Express Travelworld (Vol.10, No.8) September, 2015

CONTENTS EDGE

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Vol 10 No 8 SEPTEMBER 2015 Pages 44 Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas Editor

Reema Lokesh*

TOURISM AS AN ENGINE FOR GROWTH FOCUSING ON CHANGING THE DYNAMICS OF THE INDIAN ECONOMY, THE 31ST IATO ANNUAL CONVENTION WITNESSED A MELANGE OF KEY DECISION MAKERS AND BUREAUCRATS BRAINSTORMING ON HOW TOURISM CAN DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH

Chief of Product

Prabhas Jha Assistant Editor

Steena Joy Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM Mumbai

Kahini Chakraborty Rituparna Chatterjee Kolkata

Joy Roy Choudhury

RAIL JOURNEYS OF INDIA

DESIGN National Art Director

Bivash Barua Deputy Art Director

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Being a vast countrywith different geographical landscapes,India’s Railways facilitates travel by connecting various parts of the country.At the same time it also offers diverse tourism experiences - from luxuryand heritage to pilgrim and mountain journeys making it a niche tourism product (20-31)

Surajit Patro Chief Designer

Pravin Temble Senior Graphic Designerr

Rushikesh Konka Senior Artist

Ratilal Ladani, Kiran Parker SCHEDULING & COORDINATION

Mitesh Manjrekar Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil

MEETING AT MILT FOCUSING ON THE CORPORATE AND FILM TOURISM SEGMENTS, THE THIRD ANNUAL MILT CONGRESS UNEARTHED SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS STORIES OF KEY DECISION MAKERS

MARKETING Regional Heads

Harit Mohanty - East & West Prabhas Jha - North Dr. Raghu Pillai - South

MARKETS

Marketing Team

Baljinder Singh Ajanta Sengupta Mathen Mathew Ravindra Pawar

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LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR ACCESSIBLE INDIA !

HOW 'RESPONSIBLE' IS TOURISM AT LOKTAK LAKE?

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FHW GOA 2015 TO BE HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 29OCTOBER 1

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MTDC TO ORGANISE MAHARASHTRA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART FROM SEPT 28-30, 2015

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HIMALAYAN VILLAGE HOMESTAYS GO ONLINE

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BONTON GROUP TO AGGRESSIVELY EXPAND DMC AND TMC ARMS

LIFE

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CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar PRODUCTION General Manager

B R Tipnis Manager

Bhadresh Valia Express TravelWorld® Reg. No.-MH/MR/SOUTH156\2013-15 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993 Printed by The Indian Express (P) Ltd. and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021.

(Editorial & Administra-tive Offices: Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

P04: EDITOR’S NOTE P37 : APPOINTMENTS P38 : WEEKEND

Copyright © 2015 The Indian Express (P) Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. *Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act

FINDING THE RIGHT DISHA 'LIFE IS A CHALLENGE AND WINNER IS THE ONE WHO IS READY TO MEET IT'. SAMPAT DAMANI, FOUNDER OF DISHA TRAVELS SPEAKS ABOUT HIS METAMORPHOSIS FROM A TRAINEE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR

EDITOR’S NOTE

On the right track

I

t will not be wrong to say that India runs on steel.

The presence and penetration of India’s rail network makes it one of the most vital systems to commute and connect. India’s domestic tourism potential rests primarily on this robust transport system and the Indian Railways is the largest carrier of people across all strata to places far and wide within the country. The product portfolio for tourism within the railway system is diverse. From the regular superfast express trains to the high-end luxury on wheels experience, from the religious and pilgrim special trains to the mountain railways of India, this network works like the nervous system. However, there is more that can be done to strengthen its potential in the tourism field. The mountain railways of India is a unique heritage tourism experience which is popular with both Indians and foreigners and is an integral part of the country's rich legacy. In the luxury space, Palace on Wheels is a hit with the international tourists. Better packaging and marketing can further enhance these rail journeys as a global tourism product.

Further, in 2007, IRCTC launched the Mahaparinirvan Express, which has been attracting Buddhist pilgrims from Southeast Asia and the Far East. However, insufficient marketing at its home base and high cost have been major reasons for its lack of popularity in India. Pilgrim tourism has always been a recession free segment and in a country like India where train travel is

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“ From the regular superfast express trains to the high-end luxury on wheels experience,from the religious and pilgrim special trains to the mountain railways of India,this network works like the nervous system” Vill & PO- Ankurhati P.S.- Domjur (Nr.Ankurhati Check Bus Stop), Dist. Howrah- 711 409 Mobile: +91 9831182580 Email id: ajanta.sengupta@expressindia.com KOCHI The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Ground Floor, Sankoorikal Building, Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017 COIMBATORE The Indian Express (P) Ltd. No. 205-B, 2nd Floor, Vivekanand Road, Opp. Rajarathinam Hospital Ram Nagar, Coimbatore- 641 009 AHMEDABAD Nirav Mistry The Indian Express (P) Ltd. 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Near Judges Bunglows, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Mobile: +91 9586424033

the most common option for the vast majority of people, it is not surprising that pilgrim trains are popular amongst domestic and NRI devotees. IRCTC is all set to further tap this segment and introduce a few more trains. Apart from Hindu circuits, there are also several other circuits like the Shree Shikhar Ji Yatra Jain circuit. The Takht Parikrama Special is a special Sikh Circuit train. There is also a special package for the Shiva devotees, the Jyotirlinga Circuit. The Navagraha temples tour is another important tour down south.

The government has also proposed to introduce trains for the Christian circuit, Muslim/Sufi circuit and also some other famous temple circuits across the country.

Finally, the bureaucrat who is known to be a railways specialist, is all set to get the sky in order. During my meeting with Ashwani Lohani in July in New Delhi, I stated to him that after ITDC, Indian Railways and Madhya Pradesh Tourism, the only thing that remains largely is the aviation sector and probably Air India should be his next stop. And now he is the CMD of India’s national carrier. He is known as the 'turnaround man’ and seems all geared to give the Maharaja a refreshing avatar.

REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com

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IN THE NEWS

IRCTC to diversify portfolio for fast track growth Steena Joy Mumbai INDIAN RAILWAY Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the railways, plans to get into the budget hotel segment, develop an app for booking meals and set up Executive Lounges at railway stations. In an exclusive interview, Dr A K Manocha, CMD, IRCTC, said that the Indian Railways is on track to increase its reach. He opined, “Our focus is on two major targets: we hope to take Internet penetration on our site from the current 50-60 per cent to 75-80 per cent preferably even 105 per cent. And our turnover from 20 to 30 fold. We have seen an 110 per cent increase in ticketing of the luxury train, Maharajas' Express from 314 in June last year to 742 tickets this year. Secondly, once we

get the requisite permissions, we plan to build budget hotels, get into the entertainment business, organise events and cultural shows, etc. We want to get into anything that will increase traffic to our site. We will also invite partners with whom we can work this out.” He believes that there exists huge potential for medical tourism in the country.

“We can compete with the world as we have large medical facilities. And rail connectivity is good to push this segment. But some loose ends still have to be tied up.

We can take care of the logistics but we have to tie up with hospitals to make the procedure seamless,” explained Manocha.

He added, “We also plan to manage restaurants. The first one we have taken up is Swagat restaurant at Hotel Janpath in New Delhi. We are also planning budget hotels, maybe the first one at Bhubaneshwar and ewheelchair services at 24 stations. We just launched the e-

Dr A K Manocha

wheelchair service recently at Delhi. This is a part of CSR initially, but later we plan to embrace it commercially too.”

Speaking about the rail-airline scheme, Manocha informed, “Our scheme of getting airline seats for waitlisted passengers is now applicable on Go Air and SpiceJet . We are in talks with more airlines and will finalise the

same in 15 to 20 days.” New plans include setting up 24 Executive Lounges at select railway stations. Manocha revealed, “We have floated tenders for the same. Locations we are looking at are Jaipur, Vijaywada, Agra, Kolkata (Howrah and Chalsa), Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, etc. The lounges are estimated to cost `one to two crore depending on the location. Our target is 500 Executive Lounges.

The old policy was not favourable to us. For the lounge at Delhi, the rental was very exorbitant. So we have to look at viability too. Now the policy has changed. Earlier the lease tenure was five years now it is 12 years. “ In 2010, the Railway Board decided to take away the catering business from IRCTC because it felt that the service was not up to the quality mark. Commenting on whether the mandate will be returned to IRCTC, Manocha said, “The ministry

has to decide. We have entered in a small way doing e-catering on trains that have no pantry cars. Meals can be pre-booked online using the ticket PNR and it will be supplied to the passenger on his seat. If we get the permission to do it at the stations, the potential is much greater. We can do it through food aggregators. We also plan to develop an app for booking meals. We will be installing water vending machines at stations soon.”

About IRCTC's central kitchen in Noida, Delhi, Manocha said that currently food production in the state-ofthe-art facility is 8,000 to 10,000 meals per day; of which 4,000 to 5,000 are corporate meals and around 6,000 are supplied in trains. “We need to increase these numbers but railways are rigid about their rates as they have to keep it user friendly for the passenger. So these are constraints. We are actually under operating the facility,” he opined.

Leveraging technology for accessible India !

Sudipta Dev Mumbai TRAVELLERS with limited mobility have always faced a lot of difficulties in India. Umoja is an online platform that makes travel easy for this segment in many destinations by providing them information regarding accessible friendly hotels, useful user reviews, and other important aspects. Informing that worldwide there are over 1.1 billion people with disabilities who face difficulties when travelling, Yeshwant Rao Holkar, CEO/founder, Umoja stated,

“Accessible tourism sector is estimated to be worth US$ 134 billion annually with immense market potential.” Holkar and his business partner decided to leverage technology to gather from hotels detailed and dependable information that persons with disabilities need when they travel. “We have put it on a easy-to-use and fun website where anyone with an accessibility need can find the hotels they want and travel with dignity and confidence,” he said.

Interestingly, Umoja is a Swahili word for inclusive, and

the company aims to make travel inclusive for people with accessibility needs. Umoja currently covers accessible hotels in many tourism hotspots in the country. “We have developed two Accessible India! itineraries around the Golden Triangle and the beaches of Goa and Kerela, which we market to both the inbound and domestic markets,” stated Holkar. They are adding more hotels on the platform everyday. Holkar acknowledged that while India still has a long way to go to reach accessibility standards seen in Europe, the

UK, and America, the situation is not that bad in the country.

“We were shocked to learn that over 70 per cent of the hotels we assessed in India were accessible to people with lower body impairments. It was also fantastic to see accessibility becoming more important to the hospitality sector, with brands such as Lemon Tree Hotels having made accessibility an important part of their corporate culture,” he mentioned.

The company aims to be a global solution provider for accessible travel anywhere.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

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September 2015

IN THE NEWS

FHW Goa 2015 to be held from September 29-October 1 FHW Staff Mumbai THE 26TH EDITION of Food Hospitality World (FHW) exhibition, will be held from September 29-October 1, 2015 at Football Ground Campal, Panaji, Goa. The three day exhibition is tailor-made from 10 years of industry feedback and suggestions, to propagate

discussions on various facets related to innovations in products and services.

This year's trade show will witness exhibitors coming from different segments of the food and hospitality industry like F&B, interiors, kitchen equipment, housekeeping, bakery and others, and will aim at providing solutions to various industry-re-

lated problems. This year, there will an interesting lineup of several events.

The Culinary Challenge of Goa will be co-hosted by the Culinary Forum of Goa. Top chefs across Goa will come together under one roof and compete in groups and as individuals and will bring out the essence of Goan food culture. To celebrate the launch

of FHW, an evening event The Goan Indulgence - will provide a platform to all who wish to socialise with the who’s who of Goa’s food and hospitality industry. The three-day show will see many panel discussions. Hospitality Think Tank will have general managers of leading hotels in Goa as panelists discussing the 'Evolution of Goa as a

MICE Destination'. The Hospitality Knowledge Exchange will have general managers of leading resorts and villa owners of Goa discussing the ‘Business of Hoteliering in Goa’.

The FHW trade show is organised by Global Fairs & Media – a joint venture between Hannover Milano Fairs India and The Indian Express.

'India is achieving its potential for us,' says HKTB regional director Reema Lokesh Mumbai HONG KONG TOURISM Board (HKTB) is all set to strengthen its position in the India market with a refreshingly new approach.

