICE Companies to showcase MICE offerings in Czech Republic. The group constituted of agents from companies including Club 7 Holidays, JTB, GOOMO, Harvey India, Travel Clinic, The Wanderers, Kesari, Dnata, Fountain Head and Baywatch. Czech Tourist Authority with its partners curated an itinerary which showcased some of the member hotels, multifunctional centres and venues suitable for various events. The itinerary also included a few of the incentives group activities which the country can offer.

The trip started with a b2b workshop in Prague including visa seminar and a round table consultation with Czech Travel Trade. Apart from Prague, the cities and towns which were explored by the group for MICE activities were Milovice, Kutna Hora, Brno and Mikulov. The trip also included experiences like the Prague boat experience on the Vltava River, vintage car sightseeing in Prague, tank ride in Milovice, lively and stylish Brno night, carriage ride in Lednice-Valtice area, and several experiential dinners.

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Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation announces its marketing campaigns in India

With India topping the list of the inbound arrivals into Maldives, the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) recently announced their 2019 marketing campaigns- Radio, Cinema, OOH campaings, Webinar and partnership with Make My Trip for the last quarter of 2019 to make an explosive marketing push. The Radio Campaign which started on October 14, 2019 was a 10 day campaign with the leading radio channels- Fever FM in New Delhi and Red FM in Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Kochin.

MMPRC also partnered with INOX Leisure Limited for its cinema campaign which started on October 11, 2019, where 81 screens across 16 Cinemas in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Jaipur showcased a 20 second promotional video of Maldives providing its viewers a better understanding of the destination. The campaign ended on October 24, 2019.

Sarovar jewel in the crown; takes over a haveli in Mandawa, Rajasthan

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts are pleased to announce the opening of The Messenger – Harlalka Haveli, A Sarovar heritage hotel, located in the Shekhawati region of Mandawa; famous for its quintessential Havelis, Forts and Baolis. The town is referred to as ‘Open art gallery’ due to its fascinating havelis with outdoor frescos that depict the mythological themes.

The Messenger- Harlalka Haveli, A Sarovar heritage hotel, is owned by Sukhani Group of hotels, a well-known name in the hospitality sector in Rajasthan. This boutique hotel is almost 275 years old and comprises of 11 luxurious rooms, welcomes discerning travelers to an experience that is filled with opulence and enigma offering an authentic Haveli experience. The hotel features perfect blend of old and new world by coalescing old world charm with modern comforts. Equipped with all modern facilities, the hotel offers Haveli Café- All day dining, Outdoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi, Travel desk and Wi-Fi. The fort town of Mandawa is well connected with other places in the region through a good network of roads.

RezLive.com becomes the epitome of innovation at the World Travel Awards

It was that time of the year, when all the big names of the travel fraternity gathered under the same roof for the Asia and Oceania Gala Ceremony in Phu Quoc, Vietnam for the World Travel Awards. As it is rightly said, the most deserving one wins, it was RezLive.com, who bagged not one, but two awards i.e ‘Asia’s Leading B2B Travel Provider’ and ‘India’s Leading B2B Travel Provider’ 2019. RezLive.com has earned these awards because of their dedication, team work and support of the travel partners who voted for RezLive.com from all across the globe.

“We are honored to receive these awards and are incredibly happy and proud of the people behind this. Achieving this was not an easy task as were competing with many good companies from the industry. We attribute our success to the team and all our clients and suppliers, who have always supported us. I am sure that this award will fuel us to climb higher,” said Jaal Shah, GMD, RezLive.com.

Air Seychelles introduces new concept to reduce waste

on board its aircraftAir Seychelles, has today announced

that the national airline has started to implement a new service concept on board its jet fleet aircraft, as part of its ongoing sustainability efforts to gradually introduce new initiatives to tackle aluminium and plastic waste.

As part of the new service change, the airline has introduced a pre-plating concept in its Business Class Cabin specifically on its Bombay and Johannesburg routes. Besides enabling the airline to maintain a sustainable service offering on board its aircraft, the new concept will also substantially reduce the total waste collected on board the aircraft with total weight savings of around 50 kgs in plastic and aluminium.

Virgin Atlantic relaunches daily direct flights from

Mumbai To LondonVirgin Atlantic relaunched its daily

direct operations between Mumbai (BOM) to London Heathrow (LHR) on October 28, 2019, complementing its long-established route between London and Delhi. The Mumbai flights operate on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft offering customers the fantastic Upper Class and Premium cabins along with three ways to fly Economy – Light, Classic and Delight.

The daily service will depart and arrive in the morning at London Heathrow, offering seamless connections between India and the US. Virgin Atlantic offers a full on-board service in each of its cabins, providing complimentary food, drink and over 300 hours of entertainment across films, TV and music channels. The airline is wi-fi enabled across the fleet, allowing customers to stay connected throughout their flight.

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Qatar Airways commemorates the opening of its new ward at the King

Hussein Cancer Center in JordanQatar Airways commemorated the opening of its

new ward with a special ceremony held under the patronage of HRH Prince Talal bin Muhammad, Special Advisor to HM King Abdullah II, at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday, October 29th. Following the inauguration of the ward, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, and other representatives from the airline attended the King Hussein Cancer Foundation’s (KHCF) 2019 Hope Gala Event. Sponsored by Qatar Airways as a Diamond Sponsor and Official Airline Partner, the Gala aimed to raise funds to support the vital work of KHCF.

The ward opening was attended by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, alongside Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Jordan, His Excellency Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani, Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthäus, and other dignitaries and senior representatives from Qatar Airways.

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India sponsored India Convention Promotion Bureau in New Delhi

The 32nd Annual General Meeting of India Convention Promotion Bureau with elections

to the Governing Board was held on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 1500 hrs. in the Kautilya Hall, Samrat Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

At the AGM, the Annual Report of

ICPB, Balance Sheet for the financial year 2018-19 also the Budget for the financial year 2019-20 and 2020-21 was approved and adopted.

The AGM was followed by the elections to the different positions on Governing Board of ICPB with Venkatesan Dhathathreyan, Deputy

Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as the returning Officer for the elections.

Newly constituted Governing Board of ICPB under the Chairmanship of Suman Billa, Joint Secretary (Tourism), Government of India for the year – 2019-21 is as under:

S.No. Name Position on the Board / Segment

1. Amaresh Tiwari Vice Chairman (A.T. Seasons & Vacations Travel Pvt. Ltd.)

2. Girish Kwatra Hon. Secretary (Meetings n More)

3. Anuj Wadhwa Hon. Treasurer (Plan it! Meetings and Conferences by Creative Travels Pvt. Ltd.)

4. Chander Mansharamani Immediate Past Vice Chairman (for 1 year - as per constitution) (Alpcord Network)

5. Abinash Manghani Member Governing Board (ITC Hotels) Segment – Hotel

6. Shampa Dhali Member Governing Board (Marriott Hotel India Pvt. Ltd.) Segment – Hotel

7. Madan Kak Member Governing Board (Minar Travels India Pvt. Ltd.) Segment - Travel Agencies

8. Naveen Rizvi Member Governing Board (ICE- Integrated Conference Segment - Tour Operator & Event Management)

S.No. Name Position on the Board / Segment

9. Riyaz UC Member Governing Board ( Spiceland Holidays & Segment - Tour Operator Entertainments Pvt. Ltd.)

10. Sudeep Sarcar Member Governing Board (India Expo Mart Ltd.) Segment -- Congress / Convention Centres

11. Mausam Bhattachargee Member Governing Board (Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty) Segment -- Congress / Convention Centres

12. Amit Saroj Member Governing Board (India Attitude) Segment - Professional Congress / Convention Organizers

13. Lalitha Kantham Rai Member Governing Board (Marundeshwara Enterprises) Segment - Professional Congress / Convention Organizers

14. Neeraj Dhawan Member Governing Board (Falcon Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd.) Segment - Professional Exhibition Organisers

15. Avinash Browne Member Governing Board (Sun Business Machines Pvt. Ltd.) Segment - Allied Category

16. Ripudaman Singh Chauhan Member Governing Board (Translink Express (I) Pvt. Ltd. Segment - Allied Category

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The state government has chalked out a multi-pronged strategy to make Kerala a 365-day destination, which offers not only leisure but also caters to a diverse

range of segments such as adventure tourism, MICE and activity tourism. Also, tourism in the state used to focus on South Kerala, which is evident from the fact that 90 per cent of tourists come to Kochi, Thrissur, Munnar, Idukki, Kumarakom, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram (for Kovalam). Apparently, Kerala’s northern parts used to attract lesser number of tourists. Talking about the strategies and new advancements, Shri Bala Kiran shares, “Domestic tourism has also been on the upswing for Kerala tourism. Till late, state’s tourism season used to extend from October to March and the remaining six months (April-September) were what was known as lean season. The strategy now is to have a geographical spread across the entire state and woo tourists with new products during the lean season. One such product is the ongoing all-Saturday Champions Boat League (CBL) which made its debut this year and goes across three and a half months (August-November). A tourist visiting Kerala during this season can witness at least one snake boat race on a specified time for which tickets are available online.”

As part of its diversification strategy, Kerala Tourism has started the hugely popular ‘Monsoon Raga Festival’. The idea is to develop Kerala as an art destination. The Onam festival, which falls in the lean season, is being positioned at the national level. He comments, “As for North Kerala, two major tourist attractions have been chalked out. One is a river cruise tourism project where 8-9 rivers are being connected. Second is the `150-crore

Thalassery Heritage Project, which is designed to promote the Dutch, Portuguese and French heritage. The three airports in close vicinity (Kannur, Mangalore and Kozhikode) providing easy connectivity can be leveraged to turn North Kerala into a tourism hotspot.”

Two other segments which are being aggressively promoted are adventure tourism and MICE tourism. Elucidating on the developments on this front, Shri Bala Kiran tells, “Almost 65 per cent of people in India are below 35 years of age and the youngsters look for activities and adventure as tourists. All 14 districts of Kerala now provide some sort of adventure activities, and it has been backed up by adventure tourism guidelines to ensure basic levels of safety. Efforts are also underway to project Kerala as a robust MICE destination. The Kerala chapter of Indian Convention Promotion Bureau is being launched to tap into this segment which will give a fillip to tourism in the state. Big conferences are now happening in the state, especially with the coming up of Grand Hyatt Lulu Convention Centre. In fact, the whole of Kochi is being developed as a MICE destination in a big way.”

Tourism in any state will have to reinvent itself if it has to survive in a highly competitive marketplace. Kerala has made Responsible Tourism as the mainstay of its tourism policy and activities. Shri Bala Kiran says, “Our traditional marketing strategy was to promote Kerala as a place where a tourist can cover hills, tea gardens, forests, beaches and backwaters within three hours or in a 50 km radius. But now we are also showcasing Kerala’s culture and the people before the tourists. Through RT and four heritage projects of Thalassery, Muziris, Alappuzha and Travancore, Kerala is unfolding its new facets before tourists. Kerala Tourism’s new campaign, Human by Nature, is part of that strategy.”

Responsible Tourism is the only way to sustain tourism in the coming years. Tourism is not only about increasing footfalls; it is also about preserving the ecology and local culture traditions of a destination. Kerala surely wants to witness increase in the number of tourists but in a responsible manner so that the socio-economic benefits of tourism are reaped by the local community. Commenting on the few projects, Shri Bala Kiran shares, “Kerala launched RT 12 years ago on a pilot basis in four to five destinations. It has now been mainstreamed in all the 14 districts while the number of people engaged in 16,000 RT units has gone up to 80,000. These units have been tied up with various hotels, resorts and Ayurveda centres to provide services to them and earn money. Parallel to that, local people are being made aware of environmental sustainability by encouraging them to discard plastic, use LED lights and learn waste management.”

The pioneering CBL, patterned on the IPL format of cricket, has been launched in an ambitious way. It’s also the best example of responsible tourism, wherein the benefits of tourism will be going to 3,000 boat rowers who are fishermen or teachers or local employees. “It will be a game-changer in the months to come. Earlier, boat races were largely scattered and these were such as village-level festivals. Now, it has been completely professionalised, standardised and commercialised with the backing of government support, industry sponsors and franchisees. This is the first season of CBL and already 12 lakh people have witnessed boat races live in various backwaters and more than 10 times of them have seen it on television. Tourists coming here can experience snake-boat races live like they see the Chinese Dragon Boat Races or the Thames River Festival,” he concludes.

Kerala focuses to preservethe ecology and local culture traditions

Kerala has been in the tourism industry for the last 30 years and has created a brand for itself as an alluring leisure destination, particularly in Western Europe. Kerala Tourism has now

rejigged its strategy to substantially increase the number of footfalls, doubling the international tourists and increasing the domestic tourists by 50 per cent in five years. In order to achieve this

goal, 65 lakh new tourists need to visit Kerala during this period. Shri P Bala Kiran, Director,

Kerala Tourism shares more.

Bharti SharmaShri P Bala Kiran


Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been very active with the sequence promotion activities and results are

visible in the form of tourist arrivals. Yuvraj shares, “Our key focus is to develop domestic and inbound tourism into Madhya Pradesh to reassure the position of the State as a preferred tourist destination in the world. The growth in terms of evolving new facilities, tourism circuits and bringing together technology has been steady in the past years. The number of international tourists is constantly increasing every year. Around 3.68 lakh foreign tourists visited MP in 2018 which is around 3.6 per cent of the total foreign tourist arrival to India. We are expecting around 15-20 per cent growth in the foreign tourist footfall

by 2020. We have constant upward growth in numbers when it comes to our foreign tourist’s arrival. With the proactive approach, we look forward to spread awareness and highlight the various aspects of growth with such participations.”

Niche experiences are much required for attracting more tourists from the overseas market, Tourists’ expectations when visiting a particular place are related to several features of the chosen destination: culture, architecture, gastronomy, infrastructure, landscape, events, shopping, etc. The state is adorned with rich culture and heritage. Yuvraj explains, “To preserve the heritage properties in the state, the heritage policy allows the investors to participate in the bidding process for government owned heritage properties. These properties can be given on lease given the condition that heritage character of the property should not be disturbed. MP has many heritage places such as Datiya palace, Rajgarh Palace, Madhavgarh Fort and Govindgarh Fort etc. Abundant heritage properties are getting renovated and their basic heritage character is maintained and still being developed into hotels and resorts.”

Madhya Pradesh introduced products such as heritage run, cycle safari, monsoon marathon and rural tourism. Madhya Pradesh is moving ahead rapidly with new circuits and initiatives in different segments, from heritage, culture, adventure, wildlife and many more. He tells, “MP has number of things to promote such as heritage, wildlife, cultures and cuisines. Apart from these, rural tourism and MICE

tourism are developing in the state and touching milestones. Since decades, Madhya Pradesh tourism is facilitating high standard travel services for travellers visiting central India with an approach to cover all the offerings by the state. These features attract tourists to the destination and contribute to the overall experience of the trip. As a whole, they are crucial aspects of the destinations and have a profound influence on their success. Panna Tiger Reserve is a success story, in 2010-12 the tiger was extinct from the place and now we have around 34-36 tigers in only Panna Tiger Reserve.”

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board annually organises Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart in order to increase domestic and international tourists in the State. The travel mart aims at promoting Madhya Pradesh as all session tourist destination to the visitors from all over the world. More than thousand sellers, buyers, promoters, travel trade media, bloggers, story tellers, photo journalist, writers etc. participate in this b2b event. This mart provides an opportunity to sellers and buyers to interact with each other directly facilitating easy flow of information and business tie-up’s. Sharing further, Yuvraj asserts, “We are also organising roadshows (Domestic and International) at regular intervals in order to get connected with the tour operators and travel agents, also with the objective to upgrade the tour operators and travel agents we are providing training to tour operators of different cities in the Country to educate them regarding new products, services and destinations of the state.”

Madhya Pradesh on its path to achieve its goals envisaged for FTAs

Some of the finest stone carvings in Khajurao, their exquisite sculptures are a sheer example of

architectural marvel. Heritage wonders of the region are splendoured with palaces, forts, temples, mosques and stupas, most gloriously in the villages of Orchha and Mandu. And who knows you might just get lucky

and bump into the mighty ‘Sher Khan’ strolling through the mysterious jungles of Madhya Pradesh.