With a rather obvious shift to the digital mode, it aims to touch the intangible and appeal to the senses rather than just highlight its tangible tourism offerings. In an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, Peter Hoslin, regional director, Europe and new markets, HKTB, stated that Hong Kong is all set to meet the expectations of Indian travellers, both leisure and business, in a new way. “Our aim is to inspire our visitors by offering them what Hong Kong showcases and what they can feel and do. India is

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achieving its potential but there is still a lot to explore and execute in the market,” he said.

Going all out to tap the consumer through the digital medium, is part of this renewed strategy. The board has revamped its website and the Facebook section which receives robust response from Indian consumers. They also have a dedicated page for their Indian clientele. The board is also working to bring in through its campaigns, key opinion leaders and celebrities to endorse Hong Kong.

Research clearly states that Indians are well travelled and hence an insider’s guide and Hong Kong guide is something worth offering Indians. Visa regulations have been completely eased out encouraging more travel

into Hong Kong. As Hong Kong is WiFi enabled, the digital content will soon be converted into an app.

The board is working with an integrated strategy to involve the travel trade. It has constantly worked with the trade to enhance partnerships, provide product updates and conduct education workshops. Business matching is what matters and the board is focused to bring in both the leisure and MICE business under Hoslin's vision. Hong Kong will also be highlighted through an Indian family soap opera and Life Mein Ek Bar on Fox Life at the end of 2015. The board has increased its budget for India and is ready to offer Hong Kong to the India market aggressively through new media.

Peter Hoslin

EXPRESS WATCH

How 'responsible' is tourism at Loktak Lake?

By Kahini Chakraborty

L

ocated near Moirang, the Loktak Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in North-east India, has always been famous for the phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition). This lake also plays an important role in the economy of Manipur as it serves as a source of water for hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. But last year, when this reporter visited Manipur to attend the first eco-tourism conclave organised jointly by EcoTourism Society of India (ESOI) and the Government of Manipur, it was shocking to see the nearly depleting number of phumdis in Loktak Lake to make way for new development projects.

The lake and its surrounding areas are unique and rich in heritage. From a tourism viewpoint, the places in and around the Loktak Lake area are a state tourism asset but entangled with controversies. The fate of both Loktak Lake and the communities in and around the lake has become increasingly uncertain with new ‘development’ ventures. As reported on April 8, 2014, Manipur Tourism is develop-

ing tourist destinations and tourist circuits with financial assistance from the ministry of tourism (MoT), Government of India and the Manipur tourism department. With the support of MoT and the state tourism department, it is implementing two mega projects centering on the important

tourist destinations of Manipur - Sendra, Loktak Lake, Takmu and Khongjom-Kaina-Marjing. Apart from building tourist resorts, cafeteria at these places, these mega projects will cater to the development of surrounding areas. Speaking at the Manipur Tourism Conclave organised by ESOI and Manipur Tourism in Imphal, VK, Duggal, governor of Manipur said, “The state tourism department is working in a systematic and sustained way for harnessing the tourism potential of Manipur. The foundation stone for the integrated cable car ropeway and lakeside development at Loktak Lake was laid recently, which will give a boost to the tourism industry." A comprehensive Tourism Policy is being finalised by the state government. The state tourism department is also looking at rural tourism projects.

With this plethora of activities, tourism in the area might flourish sooner or later. But needs to be known is the type of tourism and its impact on both the people and environment. Tourism development in and around the Loktak Lake area can actually be a game changer if taken up as a 'Responsible Tourism Development Project'.

IN THE NEWS

Air Seychelles sees growth potential in India Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai SEEING A strong growth potential in the India market, Air Seychelles is working with the tourism board of the island to increase tourist footfalls into the destination. In April 2015, the airline increased the number of flights from three to four per week from Mumbai to Seychelles.

To further boost connections, the airline, in May 2015 signed a codeshare agreement with Jet Airways. This codeshare provides access to nine cities in India - Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Trivandrum. When asked about the airline's expansion strategy, Roy Kinnear, chief executive officer, Air Seychelles said, “We have the

government approvals to launch daily flights to Mumbai. We started with three flights and have expanded to four services. I think it is fair that we first demonstrate how fast we can grow in the Mumbai market before we look at entering into another metropolis.”

Kinnear was a part of the delegation visiting Mumbai to reinforce Indo-Seychelles bilateral relations and the need to pave the way for greater partnerships to promote tourism between both countries. The delegation comprised of the President of Republic of Seychelles HE James Michel along with Alain St Ange, minister for tourism and culture; Joel Morgan, minister for foreign affairs and transport, and Lubaina Sheerazi, COO, Blue

Square Consultants for Seychelles Tourism Board Office in India. In the press conference it was highlighted that

India represents a dominant player in the Seychelles tourism industry with recorded growth of Indian

tourists by 125 per cent between January-July 2015 compared to the same period last year.

MTDC to organise Maharashtra International Travel Mart from Sept 28-30,2015 Akshay Kumar Mumbai MAHARASHTRA TOURISM Development Corporation (MTDC) is all set to organise the first edition of Maharashtra International Travel Mart (MITM) from September 28-30, 2015 at Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Goregaon in Mumbai.

Speaking exclusively to

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Express TravelWorld, Valsa Nair Singh, IAS, secretary, tourism and culture, Government of Maharashtra said, “Our primary aim is to showcase Maharashtra at a global platform. Maharashtra International Travel Mart is one of the major events which we are organising this month. We are expecting around 2,000 trade visitors and 250 sellers. This event will drive the inbound travel and tourism industry

Valsa Nair Singh

and will help to promote destinations in Maharashtra to the travel trade and tourists from all over the world. We will also be highlighting film tourism in this year's event, and will have a special section for the same.”

The exclusive pavilion of Maharashtra shall showcase the different facets of Maharashtra such as festivals of Maharashtra, beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Konkan region, pilgrimage

destinations, wildlife and national parks, medical tourism, destination management companies, travel agents and tour operators, handicrafts, cultural vistas, etc.

The first edition of MITM will welcome hosted buyers from key inbound markets like Netherlands, Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Israel Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK, USA, South Africa, Singapore, etc.

IN THE NEWS

Himalayan village homestays go online Sudipta Dev Mumbai ADVOCATING the cause of impact tourism, Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) is bringing about positive development in rural communities in Ladakh through its adventure tourism initiatives. GHE has introduced the Green Himalayan Village project to connect remote Himalayan villages with the outside world through its homestay website. “GHE aims to bring the traditional homestays onto an online platform. This would allow anyone from across geographies to book homestay in a specific village of his interest. We plan to initiate this with five villages as of now. These are the villages we would be electrifying through solar power hence the name Green Himalayan Villages," said Paras Loomba, founder and expedition leader, GHE. These villages are in Markha valley and Nubra valley of Leh and Sankhoo valley of Kargil. The villages are - Umlung, Rakuru, Shingo, Lankerchey Brok and Sumda Chenmo. The website also gives information about the local attractions, activities (for instance,

Paras Loomba

farming barley and cooking in traditional Ladakhi kitchen), village walks/treks, facilities and of course things to taste. It also gives information on how the village has benefited (income generation, lives impacted, CO2 elimination). “You won’t be surprised if this turns out to be the next Airbnb for village homestays,” stated Loomba, adding that, the new portal will help expand the outreach of the homestay experience to a larger audience. “This will be mainly through the existing GHE net-

work and tourism blogs where we intend to promote these homestays. As these homestays provide an experience of traditional village lifestyle that is selfsustaining, we plan to execute educational and leadership treks to these locations,” he informed.

For training villagers on how to operate homestays, GHE is associating with a local youth organisation - Youth Association for Conservation and Development (YAFCAD), which has been for the last eight years setting up homestays and providing training to the locals. “We plan to fund raise a part of the homestay setup cost and have some part contributed by the villagers.

There will also be a strong feedback mechanism linked with the portal to help us keep a quality check on each homestay and help villagers to evolve this model continuously,” said Loomba.

Comprising of 20 participants from seven countries, GHE 2015 will also setup the first Robotics Lab at the Third Pole EBase, Leh, do solar electrification of Umlung village, conduct basic medical survey of Markha valley villagers through portable mobile health kits, etc.

World Tourism Day on Sept 27 ETW Staff Mumbai THIS YEAR'S World Tourism Day (WTD) which will be held on September 27, will focus on raising awareness of the important impact tourism has on countries and communities around the world and its potential as a force for good, creating a better world for all. The theme to celebrate WTD is 'one billion tourists, one billion opportunities'. Each year the purpose of WTD is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

Burkina Faso will host the Official Celebration 2015.

In his message, Ban Kimoon, secretary general,

United Nations said, “This year´s WTD highlights the global potential of tourism for socio-economic development. With more than one billion international tourists now travelling the world each year, tourism has become a powerful and transformative force that is making a genuine difference in the lives of millions of people. The potential of tourism for sustainable development is considerable.

As one of the world’s leading employment sectors, tourism provides important livelihood opportunities, helping to alleviate poverty and drive inclusive development. As tourism revolves around encounters between different peoples, the sector can foster multicultural understanding and raise awareness on the need to preserve cultural and natural heritage.

While Taleb Rifai, secretary-general, UNWTO added, “This year´s WTD is an opportunity to celebrate the transformative potential of one billion tourists. ”

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IN THE NEWS FUTURE NEXT / RICHA GOYAL SIKRI DIRECTOR GROUP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, STIC TRAVEL GROUP MY SUCCESS MANTRA

do especially these days.

Be innovative.

MY STRESSBUSTER MY BIGGEST LEARNING

My husband and my son.

Assume less, observe more.

MY FIRST MILESTONE Launching the International Student Identity Card (ISIC).

MY FAVOURITE MANAGEMENT BOOK Managing Radical Change by the Late Prof Sumantra Ghoshal.

MY INSPIRATION IN LIFE My parents who built STIC from scratch into one of the largest travel groups in the region. The impressive part is not just what they have achieved professionally but that they did it without compromising on their values and beliefs, which is tougher to

MY DREAM DESTINATION Paris- a dream destination I try to visit as often as possible.

USP OF STIC TRAVELS

record, integrity and hardwork.

VISION FOR MY COMPANY To become a key player in the representation, sales and marketing space globally.

MY ADVICE TO GEN-NEXT Think long term, don’t just focus on immediate gain but on building a reputation and legacy.

(As told to Rituparna Chatterjee)

Experience, innovation, track

Richa Goyal Sikri

Bonton Group to aggressively expand DMC and TMC arms We will be expanding the TMC in two ways – across all major Indian cities and through representations in different states to offer personalised services to that region. But our focus would be on the western region

Rituparna Chatterjee Mumbai BONTON GROUP of Companies plans to aggressively expand its 360° travel management company (TMC), Bonton Holidays and destination management company (DMC), Bonton Tours & Travels in India and abroad respectively.

Dubai-based DMC Bonton Tours & Travels, which has a strong presence across the emirates, will be expanding to newer destinations like Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

The group recently established Bonton Tours, a Mauritius DMC. As for TMC Bonton Holidays, the expansion will be majorly focused across India, particularly in the western region.

Speaking at the inaugura-

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Syed A Asim

tion of Bonton Holidays' corporate office in Mumbai, Syed A Asim, executive director, Bonton Holidays stated, “We are one of the most preferred DMCs in the UAE region. We

also have our presence in Mauritius and we are moving towards destinations like Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

We have people on board working on this and we plan to add a new destination at an interval

of six months. By expanding the DMC across major destinations in the world, the group will be able to have a global presence which will enable it to give an end-to-end solution to the customer.”

Presently, Bonton Holidays has 30 offices (including franchisee outlets and preferred sales agents) in India. Some of the offices are located in Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, etc.

“We will be expanding the TMC in two ways – across all major Indian cities and through representations in different states to offer personalised services to that region. But our focus would be on the western region,” informed Asim, adding that, they would simultaneously be opening some offices outside India. However, he refused to divulge details on the investment. Through these expansions, the company plans to achieve a minimum of 30-40 per cent year-on-year revenue growth from its present growth of 15-20 per cent.

IN THE NEWS

Britain records increased spend from Indians Rituparna Chatterjee Mumbai BRITAIN has recorded an increase in spend from Indians travelling to the destination. In 2014, Britain welcomed 390,000 Indians, recording a spend of 444 million pounds.

This year, VisitBritain hopes to carry this level of growth forward. Speaking on the sidelines of the GREAT Tourism Week 2015 held in Mumbai, Shivali Suri, country manager - India, VisitBritain, stated, “Since 2012 we have seen a year-on-year growth. 2013 recorded a 10 per cent growth in terms of arrivals and 32 per

cent growth in terms of spend over 2012. 2014 witnessed another additional four per cent in arrivals, so in total we had a 14-15 per cent growth since 2012, while a 33-34 per cent jump on spend. We are hoping to carry this level of growth forward.” The reasons for this growth has been the increase in business and leisure travellers. “VFR is increasing, but it is a smaller increase as compared to the other two segments. In India traditionally, business travellers tend to bring in their families and convert their business trips into leisure ones. This is probably why we have seen an increase

Shivali Suri

in the spend and we hope to continue this trend in 20152016 as well,” opined Suri. India is the number one BRIC market for arrivals into the UK. Its other source markets include the US, Germany, France, Australia, GCC, among others.

VisitBritain is also launching two campaigns this year to promote its popular and lesserknown destinations. “We had the Bollywood Britain campaign last year and this year too we will be having it. More than 50 top grossing Bollywood blockbusters have been shot in the UK. This month-long campaign is expected to start in Oc-

tober wherein we will showcase newer countryside locations like Yorkshire, Leeds, Kent, Lake District, etc. Last year we signed up with Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, and this year we will be tying up with specific opportunities that we have explored in the market,” mentioned Suri without divulging further details. An investment of over 500,000 pounds has been made over the past two years for the campaigns. VisitBritain will also be launching a 'Bond Is Great' global campaign to promote locations where the latest Bond film, releasing this November, has been shot.

Starry encounters at Beverly Hills Sudipta Dev Mumbai THE GREATEST attraction of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles is that it is home to many Hollywood actors and celebrities. For Indian travellers, who have grown up on a staple diet of Hollywood movies, this is reason enough and more to travel to Beverly Hills when they are visiting the US. “We are aware of Indians’ love for movie stars and we have plenty of them in Beverly Hills. Our destination enjoys an international reputation as the home and playground of A-list movie stars and has played backdrop for countless Hollywood movies,” said Julie Wagner, CEO, Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau (BHCVB). Beverly Hills also has a thriving art scene, it is home to vibrant theatre entertainment, in addition to some of the finest galleries and public art throughout the city.

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Pointing out that India is a fast and expanding market especially in the luxury sector, Wagner mentioned that Beverly Hills has innumerable luxury experiences to offer to Indian travellers. “Whether you're seeking a blissfully romantic weekend, a family trip of a lifetime or an event to remember, only in Beverly Hills will you find culture, luxury and fun for all in one fabulous city. We strive to provide travellers with unforgettable experiences whether it be via our world-class shopping, gourmet dining, lavish spas or acclaimed hotels,” she added.

BHCVB is also keen to attract the luxury MICE segment from India. “Known for its sophistication and incomparable bespoke service, Beverly Hills is the perfect choice for meetings or events, whether for 20 or 1,500 people. With over 100,000 square feet of meeting

space at our hotels alone, Beverly Hills is well designed for conferences, small groups, incentive programs or business gatherings,” said Wagner. The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bunglows, The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Wilshire, Four Seasons Hotel, and Montage Beverly Hills are few of the hotels that offer options for both large conferences and small, intimate gatherings. Private events can also be organised at the historic Greystone Mansion or at the many high-end restaurants, luxury stores and outdoor public spaces. BHCVB is optimistic about the growing India market. “Through our partnership with Sartha Global, we are confident that we can drive travel to our iconic destination,” stated Wagner. BHCVB has created a three-year strategic plan for the organisation to constantly bring fresh and innovative ideas to market Beverly Hills.

IN THE NEWS

Ashwani Lohani appointed new Air India chief ETW Staff Mumbai ASHWANI LOHANI, managing director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation was recently appointed as chairman and managing director (CMD) of national carrier, Air India.

Lohani has replaced Rohit Nandan. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved the appointment of Lohani, a 1980 batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer, as CMD, Air India for a tenure of three years, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.

Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai

Ashwani Lohani

Nepal Airlines to operate out of Mumbai this month ETW Staff Mumbai THE INTEGRATED Terminal 2 at GVK Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai will now be open for the commencement of operations of Nepal Airlines out of Mumbai from September 4, 2015. The first arrival at T2 in Mumbai will begin with Nepal Airlines (Flight no. RA 201) from Kathmandu at 16.30 hours and first departure will begin with Nepal Airlines (Flight no.

RA 202) to Kathmandu at 17.25 hours. Nepal Airlines will be

Spiritual tourism pegged as `12,000 crore market in India

operating Airbus 320 flights twice a week, i.e on Mondays and Fridays.

During the last few weeks Terminal 2 underwent a comprehensive security sweep and GVK MIAL undertook familiarisation processes for Nepal Airlines, ground handling staff and security in order to help get them acquainted with the new technologically advanced systems, facilities and processes at T2. Also, in order to ensure passenger convenience, GVK MIAL will also be deploying its customer service team to assist and guide the passengers.

WITH SPIRITUAL tourism known to be one of the oldest and biggest tourism segments in India, it is gradually making its way into the young minds and proving to be an escape from their stressful daily routine. The industry has been pegged as an approximately `12,000 crore market and is expanding at 13 per cent per annum. Sarita Nair, founder, Spiritual Yatra informed, “Our Karmic Voyage Kumbh Mela tour has acquired 60 per cent inquiries from the age group between 22-35 years. While spiritual tourism was considered only for travellers who wanted to attain moksh, or several other myths making rounds, today the youth of India is inspired by our spiritual heritage and is keen on exploring more of it.”

The company was formed after a research of two years by the team who have explored 750 spiritual destina-

Sarita Nair

tions across India. This also includes several untapped places of interest of various communities. This includes places like Ganga Sagar (West Bengal), Bihari Ji Darshan, Ranakpur Temple (Rajasthan), Hemkund Sahib (Uttarakhand), Velankanni Church (Tamil Nadu), Dwarka (Gujarat), Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh) and more.

“Spiritual Yatra will also be conducting special

guided tours on massive spiritual events of the country like Kumbh Mela, Pushkar Mela, Jagannath Yatra, Durga Puja, Krishna Janmashthami at Vrindavan,” she added.

Talking about the response from travellers for the recently conducted tours for Maha Kumbh Mela, Nair said, “We have received a good response for Karmic Voyage having around more than 300 bookings as of now. The bookings are still open and we are still receiving bookings with the numbers expected to increase more than we expected. About seven crore people were estimated to visit the Mela in two months time.”

For the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the company is going to be introducing new tours for the locals and Pune Ganesh Mandal Darshan for devotees. With festivities round the corner, the company is working on offering special tours for Durga Puja, Diwali and Char Dham Yatra.

Our Karmic Voyage Kumbh Mela tour has acquired 60 per cent inquiries from the age group between 22-35 years. While spiritual tourism was considered only for travellers who wanted to attain moksh, or several other myths making rounds, today the youth of India is inspired by our spiritual heritage and is keen on exploring it EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

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IN THE NEWS

Yes Bank intends to become preferred banking partner for travel industry Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai BELIEVING in a knowledge banking led approach which aims to provide customised and structured solutions to clients in identified growth sectors of the Indian economy, Yes Bank is looking at working with TAAI, TAFI, OTOAI, ETAA and other travel associations. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Sanjay Agrawal, senior president – business banking, Yes Bank, said, “We have a travel and tourism vertical in knowledge banking to ensure focused servicing of travel agents and tour operators.

Our knowledge bankers are industry experts and offer invaluable and in-depth insights into the travel business, thus helping to develop innovative ideas and nurture them to fruition.” He added, “With innovative institutional environment and conducive policy management, tourism can become the backbone of our economy. We recognise this opportunity and would like to enter at an early stage of this phenomenon.”

Majority of the customers in the travel industry fall under the SME segment. Banks have had to change the way they do business and manage risk by understanding the market and differentiating it from the retail and commercial segments. “The importance of the tourism and hospitality sector is heightened by the fact that they can have a multiplier effect on the overall economy and help

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other related sectors thrive as well,” opined Agrawal. Yes Bank has created customised lending products like Yes Sambhav, Yes Samriddhi and Yes Suyog in view of these challenges to suit the requirements of the travel business.

The bank also offers advanced fund based and nonfund based solutions for larger players.

On the working of the travel segment, he opined, “Being a promoter or family driven in most of the cases, travel agencies rely heavily on private funds, family and friends to raise the capital.

They also look at private money lenders and the unorganised financial sector to meet their credit requirements. In these cases, the terms of financing lack clarity and the interest rates may also be high. The limited pool of funding available through these schemes often tends to force potentially viable organisations out of business.

Given the nature and maturity of these business models, typically banks and financial institutions associate them with higher operational risk and therefore, credit appraisals may involve high transaction costs. This compounds the difficulty on part of these organisations to access sufficient credit at reasonable rates. Travel companies are constrained by their limited expertise in financial planning and managing receivables. Our endeavour is to address these issues through a knowledge based approach.”

11th International Travel Expo HCMC to open doors in September ETW Staff Mumbai THE 11TH EDITION of International Travel Expo– ITE HCMC 2015 is all set to kickstart from September 10–12, 2015 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.

The Expo is jointly organised by the ministry of culture, sports and tourism, People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, VINEXAD and Informa Exhibitions.

ITE HCMC 2015 is expected to welcome 350 international and regional buyers from more than 30 countries, 20 international press publications, 350 sellers from the Asia Pacific region, and 25,000 international and domestic visitors. The trade exhibition will be further enhanced by the presence of exhibiting country/city pavilions, including Berlin, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. Due to overwhelm-

ing response, the pre-scheduled appointment system – PSA is offered free of charge to organisations attending ITE HCMC, where buyers and sellers are able to schedule and book appointments and meetings beforehand.

ITE HCMC has established itself as one of the most important trade platform regionally and internationally. In 2014, ITE HCMC attracted 320 exhibiting companies from 21 countries and welcomed 22,000 international and domestic visitors (20 per cent increase from 2013), cementing its status as one of the fastest growing international tourism trade events in the region.

The executive committee will be introducing a series of new features and programmes for the exhibition, catering to tourism industry professionals, dignitaries, ministries and the general public.

Show highlights and onsite activities ■

Opening ceremony / Mekong Tourism Al-

ITE HCMC 2015 is expected to welcome 350 international and regional buyers from more than 30 countries, 20 international press publications, 350 sellers from the Asia Pacific region, and 25,000 international and domestic visitors

liance Awards (MTAA) The opening ceremony will welcome ministers of the five countries in the Mekong Region as well as Mayors of Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Yangon and Bangkok. Concurrently, the seventh Mekong Tourism Alliance Awards (MTAA) will give recognition to organisations that have contributed to the tourism industry.

■ Photo Gallery: ‘Beauty of ASEAN Community’ Photos and pictures of major attractions and scenery in the ASEAN region will be showcased, as well as the diversity and cultural aspects depicting the ASEAN community.

■ Seminars Leading industry speakers will provide insights on a wide range of topics and advise specific approaches to the different tourism markets globally.

■ ACMECS tourism minister conference ■ Introduction and recommendation of CLMTV destinations ■ Key tourism markets of India and Indonesia ■ Key tourism markets in Europe ■ Vietnam Tourism Promotion Campaign 2015-2020 ■ Annual overview of tourism market.

■ Travel Fun Fair Day. Open to public and trade visitors, the last day of the exhibition will showcase international renowned performances, lucky draw prizes and exhibitors featuring promotional travel programmes like discounted airtickets, seasonal tour packages and etc.

IN THE NEWS

Bespoke luxury experiences for Indian fans at English Premier League Sudipta Dev Mumbai THE ENGLISH Premier League has always had a strong fan following among Indian sports lovers across all age groups. Premier Explore is a UK based inbound tour operator that was established last year to bring clients from India to the UK on tailor-made packages for English Premier League. “The objective of starting the business was to bring the English Premier League to the huge Indian following which has grown in the last five to 10 years. In 2008, 85 million people viewed English Premier League in India and last season saw the numbers increase to 155 million. Our product targets the upper end of the market. Right from the start to the finish of the experience will be luxury and bespoke,” said Peter Watts, founder and director, Premier Explore, adding that

Peter Watts

they see great potential for the product in the India market considering the fact that the luxury travel market in India has grown y-o-y at the rate of 20-25 per cent in the last five years.