TTJ spoke to Yuvraj Padole, Deputy Director (Events & Marketing), Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board to know

about the slew of initiatives taken by the tourism board to promote the state as a preferred destination.

Bharti SharmaYuvraj Padole

Panna Tiger Reserve is a success story, in 2010-12 the tiger was extinct from the place and now we have around 34-36 tigers in only Panna Tiger Reserve.

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Rajasthan bestows advanced and well crafted experiences to tourists

The land of vibrant history and glistening sandy deserts, Rajasthan has a myriad of destinations

catering to all segments of tourism. Being on the experiential path, Rajasthan promises to be an

unforgettable memory as one weaves way through a variety of landscapes from the ones located amidst the desert to the ones tucked away on the hills. Shri Sanjay

Pande, Additional Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan talks about the initiatives taken to cultivate the domestic and foreign tourist

arrivals in the state.

Bharti SharmaShri Sanjay Pande

Rajasthan tourism has been showing the highest growth rate in terms of both domestic and foreign arrivals. Shri Sanjay says, “The state is showing a phenomenal growth in term of tourist arrivals.

Thus, we are optimistic to achieve the target that is set for footfalls. A lot of initiatives have been taken in regards to extend the average stay of the visitors to our traditional destinations and promoting new destinations to increase the footfall. The state has been able to give the tourists experiences that are advanced and well crafted.”

Rajasthan Tourism Policy targets all stakeholders of the tourism sector. In this regard while Rajasthan Tourism Policy gives broad vision for growth of tourism in the state, the Rajasthan Tourism Unit Policy-2015, specifically provides fiscal incentives and concessions to hotels, motels, restaurants, convention centres etc. Heritage Hotels have been provided with additional benefits as well. The policy offers benefit to small, large and start up entities.

As Rajasthan concentrates on world class tourism infrastructure, it doesn’t compromise on principles of responsible, accessible and sustainable tourism. Shri Sanjay shares, “A lot of thrust has been given to eco-tourism. Carving a path for this segment, the department has

developed a large number of new parks and safaris. The tiger reserves in Rajasthan have been attracting a good amount of tourists already and a new tiger reserve near Kota is developing in full swings. Apart from that, the focus is to promote the leopard safaris in Jaipur and Pali. Emphasis has been laid on rural tourism as we are developing a lot of new destinations in the hinterland. The aim is to develop the activities in the rural areas where the visitors can witness and experience the charms of the villages of Rajasthan.”

The private sector service providers are actively promoting various facets of experiential tourism in Rajasthan. He further tells, “More popular among them are wedding destinations, lesser known destinations, promotion of wildlife sanctuaries, desert safaris and camping sites etc. New products such as Sambhar Salt train experience, illumination of main traditional markets of Jaipur, revamping of all government controlled museums with attractive displays, opening of wax museum at Jaipur are some of the prominent examples giving unique experience to the tourists.”

Rajasthan is home to one of the best hospitality brands because of the long duration of the destination, weddings and events, etc. The state is thriving, when it comes to the infrastructure in the hospitality sector but to

complement the same, good connectivity is required. Shri Sanjay asserts, “Almost, all of the big cities in Rajasthan have air connectivity now. The state is also covered under the ambitious UDAN Scheme of the Ministy of Civil Aviation, as a result of which more additional flights linking new destinations with airports of the state is expected on a continuing basis. Jaisalmer is well connected with the major cities, Bikaner was lacking behind in terms of connectivity but now it has a flight coming in. Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur and the eastern part needs more flights, so we are trying to work on that. There is lot of demand in these sectors and no matter how many flights are flying, they will always fall short. In terms of road connectivity, Rajasthan is great for road holidays. When the season is on, connectivity is not really a challenge for us.”

Rajasthan Tourism’s well directed initiative to showcase the depth and diversity of the state maintaining its rich historical cultural, social ethos blending it with the aspiration of the generation next. Shri Sanjay elucidates, “Rajasthan Tourism plans to introduce a new campaign soon. The previous campaign has been running for about two-three years now. We are planning to come up with new creatives and new logo. Along with that, a new TV series will be launching soon in order to attract more people,” concludes Shri Sanjay.

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CGH EarthResponsible tourism at its best

Kerala-based CGH Earth is well known for their experiential nature and wellness resorts. CGH Earth is a family run

business and all activities related to the business are controlled by the family comprising five brothers and their siblings. Michael Dominic, Managing Director, CGH Earth was delighted to share more on their enterprise which has carved a niche for itself in the eco-friendly tourism space.

Prashant Nayak

CGH Earth is based in Kochi, Kerala, that runs 20 hotels, resorts and wellness retreats in South India, most of which are in Kerala. CGH stands for ‘Clean

Green Healthy’ and these principles help to steer their operations while following sustainable practices across the group’s resorts, and bringing local innovations with responsible tourism. The group is a pioneer in the field of creating sustainable tourism options and sophisticated wellness retreats.

CGH Earth owns and operates the finest and most beautiful places in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and all the properties of CGH Earth offer immersive experiences of taste, sound and aura that is local to the core, enabling the traveller to touch the land and its spirit. They believe in experiential tourism and draw inspiration from local ethos everywhere they go. It is evident from the properties because when you go to Marari Beach Resort you get to feel the sea side culture of Kerala as this property is inspired by a local fishing village and at Coconut Lagoon, you get an authentic experience of the backwaters, in a comfortable and natural luxurious setting.

“Our foray into hotel started way back in 1957 with ‘Casino Hotel’ but creating

experiences started after we ventured into Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep. It was a virgin territory with lots of restrictions but offered us a new set of raw nature, land and community to work on. However, then there was no AC or TV or newspaper, no room service or hot water, nor swimming pool or multi-cuisine restaurant and most of the things had to be ordered from the mainland. But, we saw all these limitations as opportunities and turned them into our biggest USPs,” reminisces Michael.

It was the Bangaram experience that opened their eyes and brought the realisation in them, that there is another model of luxury and the concept that ‘less is more’. Michael was in charge of setting up Spice Village in 1991, Thekkady, and the group’s first major venture in Kerala after the success in Bangaram.

Michael further adds, “CGH Earth is a five-decade long experiment in hospitality. Experiences those are unbelievably enchanting, engaging and inspiring while adopting core values like respect for the environment, bonding with communities and factoring local ethos. We are very much eco- sensitive and understand the significance of eco systems and protecting the fragile ecosystems, conserving local flora and fauna and taking measures to save water and energy is of utmost

importance. One aspect to tell is about the packaged water in plastic bottles which has become a grave environmental issue for the hospitality industry. In our efforts to reduce our waste burden, we now bottle and serve purified rainwater in glass bottles that can be reused. We work together with our local communities who are basically poor but are always open to learning new things. These communities equally lend that special character to

our operations- with their idiosyncratic lifestyles, cultures and practices and both these factors are very important to us.”

CGH Earth wellness programme are three out-of-the-box experiences consisting of a nurturing environment with wellbeing of body, mind and spirit in focus, out of these SwaSwara is a wellbeing retreat for those seeking a path to self discovery while Kalari Kovilakom and Kalari Rasayana are Ayurveda hospitals where healing is based on the time-tested, five thousand year old system of medicine.

On expansion of the business, Michael says, “We do want to expand to other regions of India but we want to expand step by step. We create a cluster of properties in a local area first so that our guests can have the thrill of unique experiences nearby like we have in Kerala. We have ventured into Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and we aim to expand in these destinations first.”

On the personal front, Michael is an avid trekker with a specialised interest in bird photography. He mostly likes their hill properties where he gets the opportunity for bird watching and to go on long treks.

CGH EARTH IMMERSIVES

Kerala: Spice Village, Wayanad Wild, Coconut Lagoon, Spice Coast Cruises, Marari Beach Resort, Quiet by the River, Brunton Boatyard, Chittoor Kottaram, Eighth Bastion, Beach Gate Bungalows, David Hall Art Gallery, Casino Hotel, Kalari Kovilakom, Kalari Rasayana, Prakriti Shakti

Karnataka: SwaSwara

Tamil Nadu: Visalam, Mantra Koodam

Pondicherry: Maison Perumal, Palais de Mahe

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Emerging trend of Inbound Tourism“So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to

make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked,”- Mark Twain in ‘Following the Equator’.

Writing in the 19th century, one of the eminent scholars of the Raj asserted that India is not a nation but a ‘Museum of Anthropology’. Defined by the mighty Himalayas in the North and demarcated by the three seas in the South, India is a home to multitude of people co-

existing at different levels of culture at the same time. It is an enigma, social scientist’s dream-laboratory, an economist’s nightmare and a traveller’s El Dorado.

Sriparna Pal Bhattacharya

Since time immemorial, India has been travelled not because it is `just another’ holiday destination. It’s fascinating and enchanting diversities necessitated that

the country is experienced and familiarised within its off-stream beliefs and peculiar practices. This has over years shaped into an industry as we know it today as inbound tourism of India.

India has come a long way from being a snake charmer’s country to a mature destination for the travellers. In view of the economic multipliers with direct impact on employment and contribution to the country’s GDP, we take a look at the sector of inbound tourism and concentrate on its evolving phase.

Pronab Sarkar, MD, Swagatam Tours

Tourism has witnessed change from being a service industry offering flight, rooms, food etc to a hand held mobile app. Today, travel is more about rejuvenation, adventure, fulfilment, experiential in nature, culinary, learning new skills, and ‘being more of who you are’ than just ticking off places and flopping under the sun. In keeping with the emerging phase, the tour operators should emphasise at making their offer more experimental and not commoditise it in way of differentiating their offer as compared to OTAs. India moved up six places to the 34th position in the global Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Travel and Tourism currently accounts for 9.6 per cent of India’s GDP and supports 9.3 per cent of the country’s total jobs.

As per the latest versions of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) statistics, India ranks 28 in number of meetings and conferences held in a country in 2018. India has considerably improved its ranking, which was 31 in 2016. The global economic slowdown has impacted both business travel as well as tourists coming in.

Bangladesh, US, UK, China, Sri Lanka, France and Canada are among the top 15 source markets for foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India. These countries account for over 75 per cent of the total FTAs. Many of these economies are

either impacted by economic slowdown orgeopolitical issues. India has seen tourism growth from markets which have low per-person revenue. For instance, Bangladesh led the list of top 15 countries of origin for India-bound tourists this year with a 23.67 per cent share. Luxury hotels too have seen a decline in foreigner tourist arrivals.

As a course correction, the Tourism Ministry last month proposed to introduce a short duration e-visa with one-month validity at a cost of $25. The visa will be applicable during the peak tourism season between July and March. The reduction in GST is another fantastic move by the government which will influence the foreign tourists to come to India.

Sunirmal Ghosh, MD, Indo Asia Leisure Services

The industry of tourism is essentially personalised, and one is rewarded for personal effort and skills. It is all about how you design and modulate your product for the source market, and like any other business, conducts it with a definite business plan. In view of the global economic crisis, there has been a flurry of activities in the inbound sector where owner driven mid-size companies have been affected the most, specially the professionally run companies where investors have little knowledge of tourism industry. Acquiring business at grossly

undercut price to gain market share has knelled death blow to some existing companies. It is the small companies that will survive because they do not have big overheads.

A leading factor to have impacted behaviour of the industry overall has been the world moving to the online and net friendly platform. The writing is very clear on the wall. Digitisation has impelled DMCs to the online platform. Though most agencies have amalgamated both modules, the future is bright for those who completely move to the digital platform. Having said so, there are instances here too of giants and pioneers in this segment portraying loss amounting to crores, MakeMyTrip being one of them. Here, therefore must be a complete understanding of the market, along with strong business sense and deep pockets that will see the transition smoothly through.

People today buy what is sold with steam. Travel decisions unlike a decade back are impulsive and spot on. People explore what is flashed at them continuously at every living minute of the day. With airlines selling tickets online, with e-visas, reserving hotels and stays online, one can plan everything meticulously sitting in the comfort of their homes. There is a complete void of strategies in reaching India out to this new segment of travellers.

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With proper promotion and infrastructure development, it has the potential to be sold million times over. One huge segment hitherto overlooked and deferred, and that which India needs to promote fervently and earnestly today is the cruising sector. With a coastline as big as India’s, with its immense promises tucked away, there awaits an endless sea of unprecedented opportunities left to be explored and promoted. Starting from development of ports, building infrastructure along the coastline, modulating visa rules for cruise travellers, the list could be long but overwhelmingly rewarding. This sector alone can produce unparalleled turn around in the flow of revenue. Building of T3 terminal at the New Delhi airport and Aerocity is a living example.

The emerging trend or new phase of tourism is experience tourism where people like to come and feel the pulse of a place. They go on a food trail, textile trail, take part actively in festivals, activities music and art, look for adventure, go sightseeing and imbibe cultural experiences. Old style tourism or monument tourism is increasing losing charm. Our country is indeed incredible, and the DMCs are everyday working to find new ways of offering inbound tourists a wholesome experience of fun, leisure and fulfilment.

Prrithviraj Singh, Co-Founder & Director, Eastbound

The industry has undergone a paradigm shift in the last decade or so. From very average infrastructure in terms of airports, roads, hotels etc, today most tourist locations have excellent facilities. Tourist travel patterns have also changed from large group travel to small groups, individual and family travel.

The government has taken some very encouraging steps to ensure a positive impact on the travel industry however tourism numbers are still short of expected levels due to certain international factors. The recent reduction in GST is indeed a major development in this pursuit, the full impact of which should start manifesting from the next booking season.

Online booking sites have posed a major challenge to the tour operators. This is indeed a major concern as most clients, even the high spending ones, are checking prices online before confirming a booking. With OTA’s operating on low margins by focusing on volumes and also using marketing funds to reduce prices, operating in the traditional way is becoming increasingly challenging.

Domestic MICE has exhibited promising growth in the last few years and will continue to develop at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, the progression of incoming MICE has not been as favourable, and in fact, has witnessed a further slowdown. The recent reduction in GST may positively influence this segment but full impact can only be revealed in due course of time.

Aggressive marketing in key source markets is the need of the hour to reinvent India’s global perception. We need to turn our focus to potential markets like China, there needs to be faster response to negative international press, better taxation policies should be implemented to reduce prices and make India a more affordable destination, evident safety measures must be undertaken such as trained tourist police and cleanliness drives must be initiated at monuments and public places. India certainly needs to be packaged and presented more intelligently.

Amaresh Tiwari, MD, AT Seasons & Vacations Travel

Slowly but progressively the trade evolved towards offering new destinations, off-beat areas, evening entertainments, Himalayan destinations, events, incentives and promoting the great Indian hospitality of ‘Athiti Devo Bhava’ with unique experiences and tapping of some unexplored markets. Our growth however is not as per industry expectations. One of the highest taxes on tourism, no export industry status, adverse GST rates, no input credit are some factors that make our packages highly overpriced as compared to our competitors and other close by destinations.

Air-pollution, negative media campaign especially with crime against women, has furthermore impacted the mind set of travellers. Collapsing of Kingfisher and Jet Airways created a huge gap in terms of seats availability and has increased the air travel cost which makes packages more expensive.

With the growing pace of Indian economy, outbound tourism has observed rapid growth. Not having enough inbound business, has forced many tour operators to start selling outbound packages as well. The trend indicates that most of the bigger operators have shifted their focus to where money is. In the competition for survival and fighting for the same size of cake (which is not increasing) has forced major players to under-cut the prices, extend credit beyond acceptable norms

thus forcing them to shut shop eventually. A few big tour operators have closed their operations as they were not able to sustain.

The growth of Indian economy has drawn attention of world-wide business economy and has resulted in huge growth of business travel. This in turn has led to increase in MICE tourism in India. Be it meetings, incentives, conferences, events or exhibitions, India is emerging as best MICE market. Almost 40 per cent of tourism in India is coming through MICE as driving force. Global recession or fear of recession is affecting the major source markets. We need to tap emerging markets like China. Buddhist countries need to be given assurance of world class infrastructure at ground and Buddhism can be promoted in great way. Similarly, traditional markets need to be approached with proper strategy and effective campaign.