Included in the package are visa, flights, accommodations, evening entertainment, dining

requirements and of course English Premier League match day.

There is opportunity to meet the players, get signed merchandise, best seats in the stadium, five hours experience than just 90 minutes (including pre-match meals). Some of the unique sightseeing experiences include

driving a vintage car from the 1960s across Scottish Highlands, a visit to Scotland for the quintessential whiskey experience, hot air ballooning over the English countryside, private tours of Crown Jewels, etc.

“Last season was our first year in business and we did 100

clients from the India market from Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. We worked with the travel trade then; while we want to continue growing our relationship with them we also want to work directly with the end consumer. Hence we have set up our first office in Kolkata and want to have offices in Delhi and Mumbai by this year end,” mentioned Watts. He is looking at taking 500 Indian football fans for the next season. The company is also strongly focusing on the corporate sector.

Watts is in discussions with some big Indian brands. “Even if there is any business that comes our way which is not high end luxury, we will still service the requirement,” clarified Watts.

Premier Explore will also offer high end luxury packages for other sporting events in the future like the Wimbledon championships and cricket at Lords.

Starwood introduces South Asia’s first St Regis in Mumbai ETW Staff Mumbai STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced the opening of St. Regis Mumbai.

In partnership with Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure, the hotel marks the entry of the St. Regis brand in India and South Asia.

With this debut, the luxury brand has tripled its global footprint in the past decade to 35 hotels in the most coveted destinations around the world.

The hotel includes 386 guest rooms including 27 suites and, for extended stays, the property’s 33 residential suites feature a living room, fully equipped kitchen and the option of one or two bedrooms.

Dilip Puri, managing director- India and regional vice president- South Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts said, “The introduction of St. Regis to India marks a significant milestone for the brand’s expansion in South Asia, and

Mumbai displays a robust demand for high-end hospitality from this increasingly affluent region. We are uniquely positioned to cater to the needs of a new generation of luxury travellers, offering an enriching experience informed by the brand’s legacy.”

Atul Ruia, managing director, Phoenix Mills and director, Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure said, “We look forward to a long-term collaboration with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Through its unparalleled service the St Regis Mumbai provides an uncompromising experience to its guests – the global business travellers, connoisseurs of the good life, and aficionados of art and culture.”

Amit Bhosale, executive director, ABIL Hospitality and director, Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure said, “Mumbai is emerging as a world-class travel destination, presenting the perfect setting for the St

Regis brand. We feel that it’s a great opportunity to introduce the legendary brand’s bespoke services and programmes to the well-heeled travellers of today and tomorrow.”

The St Regis Mumbai houses nine restaurants, bars and nightlife destinations. The luxury spa features nine treatment rooms and additionally offers a fitness center, a 25-meter outdoor pool with panoramic views and a professional salon.

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HOSPITALITY

Zo Rooms to add 2000 hotels this year Akshay Kumar Mumbai ZO ROOMS, one of the fastest growing chain of premium budget hotels, is all set to introduce 2000 hotels across 60 cities by 2015. Currently, Zo Rooms has 200 properties across 13 cities in India. Recently, Zo Rooms received a major funding which was led by Tiger Global.

Speaking about the expansion, Paavan Nanda, cofounder, Zostel Hospitality said, “We are looking both in terms of geographical and technological expansion. In 2015, we plan to introduce around 2000 hotels in 60 cities. Recently we received a major funding led by Tiger Global. It was a great moment for us and we will carry this partnership for longterm.”

Talking about the USP of the chain, Nanda said, “The key USP of our hotel is experience. We do not say that we are the cheapest, but we surely offer a value for money experience. In terms of technology we are much ahead than the other players.”

Launched in August 2013, Zostel Hospitality (ZHPL) initially launched Zostel which is a chain of budget hostels for backpackers.

Nanda added, “Currently we have eight Zostels across the nation. We are planning to introduce 35 Zostels within the next three months in multiple locations. Zostel is India's first and largest brand of backpackers' hostel and it has a vast community of pas-

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Recently we received a major funding led by Tiger Global. It was a great moment for us sionate travellers.”

Speaking about the challenges, he said, “Presently, the major challenge is that the hotel owners do not understand the new travellers.

The young travellers or backpackers demand cleanliness and hygiene, and Wi-fi. Quality supply of these basic needs are lacking in most of the budget hotels. The is no player in the industry who has bridged this gap in this segment.”

Zo Rooms is also looking to tap the MICE segment.

Some of the properties also have conference facilities.

Nanda stated, “We are also targeting the MICE segment, which is one of the most important spaces for us. We also offer multiple offers for corporates as most of our properties are located near corporate hubs.” Speaking about technology, Nanda concluded, “We want to further develop our mobile application. Presently, our app is integrated with Uber and foodpanda, who provide exclusive offers to our members. In future, we will definitely partner with more companies.”

Over 140 Grade I heritage structures in Srinagar have potential for hospitality Sudipta Dev Mumbai INDIAN NATIONAL TRUST for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in J&K has been making concerted efforts to enable 143 Grade I heritage structures in Srinagar to be converted into heritage hotels or restaurants, which would go a long way in enhancing the tourism offerings in the state.

In an exclusive interaction with Express TravelWorld, M Saleem Beg, convener, INTACH (J&K Chapter) said, “Out of these, 40 properties are along the river front. These properties are a part of vernacular architecture and have scenic views along the river front.

Some of the properties are ideal for boutique hotels, and can be between 20 to 30 room establishments. Remaining properties could be used as restaurants, crafts shops, small museums and demonstration

centres.” All these properties are more than 80 years old.

The qualifying criteria for these properties are that these have been traditionally built with significant architectural elements. “In the last 50 years we have not been building any traditional structures, consequently all these properties are those that have been built before 1950,” he added.

INTACH has requested the government to improve the surroundings of the area so that the property owners can take pride in the location of the houses. “The government has invested about `30 crore in improving the river front,” mentioned Beg. While the first phase is over, INTACH had requested the government to at least pick up two to three properties, convert them into heritage hotels or restaurants, so that other owners would find sufficient interest in conserving or preserving their prop-

erty or they can find somebody else who can invest in it.

Pointing out that the tourism sector in the state is vulnerable, Beg averred that there has to be sustained business for investment. “Unfortunately the industry here has become an uncertain investment. The ownerships of these properties are very different from ownerships of normal properties. Many owners have deserted their properties and have shifted somewhere else,” he stated.

The state has three major palaces, one each in Jammu, Srinagar and Umdampur, of these the first two have already been converted into heritage hotels. Beg believes that it is important to look at not just built heritage but also natural heritage where appropriate sustainable structures can be built, for example building of a heritage village or eco tourism initiative related to vernacular architecture.

IN THE NEWS

Tourism Australia organises India Travel Mission 2015 in Bengaluru ETW Staff Mumbai TOURISM AUSTRALIA recently organised the 13th edition of its trade engagement initiative, India Travel Mission (ITM) 2015 from August 27-30, 2015 at Bengaluru. At this edition, ITM received response from over 90 Indian travel companies spread across its key markets. The three day event saw participation from over 50 Australian products and experiences.

Participants at ITM included representation from hotels, attractions, inbound tour operators, state and regional tourism boards, airlines, among others.

Michael Newcombe, regional general manager, S/SEA and Gulf, Tourism Australia, said, “We would like to thank our Indian travel partners for their overwhelming support in yet another successful edition of ITM. Events such as this augment our efforts in educating the trade about Australia’s diverse tourism offerings and to aid them in promoting it as a must visit leisure destination among their customers. We are optimistic about India’s continued sustained growth as one of Australia’s top inbound markets.”

Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia, said,

Australia has witnessed a continued growth trajectory in tourist arrivals from India. As per the latest statistics for the year ended June 2015, 220,000 Indian travellers visited Australia which is an increase of 19 per cent for the same period from previous year “Over the years, ITM has proved to be a great platform for us to fortify our travel trade engagement in the country. With a record increase in tourist arrivals from India, Tourism Australia aims to

further build on strong trade relationships and training programmes for the trade fraternity. We recently launched our integrated brand campaign with key distribution partners across media mix to

reinforce top-of-mind recall as a preferred destination during the booking period for the upcoming holiday seasons.”

Australia has witnessed a continued growth trajectory in tourist arrivals from India.

As per the latest statistics for the year ended June 2015, 220,000 Indian travellers visited Australia which is an increase of 19 per cent for the same period from the previous year.

For the six months to June, Australia received 122,900 visitors from India, a 24 per cent increase relative to the same period of the previous year. India is currently Australia’s eighth largest inbound tourism market.

TonyTyler confirms retirement as IATAdirector general and CEO ETW Staff Mumbai IATA HAS CONFIRMED that its director general and chief executive officer (CEO), Tony Tyler, will retire in June 2016 after serving five years in the position. Before joining IATA in 2011, Tyler was chief executive of Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, in which capacity he also served on the IATA board of governors including as its chairman from June 2009 to June 2010.

Andrés Conesa, chief executive officer, Aeroméxico

and chairman, board of governors, IATA said, “Tony Tyler is an effective leader of IATA, who is achieving much in his role as director general and CEO. I regret that he will be leaving the Association, but respect his decision to retire next year after a long and successful career in aviation.

The search will now start for a successor to be appointed at the next IATA Annual General Meeting in Dublin in June 2016. In the meantime the board will continue to guide and support Tyler and his team in their mission to deliver a safe, efficient and

sustainable airline industry.”

Tyler said, “After five years as director general and CEO of IATA, I believe it will be time for me to retire and leave the organisation. It is a great privilege and responsibility to lead IATA, and I am proud of what the IATA team is achieving during my term of office. I greatly appreciate the support I receive from the board of governors and the membership at large, and from my colleagues. I remain fully committed to leading IATA until my successor is appointed in June next year.”

Tony Tyler

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AVIATION

Air China to introduce direct flight between Mumbai-Beijing ETW Staff Mumbai AIR CHINA, the national air carrier of China will launch direct international flight from Mumbai to Beijing, China with effect from October 25, 2015. The strategic move of Air China is a step to strengthen its existing network in India. Air China has introduced Airbus A330-300 to its service to Mumbai.

There has been significant

increase in people travelling to China from Mumbai in last couple of years. India is one of the top emerging countries in the world and by 2023 the country is forecasted to become the second largest economy in the world in terms of GDP. With fast economic growth, India as a country also offers significant opportunities for air travel growth.

The new flight from Mumbai to Beijing will operate four times in a week i.e., Mon-

With the launch of this new route Air China is confident about new business relations in India and strengthening of economical as well as political relations of both the nations day, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Passengers will also have return flight service from Beijing to Mumbai four

times a week i.e., Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Airbus A330-300 has a seating capacity of 301 pas-

sengers which offers 30 seats in business class, 16 seats in premium economy and 255 seats in economy class.

With the launch of this new route, Air China is confident about new business relations in India and strengthening of economical as well as political relations of both the nations. Air China will also offer good and seamless connectivity to all destinations in Mainland China, USA, Canada, Korea, Japan and Far East Asia.

Qatar Airways to reinstate flights between Nagpur and Doha from December ETW Staff Mumbai HIGHLIGHTING the importance of its ongoing expansion and commitment to the India market, Qatar Airways will be reinstating its nonstop flights to Nagpur from Doha, starting December 1, 2015. The reinstated service will take the airline’s total weekly passenger flights from 95 to 102 across 13 key cities in India. Qatar Airways had previously served Nagpur from January 2008 to May 2009.

Akbar Al Baker, group chief executive, Qatar Airways said, “Reinstating the Doha-Nagpur route is part of Qatar Airways’ strategy to service increasing demand by providing the best possible

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flying experience to our customers in India. Today, India has the largest number of destinations served by our carrier across any market and we will continue to look for more destinations and additional flights to expand our reach in the Indian subcontinent.”

Qatar Airways will operate a daily A320 on the route between Doha and Nagpur with an average flight time of just over four hours. The aircraft will feature 144 seats in a twoclass configuration of 12 seats in business class and 132 seats in economy. Selected aircraft will feature seatback TV screens, providing passengers with the next generation interactive on-board entertainment system Oryx One, featuring a choice of

more than 900 audio and video on-demand options, together with an SMS text messaging service from each seat.

Qatar Airways currently offers a wide selection of flights from 12 cities in India via its hub in Doha to a choice of destinations – Barcelona,

Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Miami, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, Washington DC and many more.