Government ought to give tourism the status to service industry and all benefits need to be passed. They have to provide the working capital options to small and medium enterprises at very interest rate to make tourism promotion. MDA policy needs to be redrafted and the government needs to hand hold the players to promote Incredible India and Credible India.

Rohit Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel

The industry of tourism about two decades back was dominated by a few companies alone, most of which have either disappeared or been sold a few times over. There has also been a paradigm shift in how destinations are marketed across the globe today. The industry has evolved for the better in general.

In today’s changing scenario, very few companies are strongly focused on sustaining their businesses for the years ahead through purposeful business decisions. With most companies focusing on increasing only turnover and top lines, even at the cost of conducting business

Amaresh TiwariPrrithviraj Singh


at no margin or incurring losses, lead to a negative impact on the destination as a whole.

The industry is in need of robust harmony and ought to mature in terms of management professionalism which will further lead to quality discussion on broader issues.

The government in its effort to promote tourism has certainly created a more positive eco system with initiatives that will help in long term development of the industry. However, these are only very small measures compared to the need of the day. On a typical tour programme, the hotel component on a tour programme is about 50 per cent of the value of the trip. The reduction in GST will represent an average 5 per cent reduction in prices, which indeed has been helpful yet not sufficient to change buying behaviour.

At the peak of the dotcom boom, the narrative was that traditional tour operators would fail to survive after 2020. This however is far from reality. Online sites have most certainly made travel more accessible to the public at large and increased distribution which benefits all segments of the industry. Tour operators to be impacted are those that have either remained traditional in their thinking or haven’t had the resources to scale up at all.

Recession has a widespread impact on all industries and the first ones to get impacted are non-essential expenses, out of which travel is at the top. The well-heeled who can afford to travel will take fewer trips and probably won’t take any long-haul trips, which will impact India since most of the major source markets are long haul. There is already a decline in numbers from many markets, mostly because people are being guarded due to uncertainty.

India doesn’t have a tourism board, we have a tourism ministry which has amazing officers who really want to make a difference, but all this is negated because tourism is still not considered an important economic activity by the government,

instead it’s considered an elitist industry worthy of only taxing at the highest levels. The ministry of tourism is not really listening to the needs to the industry at a macro level, this is also because the industry doesn’t speak in one voice. There are just too many tourism bodies working in isolation, making the whole argument counterproductive. With global media often describing India as being unsafe for tourists, especially women, focusing on poverty, pollution and a lot more, all efforts of destination promotion will endure tepid response. India should look at having a global PR strategy to change the mind set of inbound travellers and create a more positive narrative.

Lally Mathews, Director, Vacations Travels and Tours

In a span of 30 years the sector of tourism has metamorphosed and achieved the status of an important industry. Today it is digitised, where starting from brochures to ticket booking and hotel reservation, everything is accomplished online. This shift to the digital world has made travel options effortless and facile, where travellers are saved the gruelling task of physically booking reservations, be it transport or accommodation. Their choice of destination too is no longer dependent on travel agents. Aggressive marketing on social media flashes boundless options to weave and materialise dreams of a fulfilling holiday.

The inbound travel operators, in keeping with the current trend, are hastening to offer online services. After initial set back, wherein the inbound market perceived a dent in business, most operators have amalgamated travel options with online services. India is a multifarious country offering manifold travelling options to tourists.

A spate of changing financial policies including demonetisation and GST has had a definite impact on the industry. The government has been proactive and moved positively to sort out issues in the interest of growth of this sector. The reduction of visa charges, introduction

of e visas, reduction of GST being a few of them. Yet there remain certain factors to be taken into consideration by the government. Taxes are high and it is imperative to have a proper tax regime to simplify ease of conducting business.

An understanding may be worked out with the hotels to freeze rates for a certain period of time. This in turn may help travel agents to work a better deal for inbound travellers. Our neighbouring countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc. have a varied range of hotels to offer where the rate works out to be economical compared to India. Regulating pricing of accommodation will indeed have a positive impact on the mind set of tourists looking forward to travelling in India.

India is in definite need of aggressive marketing to make the best of its source markets. The ‘Incredible India 2.0’ campaign has failed to evoke the overwhelming response created by the first one, which had boosted the trade and created an astoundingly staggering response.

The segment of differently abled tourists has consciously kept India out of their itinerary. Certain measures have been initiated, where for classification of hotels they are to abide by guidelines formulated by the government for the differently abled. A few of them are ramp, wheelchair access, special wardrobes and washrooms, alarm bells, etc. Public vehicles are proposed to be fitted with special seats and ramps, trains too are looking at introducing special washrooms, berths and seats, ramps for the differently abled.

In trying to accomplish and fulfil traveller’s quest for new and varied experiences, the tour operators and hotels are constantly innovating programmes to live up to the expectations of their guests. Monuments, religious and heritage tours have always been there and shall remain the soul of inbound tourism. The embodiment of thrill today, is in experiences. Answering to the need of the day, many hotels have come up with the innovative idea of taking guests for a walk to their well-maintained organic gardens, where one may pluck vegetables and indulge in the excitement of cooking it himself or have it prepared by the chef under his guidance. The tourists are offered to join culinary classes where they learn hands on, the art of exotic Indian cuisine. There are also tours made to the villages where they experience various styles of weaving. Street food tasting has rapidly gathered paramount importance to the tourists. Well thought of itineraries are chalked out so that they may savour the delicacies of street food whilst keeping hygiene standards uncompromised. Then of course, there is this whole range of adventure tourism, hiking, bicycling trail, exciting food trail, wine, tea, spice trail, village tourism and much more for the contented tourist to carry back home.

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North East India: Take no more time in unlocking the tourism potentials

The Northeast Indian states also known as Seven Sister States is a paradise unexplored and is known for its natural beauty, diversity, rare and unique wildlife, people and culture. It is a land of undulating hills and plains with luxuriant green cover and a wide variety or rare and exotic flora and fauna. Guwahati is the best hub for journeys into North-Eastern states and TTJ had a chance to speak to some of the tourism stakeholders in the city and know more of the new developments in this large eight faceted emerald – the lush, glittering and green North East.

Prashant Nayak

Presently in tourism aspects, the Seven Sister States comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura plus

the addition of Sikkim the only popular brother offers list of must see places in our country and they have some real surprises for the travellers. Obscured from the greater world by dense forests and formidable mountains, North-East India shares its borders with Bhutan, Myanmar, China, and Bangladesh. It spreads over an area of over 262,230 sq km, and holds immense beauty as most of its hill towns are still untravelled and yet to be unravelled.

Not so much established on the travellers map, yet the North Eastern India, has its own charm that will sweep you off your feet. We assure you, visit this region for once and you will lose yourself in its charismatic magic as the diversity in its culture and flavours can overpower your senses. Here, you’ll see some of the eco-friendliest travel locations, while

visiting the lush National Parks, the serenading waterfalls or just sinking into the spiritual energy of the most serene Buddhist monasteries. Each state has its own charm, culture and traditions. You are in for a surprise no matter where you visit. All that we ask you surrender to the magic of Northeast Tourism and start planning yours and your client’s holiday now.

Vishal Jain, Proprietor, FlyEasy (Shivani Aviates) and President of North East India Tour Operator Association (NEITO)

Earlier there was limited connectivity to the region and inbound was where very few could think of for their successful career. However, in the last five years, there has been a fantastic change in the

tourism sector. More than anything else, the change has been in the mind-set of our people, tour operators and tourism department. The central government took the initiative of ‘Look East Policy’ and opening up the borders of this land locked region for trade and tourism. The tourism fraternity had been struggling in the past to voice their concerns on creating a conducive environment for the overgrowth of their industry that has natural advantages. North East Tour Operators Association (NEITO) was formed last year with the intention of growing tourism in the region. Even the state tourism associations have been very enthusiastic and charged up. In last few years, the local government and both central and state tourism governments have been very pro-active and working closely with each other for the growth of local tourism. Roadshows have been conducted in various parts of the country through the efforts of tourism department. Looking at the opportunity, many entrepreneurs have ventured in this sector with hiring quality man-power and fleet of vehicles.

The infrastructure has been a big development drive. I would say, it is not very easy for creating road and rail infrastructure due to the hilly terrain, water bodies and forest cover. However, the government has been pursuing

development with set timelines. Two bridges have being constructed over the mighty river Brahmaputra, connecting upper Assam and the State of Arunachal Pradesh. However, realising that infrastructure is the key to sustainable tourism development the existing roads need quick attention, especially within Arunachal Pradesh that has to be all-weather.

Some of the existing issues of flight and train connectivity have increased manifolds and now we have direct connections with most of the important cities of the country. The new airport is being constructed at Guwahati and should be completed by the year 2022 making way for more regional, national and international flights to come in. We already have two international flights to Singapore and Bangkok connecting further to many other destinations. We require more regional flight from Aizwal and other locations to Guwahati that is the Gateway to North East India.

We are primarily focusing on local tourism markets within India and West Bengal along with Western part of the country have been at the fore front of our domestic incoming tourist. However, there is a reasonable traveller from South India, especially from the states of Tamil Nadi, Karnataka and Telangana. The tourism growth in the coming years

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are expected to be exponential and much more than the national average of domestic and inbound tourism of the country. As a late entrant to the booming tourism sector would be to the advantage of the region, focussing itself as the unexplored paradise. Also, with everything to offer for everyone, be it adventure, wildlife, leisure or honeymoon, the region is bound to grow and be amongst the top selling destinations in the country.

Elina Satapathy, Managing Partner, Seven Sister Holidays

There has been an increase in the movement of both domestic and inbound tourists in the last few years. Moreover opening of the international border with Myanmar has also added to the increase in number of tourists coming via the land route.

The region has a lot to offer to the tourists. Each state has to offer something unique, be it the one horned rhinos of Kaziranga in Assam or the endangered brow antlered deer of Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, the hills and waterfalls of Meghalaya or the Floating National Park of Manipur. The epitome of Vaishnavite culture, the Govindaji temple of Manipur or the Shakti Peetha of Kamakhya temple in Assam. The Buddhist monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh and the enchanting roads leading to them. Also, the beautiful rock reliefs of Unakoti in Tripura, the highlands of Mizoram and the war cemeteries of Nagaland and Manipur.

Cities like Guwahati and Imphal are well connected by air with the major cities of our country. But all other states are mostly accessed by road. We still need to improve the connectivity within the region. We normally get tourists from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Punjab, Delhi and Odisha from within India. We also get a good number of tourists from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Germany, France, UK, Australia and the USA. We have

observed that the awareness about the North East in general and Manipur in particular has increased both among the domestic as well as the foreign tourists.

Rofiq ul Islam, Managing Director, Leisure Travels & Hospitality

With the collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism and tourism stakeholders the tourist footfall in North East India has increased which is a good sign, but as a tour operator there are many hurdles as well to compete the hotel room rates with OTA’s. However, as leisure travels is in this business for last ten years, we have good relationship with all the hotels in this region which gives us an opportunity to offer unbeatable prices to our customers.

We are a destination management company for North Eastern Region. We deal in the b2b market and we are serving more than 2000 travel agencies and tour operators across the globe. The services we deal in are holidays packages, custom made tour package that suits corporate or individual, travel arrangements and stay for all the bookings including flight/rail tickets, pickup and drop, hotels, food, taxi etc. We are also the best MICE operator on this side of the country and we will do whatever it takes, to make your event a memorable and noticeable one. We do have star category accommodation in few places like, Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Agartala, Imphal, Kohima and Tawang etc. Also, we do have something for everyone, in sightseeing and the varied attractions of the North East.

Our major clients are domestic tourists, from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jaipur, West Bengal and South India. We do get approximately 10 per cent of our business from foreign county like UK, the USA and Europe. I believe there is a huge potential to develop new attractions in North east India. With collaboration with Assam Tourism, the TOAA (Tour Operators Association of Assam) is doing well to develop new circuit in Assam and also doing extensive marketing to

promote the region. In the coming days we are expecting an increased tourist footfall by 20 – 25 per cent per year and this will bring an opportunity to many new entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.

Hari Singha, Proprietor, Asian Holidays & Expedition

Northeast India is blessed with spectacular gifts of nature; the attention the region should receive is far less than its deserving merits. A pristine wilderness and a rich cultural mosaic give Northeast India a remarkable potential for tourism. The region has the potential to emerge as an enchanting destination of Incredible India. It only needs an honest and positive thrust by policy-makers, propelling and implementing it in the right direction with adequate monitoring efforts, leaving no stone unturned, to transform the neglected region into one of the most sought-after travelling destinations for visitors seeking pleasure, enjoyment, and recreation.

Apart from conventional sightseeing tours, recent change in market demand has been adventure tourism like white river rafting, hiking, tracking, and religious tourist circuits. Understanding the change in market, we as a tour operator constantly work towards proving the platters of tour package as per the clients need. Also, there has been a major increase of tourist footfall since the last five years with the major b2b and b2c portals started marketing North East region as a major destination. This has resulted in solving major employment problems of local youths specially in states like Arunachal Pradesh , Assam and Manipur, with the increase in accommodation and infrastructure facilities at all major location tourist now feel the joy of visiting north east. The states are not only blessed with serene natural beauty but with salubrious weather, rich biodiversity, rare wildlife, historical sites, distinct cultural and ethnic heritage and warm and welcoming people make the experience unique for the traveller also.

There has been a huge improvement in the area of Infrastructure, thanks to Look East Policy and East West Corridor and UDAN scheme which has allowed easy access to major tourist destination by road as well by air. The region offers unforgettable visits for tourists interested in wildlife, religious, cultural and ethnic tourism, river cruises, golf and a host of others.

Almost all part of India and from abroad Europe and Russia have been

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a major market for us. Looking at the last few years registered growth of 77 lakhs domestic tourist and 1.6 lakhs International tourist and North East Governments aggressive marketing policy to connect ASEAN countries, by promoting though road shows in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai. The ministry is pumping in close to ` 1200 crore for 14 projects in the eight states of the region. With these efforts we expect the growth of tourism in Northeast India will commensurate with the growth of tourism in the country.

Aparup Saikia, Managing Partner, My Voyage

In the last few years, there has been tremendous growth in the tourism sector of North East India region. The flow of tourists has increased in leaps and bounds. Many youngsters like to come for adventure tourism, camping, hiking, rafting etc. People have recognised North East India as a major tourist destination which is a big thing. Infrastructures are yet to meet its challenges in terms of roads. Even there are shortages of good 4 star and 5 star hotels in the region apart from Guwahati. We also need to focus on mobile network issues in the interior parts. Airline connectivity has become much better than what it was earlier. Guwahati is connected to almost all major cities in India as compared to five years ago. You have direct flights to Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi etc.

Some of the most popular tourist

circuit is Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Tawang for 10-12 days trip. However, I would also recommend them to visit Imphal, Kohima, Aizawl and Agartala belt which has some exotic sightseeing places for tourists. Currently the domestic market gives more revenue for us. However, I feel that slowly the international market is gaining knowledge of the North East India destinations and the flow of international tourists will definitely increase in the years to come. The next three years will give us an indication of competition and growth as there are a number of players in the market who have entered. Both state and central governments are also taking initiatives for boosting tourism in the region. There are massive challenges in every step but along with challenges comes opportunities.

Debajit Kr Borah, Director, Brahmaputra Cruise

We started our operations as a cruise operator in the year 1998 and since then it has been our continuous zest to develop and promote river tourism on the river Brahmaputra in Assam. With the brand name of Alfresco and later Alfresco Grand, we feel proud in announcing that we are currently handling the highest numbers of tourists on a river in the entire Eastern India.

On our daily cruise, we try to showcase the rich cultural heritage and history of the state. On our daily dinner cruise, we screen a short documentary on Bir Lachit Borphukan and Battle of Saraighat by

Speed Painter Rabin Bar followed by live performances of classical dance Satriya and folk dance Bihu. On the lunch cruise in the weekends in winters, one can enjoy a palatable buffet lunch of rich ethnic food of the northeast while enjoying folk dances and folk songs along with live narrations on the history and mythology associated with this part of the river. The Sunset Cruise on the river as provided by us with live musical performances gives one of the best views of a mesmerising sunset over the river Brahmaputra. These cruises are now considered as a must to do activity by any tourist visiting Northeast India. In fact, cruising on Alfresco Grand has become a reason for tourists to spend a night in Guwahati.