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E MAIN FOCUS T H E TMH A IN FOCUS

Being a vast country with different geographical landscapes, India’s Railways facilitates travel by connecting various parts of the country. At the same time it also offers diverse tourism experiences - from luxury and heritage to pilgrim and mountain journeys - making it a niche tourism product

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On the trail of the Buddha Launched in 2007 by IRCTC, the Mahaparinirvan Express has been attracting thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from Southeast Asia and the Far East. However, insufficient marketing at its home base and a high cost have been major reasons for its lack of popularity in India

T

he history of the cultural heritage of Buddha dates back to more than 2500 years ago. The influence of Buddhism can be seen across all Asian countries, but as a religion it rose in and around ancient Magadha in Bihar and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautam (Buddha). At the beginning Buddhism was among the many small sects in India until King Asoka (ca 270-232 BCE) converted to Buddhism and went onto spread it throughout India and Sri Lanka. The rich reservoir of the Buddhist cultural heritage in India led to the inception of the Buddhist Circuit.

This circuit is a route that begins from Lumbini in Nepal, where Buddha was born, through Bihar, where he attained enlightenment, to Sarnath and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, where he gave his first teachings and died.

This route only covers places where the Buddha was actually present and hence is an important pilgrimage en route for practising Buddhists and travellers from all over the world and India.

While Uttar Pradesh has various well-known religious and architectural destinations, Bihar has a rich asset of key Buddhist destinations with great tourism potential. According to a 2012 report titled 'Identification of Tourism Circuits across India - Spiritual Circuit (Buddhism) Phase-I' submitted by IL&FS Infrastructure to the ministry of tourism, Government of India, as per tourist estimates available (2008), out of the total tourist arrivals in Bihar, destinations coming under the Buddhist circuit of Bihar comprise 94 per cent of domestic and 98 per cent of foreign tourists. The report further stated

22 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD September 2015

that while Kushinagar, Sarnath, Gaya (Bodhgaya) and Rajgir are key destinations that have registered huge number of tourist inflows (both domestic and foreign); Kapilvastu, Shravasti, Sankisa and Vaishali are other potential destinations which can be developed as key tourism sites due to their increasing tourist inflows.

Trail tracks In 2007, the Indian Railway

Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched the Mahaparinirvan Express, a Buddhist Circuit train, to attract Buddhist pilgrims. The train derives its name from Mahaparinirvana Sutra, which contains Buddha's final explanation of his teachings. The journey includes visits to the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Varanasi and Kushinagar. The train is fully air-conditioned and offers

three different classes of travel first class, two tier and three tier.

The major international markets for this train are the Far East, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, among others. Despite the Mahaparinirvan Express' growing popularity among international markets, it hasn’t been able to garner much attention in India. “The train is not well publicised in India for there is only a miniscule section of the people in India who are interested in

(

Buddhist pilgrimage. Moreover, a majority of those going on this pilgrimage do not want to splurge and keep it budgeted. The starting price for this train is also high ranging anywhere between `65,000`70,000 per person for eight days and seven nights,” stated Rajiv Varma, manager of Royal Indian Trains, an affiliate partner to IRCTC which promotes Maharajas’ Express, Mahaparinirvan Express and other luxury train tours operating in India.

The Mahaparinirvan Express is unlike the luxury trains operating in India. “Luxury trains like Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, The Golden Chariot, etc have rooms similar to that of five star hotels and have attached bathrooms as well, among other facilities. These trains cater to high-end tourists and cost anywhere between `2.5-`3 lakh per person for an eight day trip. They are essentially marketed towards the Americans and Euro-

peans. But for the Mahaparinirvan Express, you are looking at a Far East market where the budget is comparatively lower. This train is a modified Rajdhani Express. The concept is that you travel overnight in the train, and in the morning you are taken to a hotel to freshen up and proceed for the tours and then return to the train to resume the rest of the journey. It has no attached bathrooms. So in terms of facilities, attached bathrooms can be made available but the costing will go haywire considering the type of tourists travelling and the pricing at which it is being offered presently,” reasons Varma suggesting that to create more global awareness, IRCTC needs to participate at international travel marts to promote this product.

To give a new fillip to the Buddhist tourism circuit in India, IRCTC started another Mahaparinirvan Express in 2013 to cover the Buddhist sites in Odisha. It was

THE MAIN FOCUS

There needs to be consistent marketing efforts to make this product viable. It needs to be marketed in Southeast Asia and the Far East where there is a strong Buddhist population launched on a trial basis. The first journey was in January 2013 and the second journey was scheduled for October-November the same year but due to insufficient bookings, the train was discontinued.

“The reason was the lack of marketing efforts by Odisha Tourism, IRCTC and the tourism body at the

centre and as a result of this there was no demand. There needs to be consistent marketing efforts to make this product viable. It needs to be marketed in Southeast Asia and the Far East where there is a strong Buddhist population,” explains Sameer Kumar Das, director, Calingae Global LLP.

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Royal luxury on wheels India has over the years matured to offer world class niche experiences and one such experience is that of the luxury trains that has caught the attention of state tourism boards as a premium and niche product, designed specially to lure the international high-spending tourists

I

ndian Railways, over the last several years, has captured the world's imagination.

Amongst the primary reasons of achieving such impressive figures was the increase in travel volumes at subsidised rates in the buoyant domestic market.

Luxury trains, however, have a different story to tell. It all started in January 1982 with Rajasthan's Palace on Wheels whose success has since then prompted other state tourism boards to follow suit.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) con-

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ceptualised Deccan Odyssey in 2004, the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) rolled out The Golden Chariot in 2007 and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) also launched Heritage on Wheels. These luxury trains have managed to attract a huge number of international travellers to India.

Launched in the year 2010, IRCTC's (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation) Maharaja Express offers itineraries which start or complete at Delhi.

This train connects through the

royal palaces, forts, rich natural bounty, untamed wildlife and much more to be cherished as memories for a lifetime. The Maharajas' Express has 23 coaches, with four distinct configurations. There are five deluxe carriages, six junior suite carriages, two suite carriages, and one presidential suite exclusively in one carriage. The train also has two fine dining restaurants, one bar, and an observation lounge with its own bar, game tables and comfortable club. The destinations covered

by The Maharajas' Express are: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore

Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Balasinor.

On track Operating since 1982, The Palace on Wheels offers 14 fully air-conditioned saloons, each a combination of four twin bedded with channel music, attached washrooms with running hot and cold water and showers, wall to wall carpeting and other amenities. The train has two restaurants: The Maharaja and The Maharani which serve Continental, Chinese, Indian Rajasthani

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cuisines. The train is decorated in traditional style, including draped curtains, hand crafted lights, and Rajasthani art. The tour starts from Delhi and comes back to the city after going through JaipurSawai Madhopur-ChittaurgarhUdaipur-Jaisalmer-JodhpurBharatpur-Agra-Delhi. Named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at Hampi, the Golden Chariot train connects to important tourist spots of Karnataka, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as well as Puducherry, depending on the selected itinerary. The 19 coaches on the train are coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of a mythological animal with the head of an elephant and a body of a lion. This luxury train commences operations between the months of October–March. The train, along with the Deccan Odyssey, is designed on the lines of the more popular Palace on Wheels with accommodations, spa treatments and dining. It offers accommodation in 44 cabins in 11 coaches that are named after dynasties that ruled the region: Kadamba, Hoysala, Rashtrakuta, Ganga, Chalukya, Bahamani, Adil Shahi, Sangama, Satavahana, Yadukula and Vijayanagar. The destinations covered by The Golden Chariot are: Bengaluru, Kabini, Mysore, Belur, Hampi, Badami, Goa, Chennai, Mamalapuram, Puducherry, Tanjavur, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Thiruvanathapuram, Kovalam, Alleppey and Kochi.

Another magnificient splendour is the Royal Rajashtan on Wheels that has been newly built and designed in a contemporary style. The luxurious Royal Rajasthan on Wheels offers a seven days exploration of Rajasthan. The journey begins at New Delhi and travels through various erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan like Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittor, Sawai-Madhopur and Jaipur.

After experiencing multifaced Rajasthan travellers can visit Khajuraho temples and Varanasi. The tour ends in Agra for the Taj Mahal.

The 13 deluxe coaches have been named after the famous palaces of Rajasthan namely, Hawa Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Surya Mahal, Moti Mahal, Sukh Mahal, Jal Mahal, Pad-

mini Mahal, Kishori Mahal, Phool Mahal, Jogi Mahal, Kumbha Palace, Umaid Palace. The tour starts from Jodhpur and comes back to the city after going through JodhpurUdaipur-Chittorgarh-Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur-Khajuraho-VaranasiAgra-Delhi.

And finally there is the Deccan Odyssey which comprises of 21 luxuriously appointed coaches. Out of these 21 coaches, 11 are to accommodate guests and the rest are used for different purposes such as dining, lounge, conference car and health spa. Inspired by the imperial carriages used by the Maharajas of the yore for travelling, each of the coaches of this luxury train is inspired from a different royal era of Maharashtra ruled by diverse dynasties. A journey aboard Deccan Odyssey-The Blue Limousine on Rolling Wheels- is a superlative experience, with six designed itineraries- Maharashtra Splendour, Indian Odyssey, Jewels of the Deccan, Maharashtra Wild Trail, Hidden

THE MAIN FOCUS

Inspired by the imperial carriages used by the Maharajas of the yore for travelling, each of the coaches of this luxury train is inspired from a different royal era of Maharashtra ruled by diverse dynasties Treasures of Gujarat, Indian Sojourn.

Karan Anand, head, relationships, Cox & Kings says, “There is a demand for luxury train travel in India. There are many trains that are in operation and we along with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation operate the Deccan Odyssey. The increase in inbound arrivals will lead to a growth

in demand for luxury trains as it enables the customer to visit historical tourist centres on a sevennight/eight-day journey. The Deccan Odyssey gives you an unhurried and intimate introduction to the grandeur of India. The week-long itineraries are carefully arranged so that one can have a memorable and worthwhile experience.”

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Mountain railways: Picture-perfect journeys The mountain railways of India is a unique heritage tourism experience which is popular with both international and domestic crowd. Better packaging and marketing can further enhance these rail journeys as a global tourism product

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he mountain railways of India are an integral part of the country's rich legacy. The most famous are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, KalkaShimla Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Other heritage railways completing the list are Kangra Valley railway and hill section (Lumding-Halflong-Badarpur) of the Northeast Frontier Railway.

Darjeeling's pride Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a fine example of a rail transportation system, situated at a height of 2,067 metres. Started in 1881, this 'toy train' takes off from New Jalpaiguri, going up 88 km to Darjeeling and passing through dense forest on hill slopes, reverses and loops - among the most famous being Batasia, that provides a glimpse of Mount Kanchenjunga. The section has eight major bridges, 542 minor bridges and 177 unmanned crossings.

Partha Guha, general secretary, Eastern Himalayas Travel and Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA) says, “This train is popular with both international as well as domestic tourists who are keen to experience the journey. The last two three years there were landslides because of which the entire route has not been opened. For the last three years part of the route was closed, after the monsoons the

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While Matheran Light Railways was opened to public in 1907, the Kangra Valley railway in Himachal Pradesh opened to traffic in 1929. It is famous for its bridges, a total of 933, and at 1,289 metres, its highest station is at Ajhu

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route will be reopened in the month of October before the start of the festive season and we are hoping that the big journey will start.” In Darjeeling even if a tourist stays for a night, the joy ride is a compulsory inclusion in the itinerary.

The whole journey takes eight to nine hours. According to Guha, most tourists do not want to take the entire route, they are interested in the joy ride which starts from Darjeeling and goes to Batasia route which is very popular. There are two types of trains for the joy ride, one is heritage steam engine and the other is diesel engine. “The steam engine is more than 100 years old, for which it has got the World Heritage status. The diesel engines are not that popular, they are fast and powerful but lack the heritage feeling. The problem is that the steam engines are old and the diesel ones are not popular. The heritage trains rates are `1300 while for diesel it is about `850. It is difficult to get tickets for the hertiage train,” adds Guha.

There are four rides every day.

The joy ride is mostly part of the package. “In the morning after the trip to Tiger Hill, tourists have their breakfast and then they go for a joy ride. It is part of the main itinerary now, previously it was not that popular and people used to go on their own,” states Guha, affirming that it has a great potential as a tourism product.