Amit Agarwal, Director, Assam Holidays

In the last five years, we have seen North East growing as a tourist destination at a very rapid pace. People from all over India are willing to visit North East now because of excellent air and rail connectivity from all over India. Secondly, aggressive publicity through various media and in particular social media, the people now know about the attractions which North East has to offer. The regions road infrastructure is at par with the developed states, and we have new four lane roads to most of the popular tourist cities of the region. We anticipate a growth of 10-15 per cent in domestic tourism year after year.

I recommend Jungle Safaris at national parks of Kaziranga, Manas and Pobitora and Birding at Nameri, Eagles Nest Arunachal Pradesh, Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Mishmi Hills Arunachal Pradesh. Also, visit the waterfalls at Cherrapunjee, visit Shillong and the cleanest village in Asia- Mawllynong Village in Meghalaya, Umgnot River at Dawki, Maa Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati and Madhuri Lake, Sela Pass and the monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh and Tawang Sector.

Amit AgarwalDebajit Kr BorahAparup Saikia

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Wildlife tourism in India can be a big booster for inbound footfalls

In recent years, India has emerged as one of the

world’s most popular wildlife and birding destinations. One of the main reasons

for this rise in popularity is the huge variety of animals

and national parks that make it possible. Most

people looking for an Indian wildlife adventure head to

destinations in the foothills of the Himalayas, the lush green forests of north east or down south to the dense jungles of Karnataka and

Kerala. Even a visit to central India and the western

deserts can be mesmerising by the variety of wildlife in

store.TTJ shares more on the growth of wildlife tourism in

the country.

Prashant Nayak

Shashikumar Radhakrishnan Manjunath Gowda

Wildlife tourism has been one of the fastest growing sectors in India. The country has obtained

global recognition and is home to regal animals like Royal Bengal Tigers, Indian elephants, rhinos and different species of enchanting birds. This growth is primarily due to increased disposable incomes, improved accessibility and greater publicity done by state tourism boards, as well as support received from government bodies. India has a large number of wildlife and bird sanctuaries.

The popular circuits for wildlife safaris are Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh, Bharatpur and Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, Kaziranga in Assam, Tadoba in Maharashtra and the Sunderbans in West Bengal. The most popular circuits among birding are, Eagle’s Nest in Nameri (Arunachal Pradesh), Mishmi Hills in Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh) and Sattal & Pangot in Uttarakhand.

Shashikumar Radhakrishnan, Founder, My Mera India, tells, “Being

a professional wildlife travel operator for almost two decades in the field, we provide end-to-end complete service packages for adventure lovers in wildlife tourism, adventure trek and expeditions. Our carefully executed or customised packages include travel, accommodation, food, wildlife and adventure, entry permits assisted with personal guides including myself. We ensure our clients get the best experience and in-depth knowledge about vegetation, local culture combined with proper sightseeing, adventure activities and the value of true smiles. We believe only travel is not enough but creating new experiences and memories for our wildlife enthusiasts to take back home.”

The present scenario of wildlife and birding tourism in India is growing in a large scale and we find many youth and even elders showing interest in this type of tourism either on personal or professional levels. With many protected areas and with local support, India has become a hot spot for wildlife and birding tourism mainly due to different varieties and species of animals and birds along with an opportunity to spot them in their natural habitat and vegetation. Increase in wildlife numbers; have also given a boost to animal and bird counts and other employment opportunity to the locals.

“Having a large landscape of vegetation, forests, mountains and rivers, foreigners throng to visit these areas for wildlife, adventure expeditions like trekking and mountaineering or for personal, professional, and study and research purposes. With India’s natural habitat, facilities and being cost effective they mostly prefer India as a

hotspot destination for adventure travel, study and research. For example, except the African or Sri lankan safaris, India is the only other hot spot for a variety of wildlife species found and in number count too. For other adventure activities like trekking and expeditions, the Himalaya mountain range is a popular attraction,” continues Shashikumar.

Wildlife and birding, have always been a big draw for international and domestic tourists and besides Corbett in the north, Madhya Pradesh is gaining huge popularity in being the top destination. Most wildlife travellers also know that the less trafficked Kaziranga is one of the best managed parks in the country.

An international favourite, now bird watching is taking over India across and many go to observe birds closely and to capture them on cameras. Manjunath Gowda, CEO of WildTrails App shares, “Fuelling the growth of birding in India are affordable advanced digital cameras and lenses that allow bird lovers to capture remarkably sharp photos of birds particularly photos of smaller birds that are moving especially swiftly. This has led many people in India to adopt bird watching as a hobby leading them to sanctuaries across India to which exotic species of birds migrate during winters from harsher climates and lands. The popularity of bird watching in India is likely to grow in the future with Indians of all ages and from across the country participating actively in bird watching.”

In India, there are many popular regions for spotting birds but the state of Uttarkhand takes the piece of cake with largest diversity of bird species, including the endemic Himalayan ones.


India, now thinking beyond culture and heritage to attract inbound tourists

India, being the largest democracy, attracts

worldwide attention in every aspect. Be it its culture or the people. India is indeed

a veritable treasure trove as far as tourism is concerned.

It has a plethora of experiences to offer tourists that are pure indulgence for the senses. A land of ancient

culture and history, the country offers rich reserves to meet the expectations of

all categories of inbound travellers. TTJ tries to find the views of some inbound

travel specialist to know their point of view of this

growing but ever changing segment in Indian tourism.

Prashant Nayak

India has seen a significant jump in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness ranking by the World Economic Forum, rising from 65th position in 2013 to 40th in 2017 making India one the

most improved nations. India excels on parameters such as natural resources, cultural resources and business travel and price competitiveness. Moreover, the e-visa initiative has helped India climb up 14 places in the International Openness parameter to 55th position. All of these have helped make inbound tourism a top contributor to the country’s GDP. We are now seeing tourists from the far corners of the world and not just from the traditional source countries.

Anil Rai, COO, Domestic, Inbound and Online partnership, Club 7 Holidays, says, “While there has been a general improvement across the board, certain important aspects such as health and hygiene, ICT readiness, safety and security, and tourist service infrastructure are woefully inadequate. Of late there has been an improvement in the ICT readiness, thanks to Jio, however there is much to be desired to bring up standards to those of our immediate competitors in our neighbourhood, such as China,

Thailand and Malaysia. The all-time classics such as the Taj

Mahal, the citadels of Rajasthan, the temple towns and leisure hotspots of India remain favourites, however Club 7 also recommend newer attractions such as the Jatayu Earth Center, the Statue of Unity along with International favourites such as Madame Tussauds in Delhi. They also facilitate a game of Golf at the Yak Golf Course, which is recognised as the world’s highest, to their clients who are so inclined.

“India leads the world as far as hospitality is concerned; unfortunately this is reflected only in the deluxe category of services, be the hotels, restaurants, shopping or transportation. We still have miles to go to bring our mid-level and budget categories up to speed. More and more travellers today are independent and self-book their holiday travels, such travellers tend to prefer more value for money accommodation which is surely lacking, particularly in the smaller and upcoming tourist towns,” further shares Anil.

Anil also feels that tourism sector has emerged as one of the key services sector enabling growth. It has significantly contributed towards socio-economic progress through employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and infrastructure development. The sector has multiplier impact on several other services of the economy and the direct contribution together with its indirect and induced contribution forms one of the most critical pillars supporting the Indian economy.

Rohit Walter - Brand Leader - FCM Incoming, adds, “The inbound market has definitely changed in a significant manner. We have observed an increase in requests for more unique and experimental itineraries. The focus has

shifted from prime attractions to more experiential travel. Newer and second time travellers have begun to gravitate more towards virgin destinations like the North East, the Andamans and Rann of Kutchch in Gujarat. Travellers are interested in including extensions with classic routes like clubbing Ananda with a Golden Triangle itinerary. Emphasis towards nature, wildlife and adventure tourism has steadily increased in recent years.”

Infrastructure in India has improved considerably and at FCM they anticipate the industry to be supported by further structural and technological upgrades. Presently India is at a progressive point in infrastructural development. The number of airports in the country has increased, connectivity is faster with better roads, and instant access to information has empowered the population. Seeing as how the growth of all industries depends on infrastructural support, they hope that there will be further advancement to promote inbound tourism through channels like MICE, cruise and medical tourism.

“Apart from popular and mainstream destinations, three major recommendations that we would give our clients are – The Andaman Islands which would be perfect for ocean and beach lovers, Kutch which is an artistic and traditional hub and finally the North East for its culture and scenic beauty. Also, India has some world class hotels to offer for luxury travellers and our roster of 4 and 5-star hotels is absolutely superb. However, we need more quality 3-star hotels to cater to price sensitive and budget conscious audience,” explains Rohit.

After the government launched Incredible India campaign, a visible spurt was noticed in the flow of foreign tourists coming to India and subsequent earnings

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as well. If we look at the travel statistics of last few years, more than 10 million foreign tourists arrived in India in year 2017 as compared to 2016 where 8.89 million foreign tourists travelled. Earlier, inbound travellers used to visit India to explore tourist destinations but in last 5 years, it is observed that majority of foreign tourists visiting the country are individual travelers (primarily business visitors), pilgrims and medical tourists. Bangladesh, United States, United Kingdom and Canada have become some of the major source countries for inbound tourism in India.

The country is at the best phase of infrastructural development right now. Tourism Ministry of India is taking every possible step to connect the country internally and globally.

Rikant Pitti, Co-Founder & COO, EaseMyTrip, is of the opinion, “From trains to airlines, connectivity factors have been given priority. Many new airline routes have been added under UDAN scheme. New trains and train routes have also been introduced. Not only personal sanitation turned into a trend but cleanliness has become a drive in India. So, we can see every tourist place is much cleaner than earlier. We are growing and getting better day by day. India is growing with each passing day in the hospitality sector as well. Right from high-end luxurious hotels & resorts matching up to the international standards to budget hotel chains, India now has the capability to cater to all stratum of the society. Thus, international visitors can now enjoy best-in-class facilities in India.”

There are many things about India that need to be explored. Almost all the tourist destinations are worth travelling at least once in a lifetime. “If asking about few must visit places in India, I would recommend everyone to visit Agra (the city of Taj Mahal), Rajasthan (Land of Royal Kings) and Kerala (God’s Own Country). Agra is the heritage city of India where you can visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites including one of the eight wonders of the world. On the other hand, Kerala is

well-known for its auspicious and pleasing atmosphere, whereas Rajasthan features some of the most stunning forts and palaces giving a royal feel to the traveller,” shares Rikant.

It is agreed that inclusiveness and aggressive marketing done by various state tourism ministries have boosted inbound tourism in India. The economic policies of the government have paved way for boosting inbound tourism to a great extent. Exploring our glorious past and cultural heritage at affordable pricing accompanied by luxuries has attracted the middle class to India. It is a positive sign that indicates inbound tourism growth in India in the past years. With more and more technological innovations being inducted tour bookings has become very easy, more and more emphasis has been given to responsible tourism involving local communities which has paved way for huge surge in the number of homestays and experiential activities, such as village activates, tribal tours etc.

Riyaz UC, MD, SpiceLand Holidays, says, “Infrastructure and connectivity improved a lot over the last half a decade. Technological interventions by tourism departments and private players has increased a lot of transparency and added confidence to the sector. Better roads, networks and transportation have increased safety perceptions and convenience to tourists. Rating systems and reviews have prompted infrastructure excellence initiatives among players in the industry. Inbound tourists have enough information available online about all the listed properties and tour operators. Reviewing system helps identify budget properties by verifying the amenities and class of the infrastructure they choose. This in turn has prompted the players to upgrade and develop the facilities to international standards.The state government has initiated lots of training programs for various segments of the hospitality Industries, and the emphasis given in increasing the number of language specific expert guides paved ways to different untapped markets.”

Riyaz anticipates that with the growth of middle class segment and the millennial tourists will help the industry grow by another three per cent in another three years. The aggressive marketing initiative done by the central and the state government and the trade fares and road shows which they organise, inviting operators from all across the world will definitely increase inflow of tourist by 6 to 10 per cent year on year.

Marvel Tours handles individual travellers and groups ensuring that every traveller returns with a memorable experience of South India, however, tourism has taken a hit in the region in the last few years.

On this, Sejoe Jose, Director, Marvel Tours Private Limited, remarks, “The last five years have seen a drop in business to the destination. The reason could be many and few of the factors are natural disaster, political issues, breakout of diseases. Infrastructure and connectivity for Kerala has always been a challenge. Kochi has built one of the finest international airports but has no direct connection to Europe since its inception. Kerala has highest number of international airports which is four but still we are connecting only with the GCC countries. Domestic carriers are also reducing the number of flights into Kerala and the roads has been a challenge but bigger challenge in the liquor policy, hotel classification format, way side amenities etc. Presently in our region, we get maximum of domestic tourist, though in the beginning it was more of inbound guests.”

Sejoe feels that the destination needs to rediscover itself. The trade should join together and only then the difference can be made in tourism industry. The growth paternity seems to be a very big question though industry players are hoping for the old glory days. However, with various activities and new initiatives by the government, Kerala would see a growth of 7.5 per cent every year in the next three years. The growth will be very much in MICE sector and the cruise business.

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Redefining the culture of Rajasthan at Pratap Mahal in Ajmer

Pratap Mahal IHCL SeleQtions, Ajmer is a venture of TATA Group based in Pushkar. Ajmer, is known for its

rich culture, high-class lifestyle and beautiful architecture amidst the nature. The property, which underwent brand

renovation few months back, has received tremendous response as a family holiday destination and most importantly, as a wedding destination. Manvendra

Rathore, General Manager, Pratap Mahal IHCL SeleQtions, Ajmer shares some unique experiences curated

to give the real local feel.

Jasleen Kaur

To begin with, how has the brand SeleQtions added value to Pratap Mahal, Ajmer? What are the special offerings in particular?

Keeping the brand philosophy in mind, every hotel under the brand SeleQtions has a unique identity. Every hotel under this brand is known for its rich culture and Pratap Mahal is one of them. This property in Ajmer is a cultural hotel with rich architecture based on ‘haveli’ concept. And every experience which we have curated, gives you an altogether local feeling, be it music, art or food.

One such experience we have curated at Kishangarh Fort, where one can see Kishangarh arts that are 800 years old. You will not only just get the glimpse of the arts but the artists in person will come, interact with you and inform you more about the arts.

Other than this, we have wilderness experience followed by tracking on Aravali hills. You head out to a secluded wilderness camp to experience the lust dishes among the Aravali hills.

In the quiet lap of nature, savour the taste of multiple cuisines prepared by India’s greatest chefs. When fairy lights meet the sweet melody of Rajasthani folk music, paired with satisfaction of delicious dishes sums up rejuvenation that lies deep in the soul.

In evenings, we organise special high-tea and the speciality of food served during is Pushkar’s street food complemented by live instrumental regional music. And our Sufi programme in the evening is again connected to Dargah Sharif, Ajmer.

In addition, we organise spiritual walk in Pushkar. There is Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Pushkar Ghat, Brahma Temple and Jain Golden Temple, the specialties of these spots are familiar to everyone. Also, we have planned bird therapy as we feed 45-48 species and the experience is quite unique.

So, every hotel has a story to it under SeleQtions portfolio. Our hotel is considered as a culture hotel.

Could you please throw some light on occupancy and what are the expansion plans?

We have 90 grand rooms and suites. This financial year, we have added new nine rooms. We have just introduced the new bar. Next year, we will be adding 16 more rooms.

To go specific, could you please highlight on the wedding segment?

Of late, this property has become

preferred wedding destination because the connectivity has improved. We have now five trains operating daily from Delhi to Ajmer. We have a new airport at Kishangarh, which is about 25 minutes from the hotel. The direct flights have begun to Hyderabad so we have direct connectivity to South India. Lucknow, Surat, Ahmedabad, Indore have also been added. So the connectivity has improved.

Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur are matured destinations, while Pushkar is a fresh destination for weddings. Considering this wedding segment, we have created and identified some venues, where one can experience the real Rajasthani culture, be it food, ambience or music. For example, for a function like Mehendi ceremony or ladies sangeet, where a rustic feeling is there, we have created some venues like Kishangarh fort, a beautiful venue right beside the lake and we light up main parts of the fort.

And last thing, Delhi has its own limitations now as far as wedding venues are concerned. And this is one of the reasons that this destination is doing well in this segment.

How has been the response for weddings?

The response has been amazingly good. Last year, we organised 40-45 weddings. This year, the number would be very close to that.

Do you have any special packages during the Pushkar fair?

During the Pushkar fair, the inbound movement has started and the entire destination is almost sold out. We share the packages quite well in advance and the rates are just 30 per cent more than the average rate.

Manvendra Rathore

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River Cruising, a new focus for inbound tourists India has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters

and creeks. The total navigable length is 14,500 km, out of which about 5,200 km of river and 4,000 km of canals can be used by mechanised crafts.


Along these rivers is witnessed rich flora and fauna. From wildlife, tea gardens and beaches to forests, creeks and a rich cultural heritage,

there is something for everyone. The diversity of languages, customs, lifestyle and vegetation, from one city to another, is fascinating and a lesson in history in itself! India is progressively becoming a key location for luxury travel and luxury cruises. River cruises in India are gaining more popularity along rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Narmada and also the backwaters of Kerala. These cruises take one through history where the past and the future are seamlessly blended together into one beautiful tapestry.

‘Cruise Tourism’ is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing components of the leisure industry worldwide. It is fast emerging as a new marketable product.

The known markets of river cruising in Asia was dominated by Indo-China region

including Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. With India’s emergence and safety concerns in the Indo-China region, the travellers have started moving towards Indian rivers and hence is the reason for such growth.

The Cruise Shipping Policy of the Ministry of Shipping was approved by the Government of India on 26th June 2008. The objective of the policy is to make India an attractive cruise tourism destination with the state-of-the-art infrastructural and other facilities at various parts of the country, to attract the right segment of foreign tourists to cruise shipping in India and to popularise cruise shipping with Indian tourists.

Inland waterways in India consist of the Ganges (Ganga)–Bhagirathi–Hooghly Rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak River, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari – Krishna rivers.

The Union Government through The National Waterways Act 2016, has declared 106 Waterways as ‘National Waterways

(NW)’ in addition to the existing five National Waterways. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is mandated as the nodal agency to develop, maintain and regulate these for navigation.

The Ministry of Tourism has accordingly included promotion of Cruise Shipping under its ‘New initiatives’. A Steering Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary (Shipping) that would act as a nodal body to address all issues regarding Cruise Tourism. The Ministry, through its various schemes for Central Financial Assistance for development of tourism infrastructure in the country, supports initiatives such as infrastructure development of port, purchase of ferries, development of river cruise circuits, etc.

Backed by robust growth and strong demands from international markets, current operators are continuously striving to explore all potentials of expansion and hopes to see growth in this sector many folds in the next decade.

Nordic Cruise Line“Banaras (Varanasi/Kashi) is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and

looks twice as old as all of them put together,”– Mark Twain. Nordic Cruise line operates Alaknanda, a five-star luxury river cruise on the river Ganga in Varanasi and introduces you to the mysticism and divinity of this city. It offers short duration tours-The Sunrise Cruise, an early morning cruise giving tourists soulful delight of sunrise on the river and splendour of pilgrims performing religious morning rituals at the ancient ghats. The Ganga Arti Cruise, where tourists witness ecstatic view of semi silhouetted ghats, divine sounds of temple bells and the mesmerising Ganga arati at the world famous ancient Ghats of Varanasi. The cruise line has hosted thousands of guests from India and abroad. Alaknanda has hosted Honourable PM of India Shri Narendra Modi, CM Yogi Adityanath of UP, CM Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra, His Holiness Sadhguru Shri Jaggi Vasudev, Her Holiness Jagadguru Sai Maa, and many other eminent personalities from different walks of life.

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Pandaw CruisesPandaw has been a pioneer in discovering and launching

unknown, hidden gems across the world through its river cruise expeditions.

In seeking to explore some of the lesser traversed treasure troves of India, Pandaw, in 2019, has introduced three stellar ships, namely Katha, Kalaw and Kindat operating on the Upper Ganges and Lower Ganges. Each ship, hand-crafted in brass and teak, is an object of beauty. Starting at the capital city of The East India Company at Calcutta, sailing through several of the most important Buddhist sites including Sarnath, Nalanda and Bodh Gaya, and many more cities great and small dotted with ageless history and culture to end at the only living ancient city in the world, Varanasi. A Pandaw adventure is very different from that offered on an ocean-going cruise. Enjoy cruising in an informal and friendly atmosphere as you glide through the mighty river teeming with birds and wait for a Gangetic dolphin to make your day brighter!

MV Mahabaahu Of all the boats that may ever ply the mighty Brahmaputra

River, none stands out as much as the MV Mahabaahu operated by Adventure River Cruises. Designed with the comfort and convenience of its passengers in mind, the Mahabaahu is a beautiful vessel that allows people to relax and enjoy the sights and experiences that the various cruise routes have on offer. Built high, with five decks where the various amenities are spread across, the ship has a higher profile, which allows for excellent views and vistas, and the elevation comes especially useful when spotting wildlife. It is also equipped with two tender boats with armchairs so that the passengers can board and disembark the vessel in ease and comfort. Immerse yourself in the luxury river cruise and relax into the sublime beauty of the riverside. Tourists can visit friendly tribal villages, cultural bastions of performing arts, artist villages, learn the lore behind majestic temples, explore vibrant wildlife sanctuaries and lush green tea estates not to forget the yoga and bonfires on untouched islands in the middle of the river.HM-TTJ-HalfAd- 224X160-(Business).pdf 1 19/09/2019 13:36

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Aviation is one of the leading industries across the world. In the past few years, unprecedented growth in the global aviation sector has given rise to various challenges

for the fraternity. One of the biggest challenges being the occupational stress in the high-demand professional environment. Stress in the aviation industry is a common

phenomenon due to physiological, psychological and environmental factors.

Team TTJ

In order to help pilots, cabin crew, air traffic controllers and above all air passenger scope up with the challenges

of managing stress, AAI has launched SkyFit at the 40th triennial ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada. AAI plans to share these unique and effective techniques with the global aviation world.

Sh Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation launched the SkyFit eBook in the presence of Sh Pradeep Singh Kharola,

Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Sh Arun Kumar, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA); Sh Rakesh Asthana, Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security(BCAS); Sh Anuj Aggarwal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Sh. Vineet Gulati, Member (ANS), AAI; senior ICAO officials and 1200 delegates from around 193 countries during the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s 40th Triennial Session and General Assembly that coincides with the celebrations to commemorate 75th Anniversary of the Chicago Convention.

Developed by business development team of

the Airports Authority of India, SkyFit addresses problems arising out of the occupational stress faced by aviation professionals such as pilots, ATCOs, cabin crew and also air passengers by way of simple breathing techniques formulated in consultation with Yogic experts and senior medical consultants.

Changes in work shifts and trans-meridian flight result in asynchrony between aviation personnel’s circadian rhythms. This lack of synchrony results in shift-lag syndrome (due to changes in work schedule) and jet-lag syndrome (due to trans-meridian flights) severely affects the body clock specifically Airline

Pilots, Cabin Crew, Air Traffic Controllers and Air Passengers.

Available on Google Play Store and iOS, SkyFit mobile application is devised to address the occupational stress of the personnel in aviation, be it air traffic controllers, pilots, cabin crews, ground handlers, air passengers etc. The unprecedented growth in aviation has posed severe threat to the safety of aviation, in terms of the pressure created by capacity vs demand, on the existing infrastructure and resources. The worst hit

of all is the human resource.

The occupational stress due to cognitive work load of the personnel, especially in aviation can be a challenge for the safe aviation. Long term exposure to the stress is posing severe health issues like hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, peptic ulcers and psychoneurotic disorders for the people employed in aviation. Various measures have been discussed in the past like improving job planning and reliability of the work systems, improving the work environment, reduction of working hours etc. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has developed SkyFit, in consultation with Dr Ashok Bhatt, Medical consultant from AGP Breath Works and in coordination with experts who have practiced these ancient techniques from yogic traditions, for decades and have found encouraging results in managing the stress of the aviation personnel, by just improving the way we breathe.

At the time when India is poised to cater to billions of new air travellers and is rearing to become a global aviation leader, it also has to be well equipped to address the stress levels of the human force and their quality of life. The solution lies in SkyFit.

AAI launches

SkyFit Appto help aviation professionals

tackle professional stress

Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation launched the SkyFit eBook in the presence of Sh. Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Sh Arun Kumar, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA); Sh Rakesh Asthana, Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security(BCAS); Sh Anuj Aggarwal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Sh. Vineet Gulati, Member (ANS), AAI


Inbound tourism scenario in India has changed drastically

over the last few years. India is now on the bucket list of most international tourists. People across the globe are well travelled adventurous individuals and love to experience the various aspects of Indian hospitality and tourism. Indian tourism has opened its doors for foreign clients to visit India quite often for leisure as well as business purposes. The hospitality sector has witnessed an immense growth in the recent times with respect to the inbound tourism.

Faiz Alam Ansari, General Manager, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center, shares, “Hospitality, travel and tourism has become a major focus in the last couple of years and we see the trend of more and more visitors flocking to India to learn about the culture and unique experiences the destination has to offer. There is something for everyone in terms of accommodation depending on your budget you can find a really good deal for yourself and for your family. A lot of hospitality chains have also started investing majorly in the country and one can see a trend of not just resort properties being invested in but also city hotels that carter to business travellers. At our hotel, we believe our guest should have a grand welcome and an equally grand goodbye. We focus on offering unique arrival and departure experiences for our guest by creating customised experiences which includes city tours, local exertions and as well as offer a dining experience that will give our guests an opportunity to experience Indian hospitality.”

In the last two years, the Ministry of Tourism has undertaken several initiatives to provide a further boost to the sector such as launch of new schemes like Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD, revamping of existing schemes such as Hunar se Rozgar tak, extending e-tourist visas to more countries, developing a mobile application for tourists, introducing an Incredible India tourist helpline, and undertaking various skill development initiatives such as setting up of Indian Culinary Institute, approval of new hotel management institutes etc.

Speaking on challenges from online aggregators like airbnb who market richer and experiential stays, Rajesh Radhakrishnan, F&B Director, Radisson Blu Resort Goa, says, “The hotel industry has always had challenging environment, but hotels do have an upper hand when compared to online aggregators like Airbnb. With hotels all the amenities are at hand and if they’re not, there’s someone to help you with just a short phone call away. Hotels are usually situated in the perfect locations for sightseeing, business meetings and of course the restaurants and bars. They’re seemingly the better alternative when travelling with children. Whether it’s a kids’ club service you need, extra sheets in the early hours of the

morning, a set up crib on arrival or even a theme park on site? Hotels make sure that your comfort and entertainment are well taken care of. Everything is guaranteed with hotels. You know exactly what you’re going to get when you walk in and how you’re supposed to leave it. It’s the familiar feeling we love to have when we travel.”

“I don’t see online aggregators proving to be a challenge to us or for that matter affecting the hospitality market. Our focus at, The Leela Mumbai is to drive authentic service experiences for every single guest and to build brand loyalty. It is encouraging to see repeat guests book with us directly, once they have experienced The Leela Hospitality,” points out Anand Athavale, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Leela Mumbai.

The Leela Mumbai with its rich legacy has a reputation of being a leading luxury destination for both business and leisure travellers. They provide their guests with personalised experiences tailored to their preferences, coupled with warm, sincere and anticipatory service with a touch of authentic Indian hospitality, which cannot be easily replicated elsewhere. Creating guest experiences will continue to be the core of their overall business model and their objective would be to further develop

Indian hospitality industry: catering to all budget segments

In-spite of what looks like depression in the Indian economy the hospitality sector is going ahead with its expansion plans. India, with its rich history, cultural offerings, warm

hospitality and unique local experiences offers a range of meaningful purposes for travellers from across the globe. Here, one can also find an accommodation to suit every mood, taste and budget. Additionally, the rise in convention centres has helped generate international

MICE demand as well. TTJ speaks to some hotel professionals to know more as to how their segment is faring in the inbound business and new competitions.

Prashant Nayak

Faiz Alam Ansari Rajesh Radhakrishnan Anand Athavale

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their online and social media reputation. They also participate in global travel shows and this helps in building a recall with their target segment.

“India is known for its hospitality and we should capitalise on it. My opinion is that India has not explored its full potential and we are yet to get our fair share in global tourism. We have so many beautiful destinations in the country and the opportunity to attract international tourists. On our part, competition is welcomed as it pushes us to do our best. I believe we can curate experiential stay in hotels through our expert chefs, guest relations team and concierge rather than guest house or rented accommodations where one has to wake up and make their own breakfast or have limited choice prepared by the house owner/care taker. Experiential stay is richer in Marriott hotels than anywhere else,” speaks Victor Chen, General Manager, Le Meridien Goa, Calangute.

Marriott Hotels and Resorts have 120 hotels and 16 brands operational in the country to cater to different tourist needs and they are prepared and well equipped to showcase their hospitality to International visitors. They have a large distribution globally with 7000 plus hotels in 130 countries including 120 hotels in India. Their biggest strength is 133 million Marriott Bonvoy members. There are couple of focused marketing strategies for their hotels and their strength lies in Authentic Service delivered by embracing local culture.

“At this point of time, India has all sorts of accommodation options available, right from select service to ultra-luxury segment which caters to the specific needs of all kinds of tourists. Hence, India is very well equipped for all kinds of International visitors. The government has also been actively working towards tapping plethora of opportunities available in the sector to actualise its true potential. Hospitality Industry has been a blooming industry and with time alternative accommodations like Airbnb and HomeAway have been revolutionising the lodging market. Initially, Airbnb

was not considered as a threat but with time, we have observed an incline towards experiential stays. Airbnb has always been a multi-sided marketplace that connects travellers with host and experience providers. Having said that, even Marriott International, has started exploring opportunities in this segment of business. We have entered the space by taking on the home-rental business. This offering enables us to meet the diverse needs of our customers, while keeping pace with the changing competitive landscape,” shares Vinod Kumar, Director of Rooms, Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield.

Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa has been seeing a huge inflow of guests coming from various parts of the world. Devika James, Director of Sales, Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa, tells, “India is well equipped to manage international visitors with all budgets. The demand for business as well as tourist traffic is on the rise and competition is at its peak. Also, there is an increased growth observed in the startups/online industry due to the increasing number of internet users. This equips India to become a host for all kinds of accommodation preferences.”

A lot of marketing for international arrivals is online and the crux of any good online marketing strategy starts with the hotel chain’s website. This is the place where people can learn more about your individual business and decide whether or not to book a stay.

“With the rise in dependency on social media, we keep all our platforms updated on a timely basis. Thirdly, OTA’s (online travel agents) have a huge influence on a consumer’s decision-making process and we ensure to continuously increase our visibility on such platforms. The offline marketing channel we rely on is print media, advertisements and word of mouth. The online aggregators such as Airbnb offer great accommodation choices for the budget traveller. The positioning of hotels and resorts such as ours, attract a completely different set of clientele. As a hotel, we occupy a

very different market segment. A hotel is not just a place to rest and unwind. We aim at providing our guests with superlative customer experience which is the key differentiating factor from most hotel aggregators,” continues Devika.