Legacy of the Raj Kalka-Shimla Railways dates back to the pre-Independence era and was opened to public in 1903. The six-hour journey takes travellers through many picturesque stations like Dharampur and Taksa, tunnels and many arched bridges as well as offering views of the Himalayan snow-capped peaks.

The journey starts from Kalka railway station and it takes about five - six hours to reach Shimla. Major stations are at Dharampur, Barog, Solan, Kanda Ghat and Summer Hill. People take only one way journey on this train. Ankur Sodhi, owner of Pine Valley Holidays, Shimla who exclusively provides travel packages for Himachal

Pradesh says, “We get emails from all over the world and get about 10 calls daily for booking of KalkaShimla toy train. As a tour operator our main problem is that there is no option for Tatkal booking. We always recommend tourists to do their bookings from IRCTC website. Alternately, we also book their trains from Indian Railways here in Shimla. There are only five trains every day, during summer vacations there are also holiday special trains.”

Pointing out that these trains are overbooked, Sodhi adds, that apart from the issue of Tatkal booking which handicaps the tour operators, the journey offers a lot to the tourists in terms of the scenic route.

Another world heritage site is the Nilgiri Mountain railways nestled amidst the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. Opened in 1899 from Mettupalalyam to Coonoor and later extended to Ooty in 1908, the main attraction of this line are its unique tracks and complicated steam loco-

THE MAIN FOCUS

Started in 1881, this 'toy train' takes off from New Jalpaiguri, going up 88 kilometres to Darjeeling and passing through dense forest on hill slopes, reverses and loops - among the most famous being Batasia motives. It passes through 16 tunnels, forest-clad mountains and tea plantations.

While Matheran Light Railways was opened to public in 1907, the Kangra Valley railway in Himachal Pradesh opened to traffic in 1929. It is famous for its bridges, a total of 933, and at 1,289 metres, its highest station at Ajhu offers a view of the Himalayas.

The mountain railways have been marked as protected areas of natural, environmental and cultural value. These heritage parks have to be harnessed with innovative social and technological ideas that encourage visitors to bond with the local community, thus demanding that the area be protected and conserved for sustainable development.

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Pilgrim trains: Connecting faith Pilgrim tourism has always been a recession free segment and in a country like India where train travel is the most common option for the vast majority of people, it is not surprising that pilgrim trains are popular amongst the domestic and the NRI devotees. IRCTC is all set to further tap this segment and introduce a few more trains

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ilgrim or faith based tourism is one of the key segments of India’s tourism sector. This segment is not only popular among the domestic tourists but also has a demand in the international market, being particularly popular among the NRI population. To tap the potential of this segment, IRCTC runs a series of pilgrim special trains, which connect various religious sites of India.

Some of the circuits promoted by the IRCTC are; Sukhmangalam Yatra which starts from Bengaluru and covers places such as Bijapur, Solapur, Pandharpur, Aurangabad, Shirdi and Badami. One of the most popular circuits, the Dham Special, which is packaged along with Dakshin Darshan starts from Chandigarh and passes via Lucknow. This tour covers destinations like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Puri, Tirupati, Kanchipuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Aurangabad, Dwaraka and Ujjain.

Char Dham Special Char Dham is set of four pilgrimage sites in India which are widely revered

by Hindus. These four sites are be-

lieved to be highly sacred and should be visited during one's lifetime. This circuit comprises of Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram.

Speaking about the Char Dham Special tours, Devvarth Agarwal from Shri Shiv Shankar Tirth Yatra says, “We organise a lot of pilgrim special train journeys for our clients.

But our most successful package is the special 'Tirth Yatra'. This is a 32 days journey, where we cover almost the entire country along with temples in Nepal. This programme starts in New Delhi and covers three 'Dhams'; namely Dwarkapuri Dham, Rameshwaram Dham and Jagganath Puri Dham. Also, 11 Jyotilinga's are covered during the journey along with Goa, Chitrakoot, Trivendrum. All our programmes are designed in such a way that we travel during the night and visit all the temples and local attractions during the day. We arrange for special coaches from IRCTC, which is exclusively only for our group. These coaches are attached to the trains. We also get NRI crowd for such type of tours. During such tours, we provide specially trained cook, guide, medical assistance, etc, for the group.”

THE MAIN FOCUS

The new government has also proposed to introduce trains in Christian circuit, Muslim/Sufi circuit and also some other famous temple circuits across the country Special circuits Apart from Hindu circuits, there are also several other circuits like the Shree Shikhar Ji Yatra Jain circuit.

This journey commences at Jaipur and covers important Jain destinations such as Rajgir, Pawapuri, Badagaon, Parasnath, Varanasi. The Takht Parikrama Special is one of its kind Sikh Circuit which covers a few of the Panj Takht, including Kiratpur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Gwalior, Nanded (Hazur Sahib), Bidar and Patna sahib There is also a special package for the Shiva devotees, the Jyotirlinga Circuit. This circuit includes

important destinations like Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Nageshwar, Somnath, Grishneshwar, Trimbakeshwar.

Navagraha temples tour is another important tour down south. This tour takes the pilgrim through various sites like Melmarvathur, Vaitheeswarankoil, Thiruvenkadu, Thirunageswaram, Thingaloor and Rameshwaram. Besides the circuits, the new government has also proposed to introduce trains in Christian circuit, Muslim/Sufi circuit and also some other famous temple circuits across the country.

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CORPORATE FILE

AHEAD OFTHE CURVE Next year as Gainwell Travel & Leisure celebrates 25 years as a leading tour operator in eastern India, Manoj Saraf, managing director of the company reveals how the strategy to adopt a different model from the very beginning has enabled the company to stay ahead of the curve

By Sudipta Dev

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NCORPORATED IN 1991, Kolkata headquarterd Gainwell Travel & Leisure will complete 25 years of its existence next year. Manoj Saraf, managing director, Gainwell Travel & Leisure started the business because of his passion for travelling, along with the fact that whenever he and his family travelled overseas they were unhappy with the quality of services that local agents in Kolkata offered them at that time. “We felt there was a lot we could offer as a travel agent to travellers. We started not as a ticketing agent, but as a hotel booking and services agent,” says Saraf. He adopted a different model at a time when agencies were completely dependent on commissions from airlines. “The commissions at that time were as high as nine per cent plus incentives, but in spite of that our model was providing international hotel reservations and for iconic five-star hotels in India,” he adds.

A trendsetter Gainwell was a trendsetter in many ways. It was the first company that started focusing on cruising holidays 23 years ago when it was a completely new concept in India. “We brought Star Cruises to India. We started selling Star Cruises, even well before they had an office in India.

We were dealing with their Singapore office directly and were sending 15-20 passengers per month,” he mentions.

Over the years Gainwell has gone into educational tours and adventure tourism. The company has done religious tours regularly for the last five to six years. “In fact we were the first

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company in India to charter a ship and do a religious Bhagvat Katha on board for 1100 passengers about five to six years back.

We have done many such programmes on cruises including the Alaska cruise, Caribbean cruise and of course Singapore cruise,” informs Saraf. These groups range from 1200 to 300 people. This December Saraf is taking a group of 400 people on a Dubai cruise. Destination weddings is another new segment the company went into threefour years ago, which has been growing well with several destination weddings organised within India, Thailand and in other countries. “Another segment that has come out of this is events like 25th anniversary cel-

ebrations and 50th birthday celebrations. Family reunions have become a trend where an upmarket client is looking for an excuse to get together and have a family reunion. We have been doing 15 to 20 such events in a year now. These groups are typically 50 - 100 people, but very event oriented where every lunch or dinner is a theme lunch or dinner. People want to have a party where the experience is different,” he says, pointing out that the clientele is mostly in the age group of 50 plus, who can afford to spend 20-30 lakh on their friends and relatives.

In eastern India, Gainwell is not surprisingly the first choice for events based tourism. While the company has been doing

MICE for a long time, but in the last six-seven years the MICE business has grown. Saraf believes that no matter how strong the internet might become, MICE events will continue to require an expert or event manager. “Most of the MICE events are international tours. We have done a lot of MICE events on cruises, for instance Alaska and Mediterranean cruise,” he mentions. “We have grown to be one of the strongest brands in the industry in eastern India and this gives us a lot of satisfaction. We have a branch in Haldia and another in Siliguri - it is a deliberate strategy not to grow too much as in an online world, the offline companies find it difficult to sustain high overhead costs and that is why we have a limited number of branches. We have representations in other cities as well,” he says. It has been a strategic decision by Saraf to keep his company lean.

Many milestones In terms of milestones in the last two and a half decades, Saraf mentions the first cruise charter that he did with 1100 people.

“The cruise from Singapore was for seven nights. At all ports we had 24 coaches waiting for us for shore excursions,” he reminisces. In 1995, Gainwell had taken what was then the largest

While the company has been doing MICE for a long time, but in the last six-seven years the MICE business has grown. Saraf believes that no matter how strong the internet might become, MICE events will continue to require an expert

MICE group from India to Mauritius. “At that time the tourism minister of Mauritius had invited us for dinner,” he says with pride. The company had also taken the largest group from eastern India to Istanbul.

Considering the fact that there has been dynamic change in the industry in the last 10 years, Saraf is uncertain of the future changes in the industry.

He is preparing the next generation, his children, to take over the charge. “My daughter who is 24 and 19 year old son are getting into the business. They have their own ideas and should be given the freedom to run the company,” he avers.

For a company that has always stayed ahead of the curve, Saraf believes that he has been lucky to survive and innovate and get into different spaces. “In Mumbai or Delhi, we would have done four-five times the business. The scope of doing more business is limited in eastern India, which is relatively a slower region. People have less disposable income here. However, we would have had more challenges and competition in Delhi or Mumbai. So there are pro and cons,” he states honestly.

The scenario in eastern India has changed with the increasing number of flights from Kolkata to the west Asian hubs as travellers do not have to fly to Mumbai or Delhi. Pointing out that while connectivity in terms of more international carriers has increased, but Kolkata still does not have a direct flight to Europe, Saraf states that ironically this is the same Kolkata where around 1965, people from Delhi would come to take a Pan Am flight to Europe and America.

RESEARCH REPORT

A surging demand Providing a picture of a dynamic business travel industry, the research report from GBTA Foundation reveals global hotspots where demand is driving air travel price increases

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NEW research identifies six hotspots – India, China, Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Australia- where increased business travel demand is driving significant air price increases.

This is despite global air travel prices displaying signs that they will be essentially flat in 2016.

“Business travel is a leading indicator of global economic activity,” said Joseph Bates, vice president of research, GBTA Foundation. “The top-line pricing outlook for air, hotel and ground in 2016 is surprisingly stable. But when you dig deeper, the data reveals global hotspots where demand is driving air travel price increases. For 2016, India, China, Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Australia are projected to top the list.”

These findings come from the 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, research from the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). “The data provides a compelling picture of a dynamic business travel industry,” said Christophe Renard, vice president, CWT Solutions Group.

Air Airline prices are set to be nearly flat on a global basis due to significantly lower energy prices, steady increases in capacity and stable demand. Regionally, the report projects: ■

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Asia Pacific and Latin America - small price increases (1.2 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively) In Europe, Middle East and Africa, prices will see a small increase (0.4 per cent) In North America, (0.5 per

cent) — with the US slightly up (0.5 per cent) and Canada sharply down (-5 per cent).

Yet, global and regional numbers reveal only part of the picture. There are six countries that are seeing projected price increases as a result of higher demand, including: ■ Singapore - by three per cent, driven by lower energy prices and less restrictive monetary policy that will fuel demand ■ Colombia - by three per cent, caused by a rapidly growing middle class and relatively stable economy, which are driving demand while capacity has grown at a modest rate ■ Mexico - by three per cent, driven by strong domestic and international demand ■ India - by 2.6 per cent, driven by spiking business and consumer confidence ■ China – by 2.8 per cent, bolstered by domestic demand and strong demand despite slowing economic growth and business travel volume ■ Australia - by 2.7 per cent, as improving business conditions will boost domestic air travel.

A seventh nation – Venezuela – is projected to see a 6.3 per cent increase, caused by high inflation, the drop in oil prices and a currency fixed to the US$.