Again, according to Rajesh Radhakrishnan, “Digital presence and social media posts help market your brand efficiently in today’s times. Every time consumers want to know something they ask Google and they can compare prices instantly in three clicks. It’s not that everyone wants to ignore your marketing messages, but given a large amount of information they are exposed to, it’s inevitable that your efforts can get lost in the shuffle. Therefore, it’s necessary to find new ways to communicate to get their attention and get them to interact with your brand. If you are the owner of a hotel, a restaurant, a theme park or a provider of tourist activities you should know that reviews play an important role in the tourist’s decision. While it’s true that reviews can be as beneficial as they are harmful to your business, if you manage them well you can avoid having your image seriously affected by a bad review. Responding to negative comments in an assertive and polite manner is the best way to do this.”

Kamal Deep Sharma, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar, opines, “Overall, we are still in the growth phase of inbound tourism business in India. Though, we have a come a long way, India is still to fully exploit its potential. While tourism has the potential to help economy and employment on a larger scale, the impetus it gets can become better. We may not necessarily need to prepare separate products for domestic and international market, instead have a policy on targeted accommodation or product growth. A good understanding of consumer needs, when building up products supported by sound distribution and promotion strategy, help the hotel strengthen International arrivals.”

Victor Chen Vinod Kumar Devika James Kamal Deep Sharma

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Alitalia, a connoisseur of Italian hospitality

Alitalia, the Italian airline is doing a commendable job in terms of operational performance and connectivity as well.

With 82.5 per cent of its on time landings in the first nine months of 2019, Alitalia has established itself as the second most punctual airline in Europe. The result was certified by FlightStats, the authoritative US independent society which drafts the list of major airlines in the world. Alitalia is set to resume non-stop flights to the Maldives from Milan and Rome, to Mauritius and Cuba from Rome. The airline focuses on the connections between Milan and Rome with 21 daily flights to Milan Linate, three to Bergamo and four to Milan Malpensa airports.

Italy itself is a delightful country where you can immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of nature and has been a prior choice for the Bollywood industry as a wedding destination too. You can enjoy spending time as the Italians do, indulging in delicious cuisine, shopping for the latest fashion, enjoying the various festivals and entertainment options, exploring the beautiful landscape and architecture, and tasting some of the world’s finest wine, all of which make for a truly memorable experience.

Magnifica, Alitalia’s renowned brand name for its long haul business class offers exclusive on ground and onboard services which includes priority boarding, relaxing lighting system, fully lie-flat and well equipped seats, LCD screens and much more which will definitely add on to the experience of the passengers.

“The airline is in the process of launching Rome- San Francisco flight in 2020 summer, the shifting of flights to Japan on Haneda, the main hub for domestic flights of the Japanese carrier. The airline has also signed code-sharing agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA) on connections between Italy and Japan and some domestic destinations. In summer of 2020, the Italian company will offer a total of 128 return flights a week from Italy and the United States to and from seven destinations. The seven destinations on list are New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Chicago and Miami,” shares Bonachhi, Vice President, Leisure Travel Sales.

“The economy of India is steadily increasing with major developments, be it in industrial sector, hospitality industry or the aviation sector, which are some of the leading reasons for people to invest in the India market,” adds Bonachhi.

Adding further, Bonachhi asserts, “Alitalia offers onboard menus prepared in the Italian tradition with improved food quality and beverage to enhance the onboard dining experience. The airline has been awarded with ‘Best Airline Cuisine’ for its quality meals served onboard paired with award-winning Italian wines. The award reaffirms Alitalia’s constant enhancement of its menus to reflect the culinary excellence of Italy’s food and wine tradition. The airline is soon to offer the new wine cellar, which will be served from November 1, 2019 on board.”

The airline has recently launched the new ‘Alitalia Connect’ community in

Italy, a platform designed to guarantee a personalised relationship with b2b customers between the airline, travel agencies, companies and SMEs. This digital platform is created with the motive of facilitating and building relationship with b2b customers, creating privileged access to dedicated services and content, which in turn will integrate and bolster the business proposal. The major cause behind this launch is to create value and business growth for the benefit of all the partners. So, the aim is to connect travel agents worldwide.

Group Connect, a web platform within Alitalia Connect, will be released in India on November 13, 2019 to manage and speed up quotations and group bookings. The features it carries are requesting an offer, booking a group and having the quotation and the contract in real time, monitoring the contract terms, changing the reservation and much more with ease.

“The key elements which make us stand apart from rest of the airlines are the onboard offerings we serve our guests and also the airports; majorly being the Milan, Malpensa and Bergamo. It is convenient to approach these airports without any hustle. The airports have also been completely renovated to embody a new hospitality concept along with the lounges centered on the ‘Made in Italy’ qualities. We are ready to invest in the core elements to strengthen and enhance the services which will undoubtedly be profitable to the airline and the guests as well, which will go a long way to help boost customer- airline relationship,” adds Bonachhi.

Alitalia, the flag carrier of Italy is one of the biggest players in the European airline sector. Alitalia is all set with its 2019 winter schedule,

starting from October 27. Alitalia will fly to 81 destinations, including 24 Italian and 57 international destinations, with over 3,600

weekly flights and 102 routes. Alitalia boasts one of the most modern and efficient fleets in the

world. Nicola Bonacchi, Vice President, Leisure Travel Sales, Alitalia shares more with TTJ.

Sonika Bhandari

Nicola Bonacchi

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Experience the exemplary hospitality at Novotel Vijayawada Varun

Vijayawada in the vicinity of Amravati is currently at the cusp of being the newest business hub of the country. The political, agricultural

and industrial sectors are a benefaction for its recognition and is also a hub of transportation with one of the largest railway junctions in India. Novotel Vijayawada Varun has come up with the first ever international distinctive label hotel in the city, committing the best experience to all its guests. Novotel Vijayawada Varun is equipped with banqueting facilities that can procure upto 1,000 guests making it the largest banqueting space within a hotel in the city. There have been creditable efforts from the government and their affiliates to organise large scale MICE events in the city, thus making it the most favoured choice to host an event, or at least house the senior delegates.

The hotel is also located at convenient distance from key venues that can hold upto 4,000 guests making it a perfect choice for various kinds of events.

Talking about his hospitality journey Anantharaman says, “I started my career in 2003 with the Le Royal Méridien Chennai and the journey continued to Shangri La Hotel, Chennai, The Chancery Hotels, Bangalore and many more. The vast and invaluable experience I gathered from my work with these hotels kept on adding with time. It is a new phase of my journey as I take over as the General Manager of Novotel Vijayawada Varun.”

On an international level, India has assumed a prominent position in attracting a lot of global MICE movement. Along with this, locally generated MICE events are increasing thus making it one of the vital market segments for every hotel. There is also a positive change that has been observed in the

customer behaviour in terms of delegate engagement activities which has enabled hotels to experiment in terms of their offerings and making it more innovative. Novotel has spacious venues and convention hall which can hold about 1400 people whether it is a pre-wedding ceremony, conference or MICE.

“The particular component that distinguishes our hotel from the rest is our induction programme, where we welcome our new employees to the hotel and prepare them for their new role. Induction training includes development of theoretical and practical skills and also meet interaction needs that exist among the new employees,” adds Anantharaman.

“The decline in the occupancy level from 60 per cent to 32 per cent is somehow sad since the new government came into function. The proposed new developments are yet to be implemented. This delay in the implementation has inadvertently posed a hindrance and kept the growth of the industry at bay. Also, in terms of connectivity, other than Silkair Singapore operating direct flights, we don’t have any other international connectivity to the city of Vijayawada. We hope to see some positive and immediate changes which could help boost the business,” asserts Anantharaman.

The five-star deluxe property extends world class service and offers 202 rooms and 25 service apartments, restaurant and lounge, business centre, parking and concierge, roof-top facilities which include fitness centre, swimming pool, uniflow jogging track, open lounge and specialty restaurant. The property is equipped with everything a traveller aspires for.

Vijayawada, a part of the Andhra Pradesh capital region, is currently at the apex, being

the newest business hub of the country. Many corporate from various sectors are exploring

the possibility of setting up their business and industries here. Novotel Vijayawada Varun is the first ever international branded hotel in

the city, promising the best ever experience to all its guests especially the business travellers.

Anantharaman, General Manager, Novotel Vijayawada Varun shares more with TTJ.

Sonika BohraAnantharaman


Travel in Luxury and Rediscover ‘The Sweetest Part of India’

The Eastern state hitherto overlooked, has come forth with some very fascinating and enthralling new products and hotels to offer and open a completely new route for inbound

tourists. Both North and South of Bengal have some incredible real-life experiences to present which have been totally unexplored in the past. The destination presents some exceedingly mesmerising boutique heritage properties in rural Bengal, allowing one to create journeys beyond Kolkata and show more of Bengal to travellers. Here is a quick

layout of what’s new in Bengal and how best it may be used to promote tourism.


Glenburn Penthouse: The Glenburn Penthouse is a discrete, elegant residence in the heart of historic Kolkata, a

city of iconic landmarks, be it Victoria Memorial, Eden Gardens, temples, the lush green expanse of the Maidan or the Howrah Bridge. Conceptualised and executed over a number of years, the team behind Glenburn Tea Estate’s boutique hotel in Darjeeling, has carefully amassed an exquisite collection of antique Bengal colonial furniture and artworks to create a haven of quiet luxury amidst the bustle of The City of Joy.

The Rajbari Bawali: Once the home of the Mondals of West Bengal, today the property plays host to a cross section of travellers from around the word. Whether you’re planning to immerse yourself in the lifestyle of the past or host an event in the manicured lawns surrounded by stately buildings, the Rajbari is a trip back in time. Wake

up to the sun dappled sit-out area, before setting off for a village walk or to explore the countryside. Upon return, indulge in a meal fit for a king, before retiring to your well-appointed room.

For a truly immersive experience, take a sunset boat ride on the Ganges and learn of the region’s rich history and culture, as bauls sooth your senses with their songs about the rise and fall of the area’s former kingdoms.

The property is located approximately 2 hrs 30 mins South-West of Kolkata and an easy 2/3-night extension.

The Belgadia Palace, Odisha: Nestled amidst a lush green backdrop of rolling hills and sparkling waterfalls of the rich and diverse Eastern-Indian countryside is The Belgadia Palace. An 18th century Victorian brick-built, double-storey structure in the classical western style of Doric-Corinthian column, a mixture of Greek and Victorian architecture.

Home to the erstwhile royal family of Mayurbhanj, this boutique property invites guests to take a trip down

memory lane and introduces the idea of purposeful travel by engaging with the local tribal community and through curated tours to truly explore the state of Odisha, the soul of incredible India. This new gem, a unique blend of old and new is encapsulated at the border of Bengal and Odisha, an offbeat location and an adventure lover’s paradise. Approximately 5 hrs 30 mins drive through the rural countryside further West of Rajbari, Belgadia palace is located very close to Simlipal National Park, an elephant and tiger UNESCO biosphere, the second largest national park in India.

Bari Kothi: Bari Kothi was launched with 15 luxurious heritage suites in the ancestral home of the Dudhoria family of Azimganj. Stay at Bari Kothi includes, experiencing the local ‘Sheherwali’ culture, cuisine and lifestyle apart from reliving the lost heritage of Murshidabad. The operations of Bari Kothi are run by the local community thereby ensuring that the entire community stands a chance to be developed, making Bari Kothi a unique social tool. The guest experience will be unique for heritage, exploratory travel, and art and culture enthusiasts. Located 6 hrs north of Kolkata, this heritage boutique hotel is in the heart of Azimganj, Murshidabad.

Bari Kothi

The Belgadia Palace The Rajbari Bawali

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$14 billion capital improvement plan to modernise every single terminal at LAX

LAX’s amazing success is due to the in large part to the continuing investment Los Angeles is making in modernising our airport and improving the passenger experience. As more terminals are renovated,

and the new elevated train opens, our success and popularity as a destination will only increase.

Deborah Flint, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

2018 Highlights Driven by new air service and continued

growth in international destinations, 2018 was a great year for us at LAX. We set a new all time record for passenger traffic with 87.5 million travellers last year, of which 61.5 million were domestic and 26 million were international. The passenger total at LAX was an increase of 3.5 per cent over 2017, shattering the previous record of 84.6 million travellers. Because of this growth, we ranked as the fourth busiest airport in the world in 2018.

LAX also earned national recognition for its continued improvements in 2018, including being named the second most improved airport in the United States by J.D. Power. This recognition came in addition to other major accolades received in 2018 for Best Overall Customer Service Program (Airports Council International-North America), Top 10 best of the U.S.’s Biggest Airports (Wall Street Journal).

Los Angeles is a leading international destination for commerce and leisure travel, and the continued growth of passenger traffic in 2018 further affirms the importance of our global airport.

LAX’s record number of passengers and rise in world rankings is a testament to the discernible modernisation and innovation that is underway, and the gold-standard service we take great pride in delivering.

Passenger Experience at LAX The guest experience is paramount, with

technology playing a central role. We look at the passenger journey from home to curb to gate, and work to ensure connectivity and exceptional service at each step of the way. This includes integrating information on our parking availability and flight information into technologies such as Alexa and Ask Google, and providing real-time updates on parking, wait times and construction on our interactive, mobile-friendly website.

Once a guest arrives at LAX, they can now pre-order food from a number of restaurants in our terminals, and check out menus and items for sale in a digital, online marketplace.

And we are setting the standard for use of new technologies for screening and boarding.

This past year, British Airways (March 2018), Lufthansa (March 2018) and American Airlines (December 2018) launched biometric screening at LAX. Instead of scanning boarding passes and passports, the new

one-step facial recognition program will scan and verify a customer’s identity with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in seconds at the gate. Additionally, a new system of automated screening lanes

(ASLs) speeds up bag checks with five times as many loading stations. LAX has more ASLs than any other airport in the United States. We also have piloted a number of technologies with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), such as more advanced screening capabilities for people and luggage.

The idea is for the airport itself to reflect the destination that it serves, noting that people are arriving earlier at the airport and that airports have become more than just transportation hubs.

The LAX Art Program presents up to 20 exhibitions a year in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs to create vibrant public spaces at the airport.

Overall Development Strategy From reimagining our airport infrastructure

to opening new routes that connect our city to the world, our strategy is to ensure that LAX is continually pushing the envelope and reaching new heights in service and connectivity.

We have a $14 billion capital improvement plan to modernise every single terminal and revolutionizse how people get to, from, and around the airport and that it will all be done before the world comes to Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

Two of the biggest contracts in the history of the City of Los Angeles were approved by the City Council and signed by Mayor Garcetti last year, paving the way for the next phase of development.

Next Five Years In 2023,

passengers

will get to experience the culmination of our multi-year, multibillion-dollar modernization program. Our Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) will reduce traffic in LAX’s central terminal area and provide a variety of easier ways to get to, from and around the airport. Upon completion, guests will enjoy a 2.25 mile elevated train that will connect LAX to a brand new consolidated rent-a-car facility and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority’s regional light rail system across six stations.

We also anticipate continued momentum to create a connected airport guest experience, from home to curb to gate, with new technologies and innovations deployed to improve safety, security and efficiency.

All of these initiatives are working towards ensuring we continue to rise in the airport rankings and become a world-class airport that brings the world to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to the world.


UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India stands a testimony of the country’s rich culture and artPresently, India has a total of 38 (1 mixed, 7 Natural and 30 Cultural) UNESCO world

heritages sites. The country takes pride in flaunting its unsurpassed heritage as eras over eras have influenced, moulded and face lifted the rich heritage of which we all are part of. With a startling number of places and monuments enlisted in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, India has made an indelible mark in the world history. These distinctive

edifices sewed in our perennial culture should make us feel proud and the determination to keep this incredibility alive should be of great importance.

Prashant Nayak

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural

heritages are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the people of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place of special cultural or physical significance. It is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Places as diverse and unique as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, or the Acropolis in Greece are examples of the 1007 natural and cultural places inscribed on the World Heritage List to date. Until the end of 2004, World Heritage sites were selected on the basis of six cultural and four natural criteria. The criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage concept itself.

Prrithviraj Singh, Co-Founder & Director, Eastbound Tours

India, its unique culture, age-old monuments, historical temples, pulsating sanctuaries and parks attract a large number of tourists every year. Taj Mahal alone records over 35,000 daily

visitors from which international tourists contribute a significant share. But while Taj Mahal is a relatively popular global attraction, there are several other jewels like Khajuraho, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Bodh Gaya, Humayun’s Tomb and other unique places that have influenced inbound tourism in a big way with their exceptional architecture and historical significance. India is a land of many such distinctive sites whose preservation is not only relevant from a tourism point of view but should also be regarded as a national and social responsibility.

Mass tourism has two sides to it; on one hand it has the potential of extending commercial value to a place, but on the other hand it can be extremely detrimental resulting in low and compromised standards. While it is important for any government to monetize state owned properties it is equally important to set aside funds to man, secure and maintain these places of historical interest. State venues can be leased out for private events in order to collect funds for maintenance and tie-ups between public and private entities can also work to create collaborative synergies. Regulating the number of visitors at one time, charging an entrance fee in order to keep miscreants away, penalties for people defacing the structure and implementing strict security measures are some other ways that can be employed to prevent damage and preserve these sites.

India is a treasure trove of mesmerising monuments and sites. Some UNESCO certified sites that never cease to amaze include Khajuraho for its intricate sculptures, Ajanta and Ellora

caves for its monuments and temples, Bodh Gaya for its sacred Bodhi tree and Mahabodhi temple, Humayun’s Tomb for its Mughal architecture, Kaziranga wild life sanctuary for the one-horned rhinoceroses, Sundarbans national park for Bengal tigers and salt-water crocodiles and Nalanda Mahavihara- the first residential university of the world. The list is truly endless.

Ravi Gosain, MD, Erco TravelsIndia has always been considered

as one of the most sought after exotic destination among foreigners for its rich cultural heritage. So, our heritage is the top most reason for most of the foreign visitors who want to come and explore India. There should be a serious and balanced approach to safeguard our heritage and preserve it for the future generations. UNESCO is doing a wonderful job into this direction, however we as stake holders must be careful about the importance of its conservation and carrying capacity of a particular heritage site. ASI is preserving all our heritage sites but unless we come forward their efforts will be limited to repair and maintenance. Tourism industry especially Indian tour operators and DMC must promote multiple heritage sites spread across India to avoid mass tourism and over exploitation. There are various examples of adverse impact of mass tourism on a particular heritage site in India which is daunting our image as a well established tourism destination. We are fortunate to have 38 UNESCO world heritage sites and it’s our moral responsibility to promote all of them equally among tourists. We have to remember these world heritage sites belong to the people of the world irrespective of the city/country they are located in.

Personally, I am very impressed with UNESCO world heritage sites at Hampi (Karnataka), Ajanta & Ellora caves (Maharashtra), and Konark Sun temple (Orissa). I make wholehearted efforts to promote these sites among our clients during sales trips along with regular UNESCO sites of Taj mahal, Red Fort, Khajuraho temples etc.

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E. M. Najeeb, Chairman & Managing Director, Airtravel Enterprises India Limited,

Heritage is an invaluable wealth of the human race and its history. History and culture of the people of a place are handed down to the new generations from the past as great heritage and wealth. It is in fact an inheritance of the past by the present generation. Heritage sites, be it located anywhere in the world, it is the wealth of mankind.

Having 38 declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India is a matter of great pride for us. This should make us more responsible as a heritage

destination. The biggest responsibility is to preserve it with utmost care. Heritage sites in India are generally affected by huge footfalls beyond the carrying capacity, pollution, and poor care. All heritage sites of India should have a common code of management and preservation. Tourism should be limited within the carrying capacity. We have a great responsibility to further preserve these heritages for our future generation.

Already, we are promoting the Golden Triangle, Delhi-Agra-Jaipur and the Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal, the great Chola Temples, Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram of the

Tamil Nadu, Hampi and Pattadakal of Karnataka, Jaipur City of Rajasthan, Qutab Minar and its Monuments, Humayun’s Tomb and Red Fort in Delhi. They are well marketed through our packages. The natural heritage sites, the Western Ghats of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are important landmarks in our heritage circuits. In the tentative list of the UNESCO sites it lists Mattanchery Palace –Kochi and the Padmanabhapuram Palace in the Kanya Kumari district also. Fort Kochi and Mattancheryare are very much in the well recommended heritage sites for our clients.

Prrithviraj Singh Ravi Gosain E. M. Najeeb

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Embrace the splendid beauty of nature with Panambi Resorts & Spa

Panambi Resorts (A unit of Panambi Vacations) has formally opened its resort ‘Panambi Resorts & Spa’ in Rishikesh.

The launch of the resort was graced by gorgeous Smita Deb (Mrs. Universe Lovely 2018-2019), chief guest at the event,

along with other dignitaries, respected media colleagues and management of Panambi Group. Neeraj Gupta, the Founder and Vinita Gupta, the Co-founder of the Panambi Resorts &

Spa, shares their journey.

Ruchi Salal

Panambi Vacations, one of the leading travel companies in India has recently opened its first resort in Rishikesh. The resort was earlier known

as Van Vilas Resort & Spa, has now been taken over by Panambi Vacations. The resort has been completely revamped with new facilities. Nested in the scenic location near Rajaji National Park, Panambi Resorts & Spa offers tranquility, unmatched services and most importantly, a serene atmosphere that promises to give immemorable

experiences. Centrally located between Rishikesh and Haridwar with the river Ganga and Chilla Ganga Canalat a walking distance from the resort, Panambi Resorts is a traveller’s paradise. Going forward Panambi Resorts aims to add more properties in Naukauchiatal, Corbett, Mussoorie, Shimla, Manaliand Jaipur.

“As an IIT Roorkee student I had been actively involved in organising and conducting events. This cult in me propelled me to open my dream project Panambi Resorts in Rishikesh. Vinita, my wife, has been the leading inspiration and driving force behind every single idea to establish this property. The name has been derived from Panambi which means butterfly spreading wings of colour and beauty amidst glories of nature. We started working together to plan this adventure by putting everything in a single basket, that one day it might be a dream come true and we are rewarded with success,” says Neeraj Founder, Panambi Vacations.

Sharing the aim of establishing the property in the vicinity of the nature,

Neeraj adds, “Our aim to get into resort business is to cater to the segments which look forward to bespoke experiences. With every property of ours, people will find themselves closer to nature and culture of our country.”

This property is truly amazing in its picturesque location as it is nestled amidst the greenery of Rajaji National Park, which is a destination seldom promoted so far and I undertake this as an excellent opportunity. Those who want a break from city life can enjoy their weekends here, where you can easily spot a leopard, tiger or elephant to make your trip memorable. Few locations near the resort are totally unexplored, which can be a delight to nature lovers. The overall experience is of blissful tranquility merged with serendipity of gorgeous nature. Unhasp your spirit with the untamed beauty of this home-away-from-home, has been the main charactetristic of our resort.

“This resort is a result of our sincere effort to cater to the discerning travellers who are looking forward to comfort and experience, and our property offers both. We are not just offering rooms and services, it is the memories we are offering to be cherished forever. We look forward to welcoming all our guests offering them an experience of our hospitality,” shares Vinita Gupta, Co-Founder, Panambi Vacations.

Talking about the competition, Neeraj says, “I always say, competition is a negative term for me, hence I would like to call it collaboration. I’m not here to compete with other resorts and hotels of this area. On the contrary, I will start collaborating with these resorts, and ask to jointly promote this area and provide employment to the locals. Once we get into collaborations, everyone will be benefitted, be it our customers, other fellow hotels or ourselves for that matter.”

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Live your dreams with Planet AbledIndia is a land rich with diversities, but this great subcontinent remains largely unexplored a lot of times by

people with disabilities as they are apprehensive of travelling owing to lack of information about accessibility. Planet Abled provides accessible travel solutions for people of all disabilities. It strives to break the barrier

and creates inclusive travel solutions based on Universal Design Concepts and is the only organization in the world which mixes people with and without disabilities into one group to travel together.


There are over a billion people with different disabilities in the world, but the percentage of them travelling is miniscule, owning to lack of accessible travel options available. While

looking for solutions, and after extensive research and survey, Neha Arora, Founder of Planet Abled, incorporated the company which enables this segment of travellers to fulfil their dreams.

Planet Abled, a first of its kind unique travel sojourn of the planet, provides accessible travel solutions and leisure excursions for people with different disabilities. Here travel packages are meticulously chalked out where one can

travel solo, with family/friends, go on a romantic getaway, travel as an organisation or join a group tour at over 40 plus destinations across the Indian subcontinent. The travellers include people with reduced mobility, wheelchair users, visually impaired, hearing and speech impaired, people with autism, people with intellectual and cognitive disabilities, cancer patients and people with multiple disabilities, a senior citizen looking for specialised travel. People from 15 different nations have travelled with Planet Abled to fulfil their dreams.

Their journey has been incredibly amazing and rewarding and from around the world accolades have poured in appreciating the unique initiatives they have chosen to undertake.

In recognition of the outstanding achievements of the company, Planet Abled has been awarded the National Award for the Most Innovative and Unique Tourism product by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for the year 2017-18. They also have been recipient of prestigious awards like,

Best Innovative Practice Award by Zero Project at United Nations Vienna, The Global Good Fund Fellowship, The NCPEDP – Mphasis Universal Design Awards, World Responsible Tourism Awards (WRTA) and the WRTA award in its Indian edition, India Responsible Tourism Award by Outlook Traveller and World Travel Market, London - Best Innovation in Travel & Overall Winner.

“It has been our mission to mainstream accessible travel for people of all disabilities and this is a validation that we are on the right path. Here we blur the divide between travellers with and without disabilities and spread the message of inclusion. We are extremely proud that we are based out of India, a one of its kind company in the world and have been able to promote India as an accessible travel destination globally,” says Neha. ‘Travel to the edge’, ‘touch the walls of history and explore the many untold stories’, ‘The planet is so beautiful, I can’t see it but I can experience it’ are a few deep and heartfelt expressions that have been an eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.

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Experience Hub continues to show its commitment to global partners by leveraging its valuable trade programs. The added incentive program

for Yas Experts includes entries into regular raffle draws. Most recently, key partner Ottila International’s Sneha Chandra, Senior Executive, Mumbai Operations, won an all-inclusive four day trip to Yas Island to explore all that the destination has to offer. Ottila International currently has more than 20 Yas Expert certified agents.

Excited about her win, Chandra emphasised the value of the program and said, “At Ottila International, we are witnessing an overall increase in our customer base’s interest in visiting

Yas Island as a preferred holiday destination throughout the year. With this insight in mind, we are encouraging our associates to become certified Yas Experts so that they can provide the right information and guidance about the destination to visitors planning their next holiday to Abu Dhabi. As a Yas Expert myself, I look forward to visiting the destination and ultimately developing packages that will give travellers the best holiday experience in the UAE’s prestigious capital.”

Bruno Wiley, Vice President of Sales at Experience Hub said, “We look forward to welcoming Sneha as our latest Yas Expert to our one-of-a-kind destination. We’re very pleased to see such a positive reception of our training program, especially in the India market.

With resources like Yas Expert in place, we enable our partners to provide their own customers with a more tailored offering.”

The Yas Expert program includes modules on Yas Island Abu Dhabi’s award-winning attractions, leisure experiences, on-Island stays and itinerary planning. More modules will become available as Yas Island products continue to evolve. Travel agents who complete all modules are certified as ‘Yas Experts’ and also qualify to join familiarisation trips, during which the agents polish off their educational journey by experiencing the destination firsthand. Yas Expert is currently available to partners in India, as well as the GCC and Europe, and will launch in Mandarin Chinese in the coming weeks.

Training Program by

Experience Hubdrives increased product and

destination competence in IndiaExperience Hub, the trade and promotion arm of Yas Island Abu Dhabi, has announced

the latest ‘Yas Expert’ winner from India. The recently launched online destination training program has generated increased awareness around the entertainment and leisure hub

nestled in the UAE capital and resulted in a rise of in-market destination specialists, with more than 2,100 registered travel agents to date.

Team TTJ

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Expanding horizon of MICE tourism in India

“There are no great limits to growth,”-Ronald Reagan. Reagan’s quote aptly applies to MICE tourism in India, which has great promises to offer.

Vipan Sharma, Director, Vue India Tours

A quick dive in time, say a decade or two back shows that the picture of this country and its tourism industry has drastically changed over time. Right now we are in the

best shape ever, economically and otherwise, to host MICE travels, thanks to the multiple factors contributing to India’s growth, like the constantly rising investment in infrastructure, updated technology and facilities, the global spotlight it has received by the current Prime Minister’s active global travel and so on.

We can say with conviction that India is not only growing as a quality destination but is also being seen and recognised across the world as one of the top choices for MICE. I frequently hear the growth stories of MICE market in international events. In fact, two such events that I attended last month, i.e. IMEX and Luxperience respectively, inspired me to pen down my thoughts in ‘MICE Tourism in India Has Great Promises’ expressing my views on how strikingly our nation’s image is morphing on the international map as a MICE-destination with incredible potential.

India has the potential to transform into one of the world’s top five convention destinations. It is a claim that is strongly supported by numbers.

• Recent ICCA statistics put India among the top 30 nations hosting International scientific, technology, and medical conferences.

• As per IIM research, the Indian national and international conference market is worth $1.26 billion.

• This country has nearly 400 five-star hotels, around 300 four-star hotels, 69 convention centres, 27 international and 48 domestic airports with improving air, road, and rail connectivity, as per the ICPB final report on MICE Market in India.

• It has innumerable spots of historical, cultural and aesthetic importance.

Our growing economy is bringing major global players to organise big seminars and conferences here because every corporate out there understands the profitability of this opportunity. From my recent experience, I can say that people are acknowledging India’s growth as a quality destination and offering it up to their clients as well. We are being received in

the international market as a source of growth and value for money, emerging as a huge potential market for a variety of MICE events.

It is however important to understand that a lot more needs to be done to propel this segment. India’s central and state tourism development corporations have spent a lot of time, energy, and resources to develop India as a prominent destination recognised for its World Heritage Sites, wildlife, landscapes, cultural eccentricities, handicrafts, arts, etc. We just need to helm that wave of change and create a bigger, more significant domain in the global MICE sector. It therefore is important to band together and move towards that prosperous future.

Vipan Sharma

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TBO picks up minority stake in travel fintech Sankash

The strategic alliance aims to facilitate the travel agent ecosystem with hassle-free travel package processing and increased revenue growth

Team TTJ

Gurgaon-based revolutionary travel fintech company SanKash and India’s leading online travel aggregator Travel

Boutique Online entered into a strategic partnership. The association will enable the travel agents operating both online and offline to fast track the processing of their travel packages without any hassles and drive double-digit revenue growth.

Aiming to make holiday trips a part of the simple and accessible pleasures of life, SanKash comes as a revolutionary travel fintech company that focuses on helping travel agents and tour operators provide pay-in-parts/monthly EMI solutions for their travellers. Through

this unique value proposition, it intends to create best-in-class customer and partner focused affordability solutions for the travel industry. SanKash is a b2b service that makes payment (loan disbursement) to travel agents’ bank account instead of customers’ account, thus empowering the travel agent and enabling customers to travel.

Travel Boutique Online is India’s largest b2a travel portal that enables travel partners to serve their customers efficiently, with the right pricing and inventory. The portal delivers a wide range of travel solutions for its existing 45,000 + travel agents and tour operators across India including metro cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to help them take their business to newer heights.

While TBO will bring its reach and distribution, SanKash will contribute its entire payment know-how, operations and technology to the

travel agents associated with TBO. They can adopt SanKash’s Monthly Payment Plan and help customers book their dream vacation packages, which will eventually increase their customer uptake and upsell services without money becoming an issue.

As part of the partnership, TBO picked up minority stake in SanKash to drive the travel company to the next stage of growth.

Not just another payment option, SanKash opens ‘a way to sell’ for all travel partners. The platform has already registered a significant traction, in last six months of launch, with over 350 travel partners across 32 cities utilizing its services; including some key partners like Thomas Cook, OYO, Veena World, TUI India and online marketplace like Tripshelf and it is now poised to reach 90,000 travel partners across the country through its distribution model, enabling them to amplify their business growth. Its ultimate idea is to promote the habit of travel consumption within the country and use SanKash as a smart payment tool for both travellers and travel agents/tour operators.

Akash Dahiya, Co-founder of SanKash We are thrilled to team up with TBO as both of us are tech-first and only travel focused b2b platforms this synergy seemed inevitable. With SanKash offering affordable payment plans, travel partners can get their customers to make faster travel decisions and even increase the trip value, thereby augmenting their sales. This means, even the small-town travel operators struggling to meet their daily needs can implement and integrate SanKash’s services to boost conversions throughout the entire purchase funnel and drive double-digit revenue growth. Meanwhile, for the travellers, SanKash is making travel more

Ankush Nijhawan, Co-founder of TBO We are excited with this alliance considering SanKash’s ambitious target of making funds and budgets no longer an impediment to travel. Apart from providing an alternative to standard payment options, this partnership will improve important travel marketing metrics including conversion, booking value, channel loyalty, cross-selling, and ancillary revenue for travel agents in order to process travel packages without any hassle and make their business flourish.

accessible, affordable and fulfilling by offering flexible, pay-over-time payment choices.

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Goa showcases elite and exclusive products in a grand show at GITM

The Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) 2019 concluded on Friday, October 25, 2019 in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant. Assuring his

support to investors in the tourism sector and further endorsing the move to develop Goa as a Medical Tourism Destination. The prime goal of the expo was to increase the overall size

of the tourism sector in Goa.Ravi Sharma

The Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) 2019 was inaugurated by Dr Sawant at Arpora on October 23, 2019. He also visited the GITM exhibition on Friday evening

and interacted with several of the tourism stakeholders who participated at the prestigious b2b event in Goa. During the two day GITM 2019 exhibition held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, several business sessions were held. Chirag Goyal of MakeMyTrip and Goibibo was one of the participants actively present in the event. Whiskey and wine tasting sessions followed by a talk on medical tourism was attended by the medical fraternity in Goa.

GITM 2019 Familiarisation Tours were organised for over 100 buyers to explore and experience the elegance of Goa and various other aspects including adventure tourism activities. 100 exhibitors represented various products of Goa such as luxury hospitality products, home stays, casinos and gaming destinations, whiskey and wine trails, destination management companies, adventure products, such as water sports and scuba diving, festivals of Goa, etc. International media from 25 different media houses and around 36 domestic travel trade media, besides local media were also part of the event. This is bound to gather international professionals looking to find new ways to promote Goa as an ideal destination and get a first-hand exposure to various tourism products of the destination helping adding more days to the itineraries.

Major national and state level trade and hospitality associations such as Association of Domestic Tour Operators Association of India (ADTOI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), India Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Enterprising Agents Association of India (ETAA), Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), etc are among the many who supported the event.

The event has been a huge success for several of the Goan stakeholders which presented a unique opportunity to showcase some of the best hospitality products to travel agents and tour operators from around the world. This event will help create a networking eco-

system to focus on developing business opportunities with the travel-trade from India and overseas.

The event attracted participation from different parts of Goa, making it the biggest gathering of stake-holders from the state. The event presented opportunities for the state’s hospitality and tourism industry to come together and showcase diverse products to a global audience. The event generated interest for the state and had received commitments from buyers to include more products of the state in their itineraries.

The GITM was wrapped up on a grand note with a prize distribution function, winners for the respective category were, Best Boutique Stall awarded to The Postcard Hotel, Best Conceptualised Stall awarded to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, Best Decorated Stall awarded to Bambolim Beach Resort, Best Eco Friendly Stall awarded to Concord Exotic Voyages, and Best Display Stall awarded to The Zuri White Sands Goa Resorts & Casino.

The entire event was managed by Alica Purple Advertising who was selected by the Tourism Department. Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, was the ‘Strategic Partner’ for the event. Deltin Group, Taj Hotels, Marriott, Le Meridien Goa – Calangute and Double Tree Hilton – Panaji were the Hospitality Partners for the Event.

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Perfect fusion of Nepalese hospitality and plush Vivanta charm

Nestled in the magical realm of the Himalayas, Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. Being the largest city in the country, the city has no dearth of tourist attractions to enamor

tourists with. The most important factor that makes Kathmandu a major tourist destination in the region is that it is a part of the kingdom of Himalayas, which ensures a memorable

holiday experience to the tourists. Vivanta Kathmandu is one such hotel which offers exquisite experience in the most buzzing precinct of Kathmandu valley.

Team TTJ

Kathmandu is a destination where you find peace and comfort which makes it a perfect destination for relaxation. The fresh air

and the refreshing greenery of the city are exactly what you need to rejuvenate your body and soul. Vivanta Kathmandu is one of the best hotel in the city that offers an amazing experience to both business and leisure travellers in the vicinage of Himalayas. Located in the vibrant Patan district of Kathmandu,

just 7.8 kms away from Tribhuvan International Airport, the hotel whisks guests into an oasis of modern comforts in one of the most far-flung locations in the world. Vivanta Kathmandu provides luxury amenities and all comfort at affordable tariffs. It is a perfect blend of Nepali hospitality and swish Vivanta charm. Waking up to soothing breeze and fiery sunrises, ensuring a day filled with joy and ecstasy; and treating your eyes with magical dusks when the setting sun adds various tones to the sky, such experiences are common in Kathmandu.

The hotel has 110 elegant rooms, restaurants with breathtaking views, a spa and a wellness centre and Kathmandu’s only rooftop heated infinity swimming pool. Vivanta Kathmandu features a full-service spa and a heated infinity pool, a rooftop bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Complimentary wireless internet access is available in public areas. A

business center is on site at this four star property. This luxury hotel also offers concierge and laundry services. All and all it has everything to offer which the guests aspire for, the accommodation options are sophisticated and versatile, designed for singles, couples and families.

Warm Nepalese hospitality and Vivanta’s impeccable global standards and service will leave guests spellbound undoubtedly. Whether the tourists are in town for business meetings, with the family on a relaxed vacation or gearing up for a trek to Everest base, the city tours and day trips will acclimatize to the inimitable charm of Kathmandu and beyond.

The city of Kathmandu has held within its ambit uncountable treasures for only explorers to unveil. Apart from being a place with rich natural biodiversity, Kathmandu also boasts a rich cultural scene with a perfect amalgamation of Buddhist and Hindu cultures. The spectrum of religious places in Kathmandu covers a number of Hindu temples as well as vibrant Buddhist Stupas. The presence of these structures in Kathmandu makes it a treasure trove of architectural masterpieces. Any architecture buff and a stay in Vivanta Kathmandu is sure to have some enjoyable moments in Kathmandu.

Set your eyes on the vast horizon and divinity of Chinnamastika Temple

DirEctorAtE oF toUriSM, GoVErNMENt oF JHArKHANDM.D.I. Building, 2nd Floor, Dhurwa, Ranchi 834004

Director Ph.: 0651-2400493, Fax: 2400492Email: [email protected]

JTDC Email ID : [email protected] www.jharkhandtourism.gov.in

/visitjharkhand /visitjharkhand jharkhandtourism

Chinnamastika Temple is located in a small town named Rajrappa in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand and is a popular pilgrimage centre in the region India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chinnamastika, the headless deity who is a form of Goddess Durga. Goddess Chinnamastika which stands on the body of Kamdeo and Rati in the lotus bed is one of the Shakti Peeth temples in the country.

Deity - ChinnamastikaFestivals- MakarSankranti, Maha Shivratri, Vijyadashami

HOW TO REACH CHINNAMASTIKA TEMPLE.

By Air:The nearest airport from Chinnamastika Temple is located in Ranchi at a distance of about 70 km.

By Rail:The best way to reach Rajrappa town by rail is to take a direct train to Ramgarh railway station which is located at a distance of about 28 km from the temple.

After a huge success of TTJ TRAVMART Pune 2019, TTJ organised the show in Chennai. The event was held at Ramada Chennai Egmore on October 18, 2019. A successful journey of two

years in 20 cities, the show extended the business opportunities to the travel trade fraternity of the city and adjoining cities. Sellers with a diverse range of products educated the buyers about the various products and packages through brief presentations and networking.

TTJ TRAVMART Chennai: Platform to explore business

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India’s first and largest Diving and Resort Travel Show, receives immense response

For the very first time in India, Mumbai’s World Trade Centre witnessed the grand launch of the largest DRT Show, 2019 (Diving and Resort Travel Show) in mid October. Besides India, this

extravagant celebration of the underwater world will be showcased in seven other cities in Asia, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Taipei, Philippines and Malaysia. The

show witnessed around 100 local and international exhibitors, divers, ocean conservationists, photographers and more - representing varied unique brands promoting the diving, travel and

resort industry and also, spreading the word for saving the oceans and the planet.

Prashant Nayak

As a significant and must-visit event in Asian diving industry, this international event hosted around 100 exhibitors from local and international companies,

who represented varied unique brands like leading international diving gears. Being a grand meet-up for traders, divers, ocean conservationists, enthusiastic amateurs and enthusiasts of the water world, this event further witnessed the largest get-together of people with a

fascination for travel and those who relate to the beautiful underwater world.

The gala launch was packed with informative as well as entertaining events. From a gorgeous marine themed dance performance to the felicitation of the first Indian winner of Miss Scuba International 2016, Varsha Rajkhowa, the environmentalist Anees Adenwala and Ministry of Tourism of Republic of Indonesia. A series of enlightening speeches were delivered by DRT Chief Executive Officer, Jason Chong.

In association with Blue India Underwater Photography, ReefWatch Marine Conservation and Canon India, a fascinating underwater imagery competition was held at the show which captured some extraordinary pictures taken underwater by photographers across the country. The nominated photos were exhibited, and the awards were distributed by India’s renowned advertising Guru, Prahlad Kakkar along with Kazutada Kobayashi, President and CEO of Canon India, and Sumer Verma.

On the personal front, Ace underwater photographer, videographer and cinematographer Sumer Verma said, “Photography began soon after diving as a natural extension as well as from a desire to share this beautiful world with as many people as I could reach. Yes, there were many struggles, be it with equipment, know how, etc. Lots of trial and error and lots of patience were the secret to my success. Inspiration was always available every time I went diving. I could see the beauty; the challenge was being able to capture it as best I could. However, the oceans are taking a serious battering from all sides and I am truly and deeply concerned about the state of the planet today and more so of the powers that be that allow it to continue.”

Associated with DRT Show India 2019, were accredited diving agencies and Indian non-profit organisations, who aim to spread awareness about underwater world and marine conservation. They were here to extend various professional diving courses, services and consulting.

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Visit Brussels organises Brussels Tourism Mission in Mumbai and Delhi

Visit Brussels recently organised a Brussels Tourism Mission in India and interacted with over 200 trade and media partners from the travel fraternity. The two-city event covered Mumbai on October 9 and Delhi on October 11, 2019 respectively.

The 66th Macao Grand Prix ready to hit Macao streets

Recognised as the most internationally prestigious event on the local calendar, the legendary Macao Grand Prix - now edging into its sixth decade - pits the best motorcycle, WTCR and Formula 3 racers in the world against each other and the clock in dedicated competitions along the narrow, twisting Guia street circuit of Macao city.

Linkin Reps hosts an evening with interactive destination presentation on ‘Sochi’ for the

travel tradeLinkin Reps, recently hosted a grand evening of cocktails

and dinner for the travel industry at the La Roca in Aerocity, New Delhi. Besides networking, the purpose of the evening was to allow the travel trade fraternity mingle with the representatives of Sochi Tourism and clear any doubts they may have regarding the destination. The Interactive Destination Presentation highlighted all the various aspects of the destination and urged the travel fraternity to boost numbers from India to Sochi.

Komal Seth, Director, Linkin Reps said, “Currently we are working towards highlighting Sochi as a destination for Indian travellers and create awareness about the destination in India market. We have also planned FAM trips for the travel trade and the media in our endevaour to familiarise the destination more to them.”

Ark Travels wows for one lakh cruise pax

completing its 21 city roadshow in India

Ark Travels, the largest cruise seller in India has successfully completed 21 city roadshows by the end of October 2019. The roadshows planned and executed with Genting Cruise Lines and Dream Cruises was to educate travel trade about the services, new offers, value-add-on’s and benefit of cruising.


Hong Kong Tourism Board Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)

appoints Dane Cheng as Executive Director of the HKTB. Dane Cheng had considerable experience of marketing and management in the tourism industry, making him an ideal candidate for the Executive Director position. Cheng’s profound knowledge of the Hong Kong, mainland and international markets combined with his excellent

management skills will help the HKTB continue to promote Hong Kong worldwide with effective marketing strategy

The appointment, which was endorsed by the Board, is made in accordance with Section 8(3) of the HKTB Ordinance, and was approved by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.

Sarovar Hotels Sarovar Hotels announced the

appointment of Ajoy Balkrishna as Regional Director- North. An industry adept professional, Ajoy Balkrishna brings more than 30 years of experience with him in the hospitality industry. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing

the planning and implementation of all Sarovar’s hotel in North India.

Ajoy has been a part of Sarovar Hotels from the last 11 years and his last assignment was as General Manager to Grand Sarovar Premiere and Residency Sarovar Portico, Mumbai.

Pride Group of Hotels Pride Group of Hotels is pleased

to announce the appointment of Amit Sidana as Vice President Sales and Marketing. A seasoned hospitality professional, Sidana has over 19 years’ of experience in Sales and Marketing. He comes with a diversified knowledge base of sales as he had worked in

other industries like software sales and insurance sales too apart from the core hospitality sales.

Prior to this, Sidana has worked as National Head (Sales, Marketing and Revenue Distribution) with Orchid Group of Hotels. In his earlier tenures, he has been associated with Accor Group of Hotels and Intercontinental Group of Hotels.

Travel Boutique Online Kanika Bijlani has been appointed

as Senior Manager- Marketing/PR & Events. She comes with a rich experience of 9 years in the field of Marketing and Communication. She will be looking after the function of corporate communication for the

company including Advertising, Marketing, PR and will be acting as a key interface between the company and the respective platforms. In addition Kanika will also be responsible for implementing and executing events for the company.

Jumeirah Vittaveli MaldivesGaurav Makhijani has been

appointed as Sales Manager for the India Market for Jumeirah Vittaveli Maldives. Hailing from India, Gaurav started his career in sales in 2011, and since then he has been developing his skills at various luxury brands such as The Claridges, Taj

Hotels, and the Intercontinental Hotel Group. Before joining Jumeirah Vittaveli, Gaurav worked as the Global Account Manager India for the Jumeirah Group; he was based in Delhi sourcing business for all Jumeirah properties worldwide.

AccorAccor has appointed Mohammad

Ali as Area Director of Global Sales – West India. In his new role he will be based at Global Sales Office in Mumbai and provide leadership and strategic direction to the global sales team to work towards maximising revenue for Accor from west India region.

Ali has expertise in leading the sales function and generating revenue for prominent hospitality brands. He began his ongoing career journey at Accor in 2010 as the Director of Sales – MICE and later promoted as Area Director of Global Sales – North India since the inception of Global Sales Office in early 2017.

Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center

Tania Thomas has been appointed as Marketing and Communications Manager at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center.

Tania is responsible for developing annual marketing communications plans,

monitoring trends within the industry as well as maintaining relationship with the media. She manages marketing and public relation for Marriott’s 100th property in India and the largest convention center in Bengaluru and her responsibility includes ensuring Marriott brand standards and are consistently followed in both offline and online communications.

Shahpura Hotels and Resorts

Shahpura Hotels and Resorts has appointed Paridhi Khatri as Head - Media & Marketing. Paridhi has done MBA in marketing. She had spent her initial days as a content writer at various social media companies.

In her current role, she will be heading the overall media and online marketing. Paridhi is committed to ensuring the best positioning of the Shahpura Hotels and its outlets by working closely with her associates at all the levels.

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RNI No. DELENG/2010/36163Reg. No. DL-SW-1/4155/2017-19 Posting Dt. 6-7/11/2019Date of Publication 5/11/2019 Posting at N.D.P.S.O

Documents

TravmarT - Travel Trade Journal€¦ · Inventum Global, Turkey’s largest MICE and wedding inbound b2b service provider, today successfully concluded a two city roadshow hosted