Hotel Globally, 2016 will show an increase in hotel prices because demand is overtaking supply in every major global region: ■ Asia Pacific will see hotel prices rise by three per cent — led by Singapore, Japan and Australia ■ In Europe, Middle East and Africa, hotel prices will see a moderate increase at 1.8 per cent, although many European countries will experi-

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ence price increases in local currency due to exchange rates with the US$. Prices in Russia will rise significantly due to the drop in oil prices and sanctions In Latin America, prices will rise— 3.7 per cent — due to high inflation in some nations, particularly Venezuela and Brazil In North America, high demand will increase rates by 4.3 per cent, driven by economic activity in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and other major US cities.

Ground Car rental pricing has been under pressure for a number of years. Demand isn’t rising sharply enough, and fleets are not being managed tightly enough, leading to stagnant rates globally and regionally.

The most interesting trend seen globally revolves around the sharing economy.

There may be an impact to rental car companies’ car share and sedan/black car segments.

Meetings and events Across the globe, only modest

increases are expected in cost per attendee per day and group size, with the exception of Asia Pacific which will see a five per cent increase in cost and an 11 per cent increase in group size. Strong demand from China and India is the major driver for the region’s increasing cost and group sizes.

North America will also see a 4.5 per cent cost per attendee per day increase, with food and beverage pressures continuing to be a significant driver of costs.

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SPOTLIGHT

Tourism as an engine for growth Focusing on changing the dynamics of the Indian economy, the 31st IATO Annual Convention witnessed a melange of key decision makers and bureaucrats brainstorming on how tourism can drive economic growth

By Akshay Kumar

H

ELD UNDER the theme 'Tourism: we will change the Indian economy', the 31st Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Annual Convention recently concluded at the Grand Bhagwati Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The convention was inaugurated by Dr Mahesh Sharma, minister of state for tourism and culture and minister of state for civil aviation, Government of India; Shivraj Singh Chouhan, chief minister, Madhya Pradesh; Surendra Patwa, minister of state for

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tourism and culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Ashok Chandra Panda, minister of tourism and culture, Government of Odisha; Ashwani Lohani, commissioner and managing director, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC); and the entire IATO executive committee.

Speaking about the convention, Subash Goyal, president, IATO, stated, “This year, we have our members present from all over the nation and also the neighbouring nations.

Today the tourism revolution of the country will start from the heart of India. This revolution

SPOTLIGHT will surely change the face of the Indian economy. Tourism is one segment which creates a lot of foreign revenue as well as employment. The e- visa policy implemented by this government is indeed a game changer for us. Now at this stage we have one request, that the evisa should be changed from 30 days to 60 days and should be made multiple-entry. Also, the physical exporters are getting a lot of subsidy in taxes. We are the ones who indirectly earn foreign exchanges for our nation, hence we should also get some more benefits from the government.”

While explaining on how to project India as a year-round destination, Dr Sharma opined, “We want to position India as a 365 days destination not only to foreign tourists but also to the domestic travellers. India has everything right from wildlife, mountains, beaches, niche tourism products to medical tourism. We are somewhere lacking in marketing these destinations. Our neighbouring country China, has one of the largest outbound tourist numbers. We must seize this opportunity and attract these Chinese travellers to our country.

Tour operators are one of the key stakeholders who can help the government in achieving this. Today the perception about India has changed a lot, around the globe. People are willing to travel and explore India. I promise that this government will not work like a typical government, but like corporates and we are open for suggestions and will surely do the needful.”

The convention included a session on the tourism industry and governance, RH Khwaja, former secretary, ministry of tourism (MoT), Government of India explained, “MoT is positive about development in tourism. But still there are a lot of challenges which needs to be addressed such as taxation, infrastructure development, civil aviation, introducing more niche products. All the stakeholders must have a vision mission approach which is missing.

There is no convergence which can be seen.”

For the first time, IATO Convention witnessed a session on the intellectual properties.

This session was spearheaded

by Dr Anju Khanna, partner, Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi.

Khanna mentioned, “Trademark is the face of any business, but it can be easily copied.

It is extremely important to register all intellectual properties which a company owns. In the past, there have been many instances in the tourism industry where intellectual properties have been copied. Breach of confidentiality is another major issue which should be addressed.”

Back after 22 years Known as the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh was chosen as the destination for this year's IATO convention after 22 years.

The last time IATO stepped on Madhya Pradesh soil was in Khajuraho in 1993. Initially, there were a lot of discussions about Indore as a venue.

The state chief minister explained, “Madhya Pradesh is a revenue surplus state and also ranks number one in terms of development. My next step is to make Madhya Pradesh the number one tourist destination. In the last five years, tourism figures has increased a lot in our state, but we still have to do a lot to tap the international tourists. One of the key challenge is we need a direct flight from Sri Lanka to Bhopal, as a lot of Buddhist tourists come here. Also, our state has seen a growth in film tourism segment. One of the major event this year is the Simhastha Kumbh Mela at Ujjain, which will be a unique Kumbh Mela as it comes once in 12 years. We have created all necessary infrastructure and safety facilities for the same.”

Speaking about the destination, Amresh Tiwari, honorary treasurer, IATO said, “Indore is one of the cities with excellent infrastructure. The way the state positions itself as a tourist destination is fantastic. The tourism board has helped us to organise this convention. Also this destination has a lot of unexplored places which many of our tour operators are not

aware of. This convention will help a lot in understanding the destination. This year we have welcomed around 1500 delegates from across the nation and also we have a lot of international delegation. The level of bureaucrats present in the event, shows the importance and the position of IATO.”

'Zaika Dil Se' MPTDC in association with Express TravelWorld launched 'Zaika Dil Se', a coffee table book on the cuisines of different regions of Madhya Pradesh. The book was launched during the inauguration of the 31st IATO Annual Convention. The book was launched by Dr Sharma along with Chouhan; Surendra Patwa, minister of state for tourism and culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Ashok Chandra Panda, minister of tourism and culture, Government of Odisha; Lohani and the entire IATO executive committee.

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EVENT ROUNDUP

Meeting at MILT Focusing on the corporate and film tourism segments, the third annual MILT Congress unearthed some of the challenges and success stories of key decision makers. By Akshay Kumar

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ITH A FOCUS to provide the Indian corporate buyers and international travel and hospitality suppliers the opportunity to create lasting partnerships and to streamline MICE activities, Dubai based QnA International recently organised the third annual

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MICE India and Luxury Travel (MILT) Congress in Mumbai from July 30 to 31, 2015.

The main focus of the congress was to target the corporate sector and to understand its key decision makers and their challenges, and also to open up new avenues for MICE travellers. A panel discussion was hosted to understand the industry best practices, incentive travel and gaining ROI from in-

centive travel. The panelists who participated were Akshay Mehrotra, chief executive officer, Big Bazaar; Alok Saraogi, vice president - brand management and corporate communications, Ashok Leyland; Sudhakar Pai, chairman and MD, Kurlon and Sujan Roy, head of marketing (international), Tata Motors.

Speaking about the success story behind Kurlon's MICE activities, Pai stated, “Kurlon is the

first company in India to take dealers abroad for incentives. As of now, we have more than 10,000 dealers, this is because of the Kurlon Care Club which we had started 12 years ago to build our relationship with dealers.

This MICE programme particularly has helped us a lot to grow in India. Today, every dealer feels that he should be a part of our club.”

Along with increase in incen-

tive tours, many challenges have emerged over the years. Sarogi opined, “Today, one of the major challenges, is that as we take more people across the world for incentive travel, the option of destinations are decreasing. We need the tour operators’ support to come up with new destinations which will create an interest in our dealers. Value perception is a major aspect in such incentives and we want to max-

EVENT ROUNDUP We need the tour operators’ support to come up with new destinations which will create an interest in our dealers. Value perception is a major aspect in such incentives and we want to maximise the value imise the value. Today, people want to go for experiential tours rather than just visit a destination.” Mehrotra added, “We always take a large number of delegates, many of whom are first timers. Sometimes we have witnessed that some people disappear, we must ensure that there is a system to track such crowd.

One of the major challenges for an organiser is to make an itinerary, which allows the delegates to enjoy every aspect of the location.”

One of the key aspects for any incentive travel is budget management. This in fact is a key deciding factor for corporates who organise such tours.

Speaking about budget management, Roy stated, “Any destination which is at a flying distance of six hours from India is the best available option for us budget-wise and irritability-wise.

Also, today delegates are not interested in visiting countries like Dubai and Thailand for a vanilla package. We need to explore at least 10 new destinations, where connectivity should be good and which will fit into our budget.”

Consul encounter With facilities like e-visa and visa-on-arrival, travel has become a lot more easier. This also plays a role in the destination selection process. Corporates prefer destinations where the visa procedure is not a hassle. Mehrotra mentioned, “Destinations like the UK becomes an headache for us when it comes for a group visa. If we take our suppliers and sales team, a lot of them don't have a very strong paper work. Some of the consulates do not help in such situations.”

With more joint visa schemes coming up, a lot more destina-

tions are opening up for MICE travellers. Roy explained, “Some countries do smart group visas, which are extremely beneficial for MICE groups. For example, destinations like Macao and Guangzhou are very favourable for MICE as they help in joint visa. Some emerging destinations like Oman can also create new opportunities.” Pai added, “One of the most important factors is the e-visa facilitation.

Once we were taking a large group to Singapore, and one family in our group was from a small village. This family was denied a visa, immediately we changed our destination and went to Thailand. I think the perception of the consulates must change a lot, as India is a market where many people have started travelling.”

The event also witnessed a keynote presentation on the use of marketing to ensure a sustainable, profitable business by Ruchi Aggarwal, director- partner strategy and marketing, Microsoft. The presentation was based on how to market personal and business brand and how to leverage the power of digital marketing.

Target 35mm Cinemas have been very crucial in promoting a destination.

Movies like 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', have sent troops of movie buffs to Spain. Some destinations provide incentives for film production, which is again a location deciding factor. Speaking about the practices of Yash Raj Films, Aashish Singh, VP production, Yash Raj Films stated, “We are a very creatively driven company where the script decides our destination.

But, whenever we shoot abroad, budget is the most important

factor. In such a situation we look out for incentives. I think tourism follows shooting of a movie. After the success of 'Braveheart', the castles of Scotland saw an increase of 40 per cent in tourism footfall. So destinations must provide incentives for film production.”

Mala Manyan, executive producer, Madras Talkies, pointed out, “Even a 30 second song shot in a destination is often remembered by the viewers. Shooting a movie promotes a destination in a strong way, so claiming incentives is extremely fair. South Indian cinemas are a tough competition to Bollywood, even we shoot a lot of movies and song sequence abroad.

Also, single window clearance is very important. The consulate, tourism board and the tour operator must be on the same page.”

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THE TORCHBEARERS

Finding the right disha 'Life is a challenge and winner is the one who is ready to meet it'. Sampat Damani, founder of Disha Travels speaks about his metamorphosis from a trainee to an entrepreneur

By Akshay Kumar

I

T'S ALWAYS the initial steps and the last lap which are the most challenging; if you can overcome this, you can achieve what you set out to'. This was the lesson which Sampat Damani, founder of Disha Travels and the chairman, western region of Travel Agents Association of India, learnt very early in his life. With a aim to become an entrepreneur, he set out to explore the travel industry, in 1978 just after his graduation.

Speaking about his early struggle in the industry Damani says, “In 1978, just after graduation, I was desperate to get a break. Every company wanted a trained and experienced person, without giving an opportunity. I wondered how I could get trained without being given an exposure. In those days there were not many institutions which one could turn to. All I had was my determination and persuasion to take me ahead. That was the time when I found a mentor in Pravin Parekh, manager of Viking Travels. He agreed to take me as a trainee. I worked under his guidance for nearly 15 months without a penny but yes he gave me a break into this industry.”

“Initially, my daily work routine of 15 to 18 hours would include visits to consulates, passport office, airline offices, Reserve Bank Of India (yes in those days each traveller had to get an approval to travel abroad), doing the office accounts, visit clients for finalisation of travel itinerary, manu-

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ally referring the ABC’s and the APT’s for fares, etc. Many a time, I also used to go deliver travel documents and more often meet clients at the airport with the baggage checked in, boarding pass in hand for the client to be just in time to board the aircraft. All this was a reality in those days,” he mentions.

After working for more than three decades, Damani feels that every minute of his hardwork in his initial life has made him a successful person. He explains, “I did each and every aspect of the daily office chore and I am happy having done it. I truly enjoyed every minute of my daily routine. I continued this learning experience even when I was working for bigger agencies. Every customer taught me something new, every experience was cherished. Meeting the needs of every customer/company, adhering to each company’s compliances was a challenge, and meeting all of them was a part of my life’s education.”

Chasing dreams Those were the days when the travel industry was hugely

Sampat Damani

dominated by big players and opening a new travel agency was a difficult task. In 1988, Damani launched his own agency named, Disha Travels.

He states, “I come from a Marwari family, the spirit of entrepreneurship runs through my blood. I was never in awe of the biggies, as a mat-

ter of fact they inspired me, and they urged me to work harder and stirred my spirits of entrepreneurship. In my initial period I worked for big agents like Cox & Kings, IndTravels (now CWT), American Express Travel Services just to get experience. Being a part of that team made me realise that in this trade, it’s a team work alongside your own spirit of facing the challenges that help you to grow.

In my life, I never see the clock and yet want to stay ahead of the clock. I measured my accomplishment with the smile on my customer’s face.

Today I have in Urvi Shroff a silent but an able partner who stands through me in all my tribulations.”

He says that he continues to deal with clients whom he first got introduced way back in late 70’s and early 80’s. “I have seen three generations of travellers from many families. The outlook has changed, their needs are different and yet even today we meet their expectations.

They have taught me to accept the changes, adapt yourself with the times and yet be focused on providing services with a smile,” he points out.

A word of advice

Be honest to your customer, be committed to your work and make things happen and at the same time if one plan does not work, have a definite back up plan

After completing around four decades in the industry, Damani has learned a lot from every client. This learning has played a key role in retaining and satisfying his clients till date. Speaking about a few lessons which he learned from his clients he says, “An eminent surgeon who is my client taught

me 'Never hit the pillow until and unless you have learnt something new. Each day you have to learn or do something new which you have not done earlier'. Another client taught me 'If you cannot guide, don’t misguide'. He told me that for you it may be just a part of one single business transaction, but for the customer it may be a culmination of huge amount of hard work and financial risk.

The customer may be travelling to sign a big business deal worked out over a long period of time and with a lot of financial stake or may be going to commence a huge project, or it could be a student going for higher studies having toiled all his life and the parents having made innumerable sacrifices.

You as a travel agent should not jeopardise it. Be honest to your customer, be committed to your work and make things happen and at the same time if one plan does not work, have a definite back up plan. This has taught me that we must promise what we can deliver and deliver what we have promised.”

Giving out his advice for the generation next, Damani says, “Enjoy your work, you will not feel the pain. Results in the industry is not within your grasp but wanting to deliver each and every time is definitely so, one bad experience can nullify all the hard work.” He also believes that technology can be a tool but it cannot replace professional expertise. “Adapt and accept mechanisation, but never give up the human touch,” asserts Damani.

MOVEMENTS AirAsia India AirAsia has appointed MITTU CHANDILYA as managing director of AirAsia India in addition to his role as chief executive officer. The AirAsia India Board appointed Chandilya as the managing director and the first full time independent executive director of the company.

Chandilya became a CEO at 32, the youngest CEO of a scheduled airline in India and one where he was the first employee in a clean-sheet start up.

India Tourism Development Corporation India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has announced transition in its leadership with PIYUSH TIWARI taking over charge of director (commercial and marketing) from Commodore (Retd) Ratan Kumar Okhandiar. The key focus area for Tiwari will be to take the company to the next level by way of strengthening brand ITDC and by leveraging upon inherent strengths of the corporation, offering various tourism related services as well as one stop solution to corporates for their business needs. His new role includes responsibility of further strengthening the brand’s connection with its stakeholders including customers, employees, investors, etc.

Bombardier Bombardier Business Aircraft has appointed 28-year company veteran LISA 'LEE' BOULANGER as vice president of customer support.

She will be based in Montreal, Quebec and assumes her role immediately. In her role, she will be responsible for the Bombardier Business Aircraft customer support network including 24/7 customer response centres, 15 internationally based regional support offices, more than 238 support

professionals deployed across 42 countries and a highly experienced team encompassing engineering support, technical publications, maintenance tracking programmes and much more.

Etihad Airways Etihad Airways has appointed LINDSAY WHITE to the position of vice president - Australia and Asia Pacific. In this role, White will assume responsibility for the entire Asia Pacific region, adding China, Japan, Korea and Thailand to his current portfolio of Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. He brings more than 30 years of aviation industry experience to the role, having held various senior management positions at British Airways before joining Gulf Air in 2005 as its general manager in Malaysia and Brunei. He subsequently joined Etihad Airways as its country manager in Malaysia. In September 2008, White relocated to Sydney to take up the role of general manager Australia and New Zealand for Etihad Airways and, in 2012, was promoted to vice president Asia Pacific South and Australasia.

Qantas Qantas has appointed ALAN CHANG as country manager - China, based in Shanghai.

Chang has extensive work experience internationally in Taiwan and Canada across aviation and travel sectors.

Most recently, he was the regional sales manager for Emirates in Taiwan, which included the establishment of the airline’s local office and operations and the launch of their first A380 aircraft into Taipei. Prior to Emirates, Chang served as general manager for Holiday Tours and Travel (HTT) for five years, representing Qantas and Jetstar as general sales agent in Taiwan. Chang joins the broader Qantas team in Asia and along with Wyn Li, gen-

eral manager, Qantas in Hong Kong, will jointly manage the South China market. Li will meanwhile take up additional responsibility of the Taiwan market as general manager – Hong Kong, Taiwan and South China.

Hertz Hertz has appointed ALEXANDRIA MARREN as executive vice president North American Rental Car Operations, and DEWAYNE KIRKHAM as senior vice president and general manager of Hertz Local Edition.

Marren joins Hertz from ExpressJet Airlines, part of SkyWest, Inc., where she was chief operating officer. Prior to ExpressJet, Marren was senior vice president at United Airlines and United Express. Marren also served in a number of executive roles at United, including leading the Onboard Service group, during her more than 25-year career there. A 19-year veteran of Hertz, Kirkham will have responsibility for Hertz's off-airport operation, which includes more than 3,000 locations in the US.

Adara Adara has appointed STUART STACY as commercial director – Pacific. Stacy will be working to deliver new revenue and business insights to Adara’s Australian and New Zealand customers. Stacy has more than 20 years of experience in the travel media sector. He joins Adara from Orbitz Worldwide, where as the director for Asia Pacific he built and established the Asia Pacific media sales operation.

Prior to Orbitz, Stacy was the director and head of partner marketing at ebookers in London, where he oversaw ad sales, strategic partnerships and operations across 12 European countries.

AIPC ALOYSIUS ARLANDO, chief executive officer of SingEx,

Sabre Sabre Corporation has appointed FANNY YEUNG as general manager of its Hong Kong operations for Sabre Travel Network. In her new role, Yeung will be responsible for the growth of the market, strengthening the company’s strategic partnerships, while advocating for the adoption of Sabre’s innovative travel technologies with its travel agent and supplier prospects and customers.

Yeung replaces Agatha Lee who has been heading the local Abacus business for the past year, on placement from Cathay Pacific.

the management company of Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre and the first Asian to be elected to the AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres) board in 2012, has been named vice president.

The election took place at AIPC’s annual conference and general assembly held in Boston. AIPC represents a global network of over 170 leading centres in 54 countries with the active involvement of more than 900 management-level professionals worldwide.

Tourism Toronto Tourism Toronto has appointed JOHANNE BÉLANGER as president and CEO, effective September 1, 2015. Bélanger was president of Freeman Audio Visual Canada for the past 10 years and, throughout her career, has been a globally recognised leader in exhibitions and events. She also served as chair of Tourism Toronto’s board of directors from 2012 to 2014 and has been a member of the board since 2009. In 2014 she was inducted into the

Meetings and Incentive Travel Hall of Fame and has also served as president of the board of directors for InfoComm International, the trade association representing the professional audio visual and information communications industries worldwide.

ICC Sydney The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has appointed ERICA BLYTHE as director of finance and administration. Her appointment marks the final position to be appointed within the leadership team that will guide ICC Sydney to its December 2016 opening.

With more than 14 years of experience in finance roles within the hospitality industry, she joins ICC Sydney after four years as the regional financial controller for NSW and ACT with Accor and 16 years with the group. She is a certified practicing accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business and an early career Diploma in Hotel Management.

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E V E N T S

HEALTH CAMP Gangavaram Port recently organised a mega medical camp for

ADVENTUROUS NARRATION L-R: Vijay Crishna, actor; Ratna Singh,

the local community at Nadupuru High School, Peda Gantyada Mandal, Visakhapatnam, which was inaugurated by Palla Srinivasa Rao, MLA, Gajuwaka Assembly Constituency

naturalist, Taj Safaris; Mandip Singh Soin, founder, Ibex Expedition and Charu Sharma, sportscaster at the Mumbai edition of Adventure Stories held at The Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai

BROAD REACH The Travel Agents Engagement Programme was recently organ-

BOOSTING TOURISM Musafir.com and the Department of Tourism and

ised at Hotel Sun N Sand, Pune to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the Pune Chapter of Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA), which has now become the Western India Chapter of ETAA

Commerce Marketing have announced a joint campaign to promote Dubai as a key destination for Indian travellers, the partnership being officially launched by Musafir.com’s brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar in Dubai

UNIFIED EFFORTS The tourism division of Gyeongnam Development DISCOVERING MAURITIUS Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority recently organised a luxury roadshow to India at Trident, Bandra Kurla in Mumbai in an effort to promote Mauritius in India

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Corporation, Cox & Kings Travel India, Outbound Travel Agent Association of India and Korea Tourism Organisation recently signed an MoU in New Delhi and Mumbai with a view to attract Indian tourists to the Gyeongnam province in Korea

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INTERACTIVE SESSIONS Department of Tourism, Philippines recently concluded its four city roadshow for trade partners based in Nagpur, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Delhi

ENGAGING DISCOURSE US president Barack H Obama (second from left) and group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde GebreMariam (left) recently held discussions at Bole International Airport beside the B787 Dreamliner aircraft

REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT L-R: James Hogan, president and CEO, Etihad Airways met Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai to reaffirm the airline’s commitment to the Indian state and its capital Mumbai

GROWTH PROMOTION The ASEAN Promotional Chapter for Tourism (APCT) – India Chapter along with hospitality partner Starwood Hotels and Resorts recently held a networking evening at ITC Grand Central in Mumbai

STRENGTHENING RELATIONS L-R: Temel Kotil, CEO, Turkish Airlines and INFORMATION UPDATE Cathay Pacific Airways recently conducted its annual workshop for the travel trade at The Imperial New Delhi and The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi

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Sebastian Mikosz, CEO, LOT Polish Airlines recently signed a letter of understanding to initiate an enhanced cooperation between relevant Polish, Turkish and beyond markets and to deepen commercial cooperation on the existing ones

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HONOURING PARTNERSHIP Cathay Pacific and Dragonair cargo teams in

FUTURE LEADERS FICCI FLO Bangalore in association with KPMG in India’s

India recently held their annual Top Agents Award Dinners across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru

Governance Institute introduced a programme to orient women in Bengaluru with the necessary skills and knowledge to be a woman director

PAYING OBEISANCE Hyderabad recently celebrated Bonalu, an annual festival of Telangana where Goddess Mahankali is worshiped to ward off evil and usher peace

NEW BEGINNINGS Thomas Cook India's education and training vertical, Centre of Learning, recently felicitated 270 students of the 2014-15 batch at its fourth convocation ceremony held at the Indian Merchants Chamber in Mumbai

MOBILE POWERHOUSE Dr Varun Vagish, an adventurist and car enthusiast, recently drove a Tata Nano to the Base Camp of Siachen Glacier in Ladakh from Asansol, West Bengal, thereby covering 7000 km in 20 days

Thomas Cook India, in an initiative, managed over 100 delegates from China, Korea and Taiwan, at a food exchange programme organised by its inbound division, Travel Corporation (India) in New Delhi

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CREATING SYNERGY AMONGST THE TRAVEL FRATERNITY

THE BIG BANG NAUTICAL FIESTA BY ARK TRAVELS & STAR CRUISES

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REGD.WITH RNI UNDER MAHENG/15993/05, MH/MR/SOUTH-156/2013-15 PUBLISHED 11th OF EVERY MONTH AND POSTED ON 12, 13 & 14 OF EVERY MONTH POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE.