Express Travelworld (Vol.12, No.6) July, 2017 by Indian Express

EDITOR’S NOTE

India’s Great Tax transition

t's a bit tricky to pen down your thoughts few days before the big date, in this case July 1, 2017. The three letter word called 'GST' (goods and services tax), has certainly made its mark. It has turned out to be the hotspot of most discussions across businesses. From serious debates and deliberations to some tongue in cheek comments, there seems to be discrepancy across sectors, with hospitality and tourism being no exception. Chartered accountants to legal and tax experts, have in general their own respectful understanding of the subject. Though travel associations have done their bit to invite experts to address the industry, the general consensus is still of ambiguity on the topic and its implementation. Whether its five per cent or 18 per cent, to be charged with or without Input Tax Credit (ITC) is still in a limbo. Amidst all the confusion and lack of clarity, there was some good news that came in for the hospitality sector. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) welcomed the revised GST slab on hotel room tariffs that widens the slab of 18 per cent to tariffs ranging between `2,500 and `7,500. With the revision, the highest tax rate of 28 per cent is assigned to tariffs of `7,500 and above. We also recently received news from the new secretary tourism, Rashmi Verma, ministry of tourism, Government of India, that they have set up a GST cell under the economic advisor so that the genuine concerns of tourism industry can be easily

HEAD OFFICE MUMBAI EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD® The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 2nd Floor, Express Tower, Nariman Point Mumbai- 400 021 Board line: 022- 67440000 Ext. 527 Branch Offices NEW DELHI Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division Express Building, B-1/B Sector 10 Noida 201 301 Dist.Gautam Budh nagar (U.P.) India. Board line: 0120-6651500. Mobile: +91 9899707440 BANGALORE Mathen Mathew The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 502, 5th Floor, Devatha Plaza, Residency road, Bangalore- 560025 Mobile: +91 9840826366

“Though travel associations have done their bit to invite experts to address the industry,the general consensus is still of ambiguity on the topic and its implementation”

6-3-885/7/B, Ground Floor, VV Mansion, Somaji Guda, Hyderabad – 500 082 KOLKATA Ajanta Sengupta The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division JL No. 29&30, NH-6, Mouza- Prasastha & Ankurhati, 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 Mathen Mathew The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Ground Floor, Sankoorikal Building, Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017 Mobile: +91 9840826366 COIMBATORE The Indian Express (P) Ltd. No. 205-B, 2nd Floor, Vivekanand Road, Opp. Rajarathinam Hospital Ram Nagar, Coimbatore- 641 009

solved. They intend to assist professionals within the trade through smooth transitioning to the GST regime. The secretary also offered everyone to submit their problems, queries and suggestions to the council so the same can be taken up by the revenue department. So far so good, however, there are certain challenges in the tourism business that still need to be addressed. For the benefit of our readers, ETW has brought in expert opinion from a law firm on the GST story, which can be referred to on page 18 of this issue. Further, MoT has recently taken a decision to finally took into the performance of their overseas tourism offices. The Government of India has 14 designated tourism offices in prominent destinations like London, Australia, Los Angeles, New York, Dubai, Toronto, Beijing, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Singapore, Johannesburg and Milan and their revival is crucial for providing inbound tourism a fillip. The central government recently announced another list of 30 cities for development as Smart Cities, taking the total cities picked up so far to 90 under Smart City Mission launched on June 25, 2015. According to the government, 45 cities contested for 40 available Smart City slots but only 30 were selected. Please refer to our website for the complete story. Also, our cover story this issue on the niche sports tourism segment is another interesting read. REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com

AHMEDABAD Nirav Mistry The Indian Express (P) Ltd. 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Near Judges Bunglows, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Mobile: +91 9586424033 BHOPAL Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 2nd Floor, Express Tower, Nariman Point Mumbai- 400 021 Board line: 022- 67440000 Ext. 527 JAIPUR Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. S2,J-40, Shyam GHP Enclave, Krishna Marg, C-Scheme, Jaipur - 302 001 Mobile: +91 9899707440

Important: Whilst care is taken prior to acceptance of advertising copy,it is not possible to verify its contents.The Indian Express (P) Limited cannot be held responsible for such contents,nor for any loss or damages incurred as a result of transactions with companies,associations or individuals advertising in its newspapers or publications.We therefore recommend that readers make necessary inquiries before sending any monies or entering into any agreements with advertisers or otherwise acting on an advertisement in any manner whatsoever.

HYDERABAD The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

CONTENTS Vol 12 No 6 July 2017 Pages 28 Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas

MANAGEMENT

IT'S JUSTNOT

CRICKET

Editor

Reema Lokesh* Assistant Editor

TTM+ 2017: FOCUS ON THE 'UNIQUELY LOCAL' The 16th edition of Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2017 highlighted the uniquely local tourism offerings of Thailand and its neigbouring countries which are committed to the vision of shared prosperity

Steena Joy Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM New Delhi

Saloni Bhatia DESIGN National Design Editor

Bivash Barua

EDGE

Assistant Art Director

Pravin Temble Senior Artists

Ratilal Ladani, Rajesh Jadhav SCHEDULING & COORDINATION

Ashish Anchan Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil MARKETING

THE ROADMAP FOR ODISHA With a view to promote Odisha on the domestic and international front, the second edition of Odisha Tourism Conclave highlighted the basic tourism infrastructure needs of the state

Regional Heads

Harit Mohanty - East & West Prabhas Jha - North Marketing Team

Debnarayan Dutta Ajanta Sengupta Mathen Mathew CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar

Emerging from the shadows of the nation’s favourite sport, cricket, India's sports tourism market – inbound and outbound – has evolved with increasing demand for F1, golf, tennis and football, offering great potential to the travel trade to sell interesting packages to the growing tribe of sports fans

LIFE

(12-15) 22

PRODUCTION General Manager

MARKETS

B R Tipnis Manager

Bhadresh Valia Express TravelWorld® POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18

MoT TO REVIVE INDIA'S OVERSEAS TOURISM OFFICES

RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993

AN INTERVIEW WITH VISHAL SINHA, THE NEWLY APPOINTED CEO OF CWT INDIA

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 & Administrative Offices:

P03 : EDITOR’S NOTE P23 : MOVEMENTS

Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

P24 : WEEKEND

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL WHITE NIGHTS OF ST PETERSBURG TO BE HELD IN JULY ' THERE IS A NEED TO SENSITISE TRAVEL AGENTS TOWARDS THE SENSITIVITY OF NATURE' Ranjit Barthakur, founder trustee of Balipara Foundation in Assam highlights the focus on community conservation in the Eastern Himalayas and the engagement with the travel industry to attract discerning visitors to the region

Copyright © 2017 The Indian Express (P) Limited. 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

IN THE NEWS

MoT to revive India's overseas tourism offices Saloni Bhatia New Delhi THE GOVERNMENT of India has 14 designated tourism offices in prominent destinations like London, Australia, Los Angeles, New York, Dubai, Toronto, Biejing, Paris, Frakfurt, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Singapore, Johannesberg and Milan. In a recent event held by the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the members claimed that majority of these offices lacked senior officials and did not respond well within time. When the same was questioned to Rashmi Verma, secretary, Ministry of Tourism, she informed, “The government plans to fill these positions at the earliest so the international tourism offices can function to their optimum level. In order to promote In-

dia, the ministry will also open new offices in the relevant markets and rework on marketing strategies.” Commenting on recent growth in tourist arrivals, she mentioned, “The latest figures from the month of May show that India has seen 19.5 per cent growth in tourist arrivals. While the last few years have seen a steady growth in arrivals, we will be soon be launching Incredible India 2.0 campaign in international as well as domestic markets to push tourism numbers.” She emphasised on the importance of domestic travellers and stated that the focus will equally lie in the growing segment. While talking about the introduction of the National Tourism Policy, Verma added, “We are already making final revisions to the National State Tourism Policy so we can sub-

The latest figures from the month of May show that India has seen 19.5 per cent growth in tourist arrivals. While the last few years have seen a steady growth in arrivals, we will be soon be launching Incredible India 2.0 campaign in international as well as domestic markets to push tourism numbers mit it to the cabinet at the earliest possible. I am hopeful that this policy will bring major changes and give India's tourism the much needed push.” Addressing the grievances of the tour operators and travel agents regarding Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monuments, guide policies and GST, she mentioned,

“The issue of revision of guidelines by ASI has already been taken up with the Ministry of Culture and soon we shall have a solution on it. As far as GST is concerned, we have set up a GST cell under the economic advisor so that the genuine concerns of tourism industry can be easily solved. We will assist everyone through smooth transi-

tioning to the GST regime.” The new secretary offered everyone to submit their problems, queries and suggestions to the council so the same can be taken up by the revenue department. Verma also informed that Ministry of Tourism will soon be revamping its website in order to give it a more vibrant look.

The Q Experiences launches India's first curated journey through Antarctica Saloni Bhatia New Delhi THE Q EXPERIENCES, an Indian luxury travel company, has announced an exclusive expedition to the Antarctica only for 200 people. It will be the first time that an Indian brand will take people through a special curated journey to the white continent. Starting off from Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Feugo, Argentina and the

southernmost city in the world on December 9, the journey will take travellers through the Drake Passage and into the land of ice. Travellers will be cruising through glaciers of Neko Bay and Paradise Bay, anchoring at Port Lockroy, finally sailing to the largest colony of Chinstrap Penguins at Deception Island and visit the Weddell Sea. The cruise will have 11 experts who will guide the travellers through some unique places.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Vasim Shaikh, founder, The Q Experiences said, “Travellers will be on board 'The Great Majestic Explorer', a yacht flying the flag of India with 132 elegant staterooms and suites. All staterooms have private balconies which are luxury in itself and 30 per cent of the bookings has already been made. While our major queries have come from countries like UK, USA and UAE, we have seen a surpris-

ing demand from cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru in India. India is an emerging market for luxury travel as it has shown six per cent year-onyear growth. It is growing at the rate of 12 per cent as compared to the UK market. Seeing the rising upper middle class, we are positive that the product will do well with the Indian audience.” In order to cater to the Indian audience, Atul Kochhar, Indian Michelin starred chef

will be on board serving Indian regional cuisine. In addition, the team of catering centre run by Alain Ducasse Enterprise will also be on board to enhance the global cuisine. Buffets each day will be of a different theme. Commenting on expansion plans, Shaikh further informed, “We plan to inrtoduce an Arctic expedition by the summer of next year and also venture in customised Indian travel in the coming time.”

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

IN THE NEWS

'INDIAN COMPANIES AND SMES WILLDRIVE RAPID GROWTH OFBUSINESS TRAVEL' Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) is a global leader in business travel, meetings and events, serving clients in 150 countries. Vishal Sinha, the newly appointed CEO of CWT India, speaks about the USP of the company, which has more than 180 corporate clients in the country By Sudipta Dev What is your market USP in the competitive business travel segment in India? While managed business travel in India is a fairly competitive and rather crowded space in a more transactional sense, what distinguishes CWT as a trusted business partner for corporates is the overall value that we brings to their corporate travel programmes. CWT has been leading the industry by developing innovative products and technology that not only bring convenience to the travellers and the agents, but also provide our clients with complete transparency over their travel spend. We recently embarked on a new strategy called “CWT 3.0”, with a focus on delivering a consumer-grade, omni-channel experience to the traveller, easy-to-use solutions for companies, and bestin-market hotel and data offerings. We have implemented our global products in India – the likes of CWT AnalytIQs (our business intelligence tool), CWT To Go (our mobile app) and CWT Portrait (our traveller profiling tool) amongst many others. At the same time, we have also deployed locally relevant technology available in the market to allow for the non-GDS content and the level of customisation that the Indian corporates look for. More recently, in April this year, CWT launched CWT For You, a state-of-the-art business travel solution specially designed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

sonalised solutions that suit them best. We’re also working on ramping up our hotel offer by giving our clients around the globe access to more hotel content across all channels – online, offline and mobile.

Vishal Sinha

What are your key growth strategies for this market? India is expected to be one of the fastest growing business travel markets over the next five years, which is definitely exciting for us. What’s equally exciting is that this growth is likely to be driven by Indian companies and SMEs. These two segments present an enormous opportunity for us, since a large part of this market is still “unmanaged” in the true sense of a corporate travel programme. India has one of the largest proportion of millennial generation business travellers. Our mobile and self-booking tool offerings, as well as a 24x7 servicing environment, provide the “anytime, anywhere” support that this generation expects. Going forward, we believe that travellers will look for far more personalised solutions and services. With the large datamining capabilities that we already have in place, we are well-positioned to provide companies and travellers with per-

Your views on the changing profile and preference of the Indian business traveller? Millennials already comprise almost half of our clients’ travellers in India, and this number will continue to rise as more millennials enter the workforce. At the same time, while millennials are known to be tech-savvy, GenXers too have been embracing technology for business travel. When we look at the usage of online booking tools (OBTs) and mobile apps, GenXers have quickly caught up with millennials. It’s clear that technology – and mobile technology, in particular – has become a key area of focus in business travel.

Have you observed any interesting trends in terms of MICE travel? While CWT India has entered a partnership to service the MICE needs of our corporate customers due to the special focus and expertise that it needs, we are observing that corporates are taking more “control” of their MICE spend. In the past, most corporates allowed the final users to manage their MICE needs themselves. Now, there is a trend towards managing this spend centrally through contractual relationships that are not necessarily event based, but span across all the MICE needs of the corporates (also referred to as Strategic Meetings Management). This not only allows for a more optimum spend management, but also the data capture that enables traveller tracking, safety, security and compliance.

What are the key focus areas of research for CWT in India? Through the year, we conduct research into various aspects of business travel, as well as socio-economic or demographic trends that impact business travel directly or indirectly. Each year CWT publishes its annual price forecast across air and non-air products for all the key markets globally that allows the corporates to plan their travel spends better. In recent years we’ve also conducted and published research on areas such as traveller stress, bleisure travel, the sharing economy, and gender differences in booking business travel. Specifically in India, we have been focused on demographic trends given the increasing number of millennials and women in business travel, as well as the specific needs of small and medium businesses.

IN THE NEWS

‘INDIAN TRAVELCOMPANIES NEED PHD Chamber TO URGENTLYADAPTTO THE launches India's DIGITALREVOLUTION’ first 'Heli Expo' Derek Melnick, business development manager at NZONE Skydive, Skydive Wanaka & Skydive Paradise, speaks to Reema Lokesh about the demand for the adventure experience in the India market How has the response been from the India market toward your line of business? The response from the India market has been incredibly strong for skydiving in our region particularly (Southern Lakes) due to the dramatic setting on offer, making a Skydive in the Queenstown and Wanaka region quite possibly the most incredible destination to skydive in the world. We have welcomed many Bollywood stars for the experience in our region, including New Zealand brand ambassador Siddharth Malhotra. Are you noticing any new demand from the India market? We have certainly seen the market continue to show double digit growth over the past few years, exceeding that of the visitor growth to New Zealand. I believe there will be a dramatic development in demand when the airline industry responds with a direct service between India and New Zealand, something that has been brewing for a long time.

What has been your top performing market and where does India stand? China has been our top performing market and that is mainly due to the larger number of arrivals to New Zealand than India, again made possible by a very comprehensive network of airline connections between the two countries. India remains in our top three markets which is an incredible achievement, given the arrival numbers from India are around seven to eight times smaller than that of China. What are your expectations from the market and is there a message you wish to share with your Indian trade contacts and buyers? My message to our Indian trade partners and buyers is to raise the level of communications (digital and print) to show clients that you are in the market of helping them experience a skydive in the most incredible location on the planet. By visually showing an updated skydive image of ours in your communications you are demonstrating

Saloni Bhatia New Delhi Derek Melnick

to your clients you are in the business of adventure tourism, a niche Indians across the country are incredibly hungry for. There is a major shift in Indian media consumption too, I see it on a daily basis as most Indian passengers of ours pull out multiple handheld devices to snap photos, post on social media and connect with their friends and family back home to share their experience. This means the successful Indian travel companies of the future will be those that have adapted to the digital revolution. There’s a great urgency to update your websites to something more progressive than what I’m seeing currently and to have a greater priority to being mobile responsive. Your customer will demand breathtaking imagery, sharp design and inspiring content that can help them dream. If you continue to do what you have always done, do not be surprised to see your client base dwindle.

PHD (Progress Harmony Development) Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that the second edition of Aero Expo India 2017 will be held on November 2-5 in New Delhi. Following the success of the first edition of Aero Expo India which was held at Indira Gandhi International Airport last year, the chamber has decided to add additional two days dedicated to 'Heli Expo'. This will be India's first Heli Expo to be held at the Pawan Hans Heliport in Rohini focusing on the potential of India's helicopter services. Speaking at the press meet, K N Rao, chairman – civil aviation committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “India is already the fastest growing aviation market in the world and the move to improve regional air connectivity is expected to further boost the industry. The last Aero Expo was a huge success as it became a desired platform for stakeholders, buyers and

private players to understand the market and see new products. We hope to continue providing such a wide platform by adding the Heli Expo.” He further added, “The government has already taken initiatives to promote regional connectivity but now it is upto the private players. This show will enable the global and domestic players to meet and put take things forward in order to grow India's aviation services. As India gears up to take their airplane fleet to about 800 by 2020, it is upto the private players to recognise more opportunities.” The show will feature exhibitors from the aviation, tourism and infrastructure industry. The exhibition shall further seek to connect exhibitors with host of policy makers; high level government (centre and state) delegations, leading industry players from international and national aviation industry, airport operators, aero space and allied industry experts, tourism stalwarts among others.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

IN THE NEWS

Kiwi Link India 2017 to be held from July 12-14 in New Delhi

Georgia opens five new visa application centres in India through VFS Global Saloni Bhatia New Delhi

ETW Staff Mumbai TOURISM NEW ZEALAND’S annual travel trade event, Kiwi Link India, is scheduled to take place from July 12 to 14, 2017 in national capital, New Delhi. The event will be comprised of two full-day workshops followed by a frontline training session for travel agents. Kiwi Link India 2017 is expected to see participation from 35 tour operators from New Zealand, four airlines, Immigration New Zealand and Indian delegates from 42 companies. Tourism New Zealand will also be hosting key buyers from around India in New Delhi. During the event Tourism New Zealand will be introducing the new, improved version of the “100% Pure” New Zealand specialist programme. The programme features a Gold, Silver and Bronze tier structure, and will provide benefits and incentives for members of each tier

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

Steven Dixon

such as access to in-market training webinars and events, Tourism New Zealand’s Explore New Zealand discount programme, and 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist branded items. The revised trade training programme is said to make it simpler for travel sellers to become New Zealand experts, through online and in-person training and provide an opportunity to potentially increase their sales and referrals. Their details will be

listed on Tourism New Zealand’s website. Speaking about the event, Steven Dixon, regional manager – South and South East Asia, Tourism New Zealand, said, “Kiwi Link India is one of Tourism New Zealand’s biggest trade shows and is very important to us as India continues to be a priority emerging market. The event serves as an ideal platform for us to strengthen relations with our stakeholders in the Indian travel trade.” India is a priority market for New Zealand and is demonstrating strong growth. In the year ending April 2017 there were 53,792 Indian visitors to New Zealand, an increase of 14.6 per cent on the previous year. Stephen England-Hall, chief executive, Tourism New Zealand, added, “We are very pleased with the current growth out of India. The support we get from the Indian travel trade is absolutely vital to our success, which is why events such as Kiwi Link are so important.”

THE MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, represented by the Embassy of Georgia in New Delhi, has appointed VFS Global to offer five new visa application centres across India. The centres are set to commence services in New Delhi, Bangaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. The centre in New Delhi was inaugurated by Giorgi Tabatadze, director of consular department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and H E Archil Dzuliashvili, ambassador of Georgia to India. Speaking at the inauguration, Dzuliashvili, said, “Georgia is a four-season destination so one can visit any time of the year. Through our association with VFS as a global brand, we plan to raise awareness about the country and attract more Indian travellers. The opening of five visa centres across India is a very important step in order to facilitate the traveller for them to easily access Georgian visa.” Earlier the visa applications were directed to the embassy which became difficult to manage. Dzuliashvili, added, “Over the years, we are pleased to observe significant progress in our bilateral relations with India. Georgia is emerging as a popular destination among Indian travellers with the

Last year recorded more than 35,000 Indian tourist arrivals.We are looking forward to promote our country here purpose of tourism, education, business etc. Last year recorded more than 35,000 Indian tourist arrivals and we are looking forward to promote our country in the India market.” Commenting on the launch, Vinay Malhotra, chief operating officer – Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global, stated, “VFS Global's nationwide network of visa application centres will make Georgia visa services more easily accessible for citizens and will go a long way in significantly increasing travel to Georgia and enhancing its perception as a popular tourist destination.” Georgia is VFS Global's 55th client government worldwide and the 38th to be served in India. VFS Global added three new client governments to its global client base in May 2017 namely Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Georgia.

IN THE NEWS

Think Spain for ‘fly & drive’, adventure, all women’s travel Reema Lokesh Mumbai THIS IS HIS SECOND innings in the India market and Ignacio Ducasse Gutierrez, director, Tourism Office of Spain- Mumbai sees a noticeable change with respect to the outbound tourism scenario in India and especially in connection with Spain as a destination from then to now. He worked for Spain Tourism in the India market around 10 years ago and he candidly says, “It’s all about before ‘Zindagi na milegi dobara’ and after.” Undoubtedly so, the

film was a turning point for Spain Tourism and did wonders in terms of brand building, tourism inflow and growth in general, both amidst the new and the experienced traveller. Having said that, the tourism board is building itself from there and is ready to welcome and showcase Spain across demography and varied travel groups. The destination received encouragement from the India market with almost one lakh visitors in 2016, both in the leisure and MICE category. The demand for MICE in Spain is also on the rise, as the

country is opening up new regions for MICE for the India market. Increase in aviation seat capacity has also provided further impetus to the tourism inflow. The travel agent’s fraternity too has been highly proactive, with around 260 experts on Spain and over 700 as active business partners in the Indian trade, giving the destination its much needed tourism push. The first quarter of 2017 (January to April) the destination has witnessed an increase of around 17 per cent in terms of tourism inflow from India, vis-a-vis the previous year.

To further increase its strength and brand, the tourism office will continue it’s promotional strategy and campaigns with an increased focus via different channels of the social media. In an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, Gutierrez, said, “From culture, art, food to architecture, history and dance, the destination is vibrant in every way. Spain is a perfect destination for various sets of travellers from adventure lovers, to women travellers, honeymooners and families in general. We are keen to highlight

Ignacio Ducasse Gutierrez

the ‘fly & drive’ experience in the India market. Shopping is yet another interesting aspects for the Indian travellers, which is worth exploring. The India market has been responding very well and we can extremely excited about our work in the this region for the future. We are working closely with trade partners who promote various aspects of Spain.” Cox & Kings recently partnered with Spain Tourism for Tapas Day celebrations. Cox & Kings, presented it’s guidebook – ‘En-route’ that encapsulates the flavours and cultural offerings of Spain.

Salvia Promoters strengthens its tourism push from India into Russia Reema lokesh Mumbai FINDING ONE'S niche and promoting it aggressively seems to be the apt business formula. New Delhi-based Salvia Promoters has followed this principle and has been actively associated with Russian tourism entities since close to a decade. The company started promoting tours to Russia around 14 years ago under a different entity titled Salvia Travels. However the job of actively promoting the tourism potential of the region vis-a-vis the India market was undertaken by a new entity Salvia Promoters. Along with the Russian organisation World

Without Borders (WWB), Salvia Promoters works as partners to promote and position the potential of Russia tourism in India. The company also worked as Russian embassy's official visa facilitation services entity for the India market for close to 10 years. However, though the company is not the official body now, it continues to work closely with the embassy and cultural centre to assist and aid any visa and other requirements for Indian tour operators in the outbound space. Prashant Chaudhary, MD, Salvia Promoters, stated that the company is focused to actively promote Russia and other neighbouring regions

Prashant Chaudhary

in the India market. The growth figures into Russia from India has been encour-

aging, wherein approximately 70,000 tourists from India travelled to Russia in 2016, showing a 30 per cent growth over the previous year. In an exclusive interaction with Express TravelWorld, Chaudhary said, “When we ventured into the nascent and untapped market of Russia, it was quite challenging across all fronts from visa services, accommodation etc. Building the tourism bridge between both countries was tough. But with patience and perseverance the tourism ties have grown from strength to strength and Salvia Promoters have always been recognised for their services within the trade in India. Further, we

are proud to initiate a FAM trip to St Peterburg soon for few Indian entities to witness the White Nights phenomenon." He further added, "As we speak today, the Rouble and Rupee rate has made Russian tourism packages attractive for the Indian audience.” The company feels the Russian product and its surrounding regions have a lot to offer in terms of both MICE as well as niche leisure travel. RUS tourism - Russian Tourism Board is also keen to further strengthen ties to boost tourism into the region from India. The CIS countries too are slowly opening up to the potential of the Indian outbound market.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

IN THE NEWS

International music festival White Nights of St Petersburg to be held in July ETW Staff Mumbai

THE INTERNATIONAL Music Festival, White Nights of St Petersburg is global event which is going to take place in the most prestigious and iconic concert hall of St. Petersburg BKZ "Oktyabrsky" from July 8-10, 2017. There have been six full-scale events in the history of the White Nights of St Petersburg International Music Festival. These events changed people's perceptions of the Russian entertainment industry at the end of the 20th century, and continue to astonish the world in the 21st century. The first White Nights Festival was held in 1992 and was registered with the International Federation of Festival Organizations (FIDOF), which was founded in Yugoslavia in 1966. White Nights soon became the largest pop festival not only in Russia but throughout Eastern Europe. Festival events are covered by major Russian and international television and radio stations. Further festivals took place in 1993, 1994, and 1995. During this period, the festival was headed by former Mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak. In 2003, the festival's organising committee put on a large-scale gala concert to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg, and then again in 2006 as part of the cultural programme of the G8 Summit. In 2011, the festival recaptured its former glory, gaining international renown. The White Nights festival has treated Russian audiences to performances by many of the world's top stars, including: Army of Lovers, Ringo

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

Starr & His All Starr Band, Asia, Blood, Boney M, Brian May (Queen), Chris Rea, Deep Purple, Europe, Falco, Tanita Tikaram, Glenn Hughes, Sheryl Crow, Jethro Tull, Sweet, Joe Cocker, Jose Carreras, Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias, Londonbeat, Mark Farner, Mr. Big, Rick Wakeman, Ricky Martin, Ronnie James Dio, Salt-n-Pepa, Samantha Fox, Scorpions, Slade, Status Quo, Steve Vai, Supermax, Sweet Tears, Technotronic, Terence Trent D'Arby, UFO, Vanilla Ice, Whitesnake's David Coverdale, and many others. Representatives from the Dutch, British and Monaco royal families have all been guests of honour at the White Nights of St Petersburg International Music Festival, along with the French minister of culture, the mayors of St. Petersburg's twin cities, and in-

ternational media representatives, including journalists. In recent years the festival has reached a new level with live broadcasts and this allowed millions of Russians both to

watch performances and also participate in the winner selection by voting. Throughout its 300-year history, St Petersburg has remained one of the world's

most beautiful and culturally significant cities. Its location, rich history, and architecture occupy an important place in international cultural heritage.

IN THE NEWS

IATO welcomes new tourism secretary

Lemon Tree Hotels forays into extended stays with Sandal Suites Saloni Bhatia New Delhi

Saloni Bhatia New Delhi INDIAN ASSOCIATION of Tour Operators (IATO) recently held a special meeting at The Ashok Hotel in New Delhi in order to welcome the new secretary of ministry of tourism, Rashmi Verma and bid farewell to Vinod Zutshi, former secretary. Welcoming her, Pronab Sarkar, president IATO, mentioned, “We welcome Rashmi Verma to the ministry and assure her IATO's support in all future efforts. We know that her previous experience with the tourism ministry as the assistant director general will prove as an added advantage for the sector. We also thank Zutshi for his extensive support during his tenure.” He further brought up the issues faced by the tour operators and travel agents. The members claimed that majority of international tourism offices lacked senior

officials and did not respond well within time. Verma reverted, “The government plans to fill these positions at the earliest so the international tourism offices can function to their optimum level. In order to promote India, the ministry will also open new offices in the relevant markets and rework on marketing strategies.” Addressing the grievances of the tour operators and travel agents regarding Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monuments, guide policies and GST, she mentioned, “The issue of revision of guidelines by ASI has already been taken up with the Ministry of Culture and soon we shall have a solution on it. As far as GST is concerned, we have set up a GST cell under the economic advisor so that the genuine concerns of tourism industry can be easily solved. We will assist everyone through smooth transitioning to the GST regime.”

The new secretary offered everyone to submit their problems, queries and suggestions to the council so the same can be taken up by the revenue department. Zutshi thanked the association for their support, he said, “There can be no better successor to me than Verma and I am sure she will make major achievements in the sector.” Some top government officials from the Central Board of Excise & Customs were also present to address the issues of tourism industry regarding GST(Good and Service Tax). Pramod Kumar, additional secretary, gave a small presentation on the impact of GST emphasising on the fact that GST will depend on location of the supplier, location of recipient and location of service. Later GD Lohani, commissioner, answered the members who had doubts regarding interstate tax filings and registration.

SANDAL SUITES, the upscale serviced suites operated by Lemon Tree Hotels, has been recently launched in Noida. Situated just off the NoidaGreater Noida Expressway, the property is Lemon Tree Hotel's first venture into the extended stay category. Located within the Assotech Business Cressterra, the property is well placed in the IT hub of Sector 135, Noida. Featuring 195 suites, extensive banqueting facilities, dining options and other recreational facilities, Sandal Suites will cater to the extended stay accommodation need of the business hub. Speaking at the launch, Rattan Keswani, deputy managing director, Lemon Tree Hotels and director, Carnation Hotels, said, “Sandal Suites will be a unique extended stay product, amalgamating the needs of a regional and western

travellers to deliver a complete experience. We have focused on optimising space in order to provide the comfort of a home away from home. Different from other serviced apartments, the numerous facilities at the hotel like spa, sports club, personal kitchenettes will offer a comfortable stay.” This is Lemon Tree Hotels' debut into the extended stay concept in partnership with Sandal Suites, a sister company of Assotech. The MICE facilities at the hotel include Tangerine Grand, a ballroom which can cater to about 220 guests and spaces for business meetings. When asked about future developments, Rupesh Kumar Singh, general manager, Sandal Suites, informed, “In coming months we will also open the garden area for events which shall easily accommodate more people. The bar and spa will open by the end of October, adding to the facilities.”

Corrigendum In the last issue, in the article titled Saying Bula to Buisness at FTE, Mathew Stoeckler’s name was mispelt due to typographical reasons. The error is regretted.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

cover story)

IT'S JUSTNOT

CRICKET Emerging from the shadows of the nation’s favourite sport, cricket, India's sport tourism market – inbound and outbound – has evolved with increasing demand for F1, golf, tennis and football, offering great potential to the travel trade to sell interesting packages to the growing tribe of sports fans BY MOHIT RATHOD & SALONI BHATIA

ver the years, the travel and tourism industry has seen itself broadening as people no longer look at it as just a family vacation. Similar to the boom in corporate travel and MICE segment

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

due to globalisation, more people are now also travelling to attend sports events across the globe. This has eventually established 'sports tourism' as a unique segment in the travel and tourism industry. A relatively new concept, people travelling to attend sports events dates back to the ancient Olympic Games. The segment has now become a tool to stimulate tourism in a destina-

tion. In the recent years, sport and tourism professionals have realised the significant potential of sport tourism and are actively putting efforts on this market niche. Sports tourism is a fast growing sector of the global travel industry.

India outbound Travelling for sports requires a larger budget when compared to other segments of

tourism. However, with rising disposable income and an increase in the amount of leisure time, Indians have been observed travelling for major sports events such as Formula 1, tennis, badminton among others. This boom in the travel and tourism industry has resulted in setting up of sportspecialist travel agencies and international tourism boards promoting their countries'

sport events in a big way. Commenting on the market scenario, Rajeev Kale, president and country head (leisure travel and MICE), Thomas Cook India, says, “Sports tourism, once considered a niche segment, is today witnessing impactful growth in the Indian market context and not surprising given that cricket for most of us is a religion. The Indian consumer is

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

“At Tourism Australia, we have worked with prominent cricketers and sports influencers” Nishant Kashikar Country manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia

“The sports tourism sector in India is growing exponentially and has tremendous potential” Mayank Khandwala Co-founder, Cutting Edge Events

hungry for travel, and sports tourism offers another unique opportunity with that all critical brag factor fuelling demand, and of course the sheer diversity is certainly a plus point. The media blitz and glamour quotient of mega sporting events like the Olympic Games, tennis, F1-GP, French/US open, the FIFA World Cup or the Cricket World Cup have played a key

role in the steadily increasing popularity, and sports tourism is expected to contribute to a significant growth in the international tourism market.” Despite the popularity of cricket among the Indian audience, there is an emerging trend of outbound travel from India to destinations offering Formula 1, golf, tennis, football and badminton experiences alongside adventure sports. A

pioneer in sports tourism space in India, Cutting Edge Events started its journey of blending sports and leisure at the 2003 Cricket World Cup and provides personalised, tailor-made experiences. Cutting Edge Events has also been appointed as the exclusive hospitality sales agent of Match Hospitality in India for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The company was also the partici-

pating tour operator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and hospitality sales agent of Match Hospitality in India for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. “Tourist traffic has been increasing year-on-year. We saw a huge jump in tourist traffic, from the South Africa World Cup to the Brazil World Cup. The numbers grew almost four-five times. Just to give an example the value of

“There is huge demand among among the high net worth individuals (HNIs), fully independent travellers (FITs) and corporates” Anant Roongta Director, Fanatic Sports

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

cover story)

“Sports tourism, once considered a niche segment, is today witnessing impactful growth in the Indian market context” Rajeev Kale President and country head (leisure travel and MICE), Thomas Cook India

“We have had a strong learning curve supported by a wide global network” Arun Raghu Co-founder, Fans on Stands

“The younger traveller wants to explore the world not just for its locations but for the adventure activities” Guldeep Singh Sahni President, Outbound Tour Operators' Association of India

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

match ticket sales in 2010 FIFA World Cup was around US$ 600,000 and for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil the match ticket sales from India was around US$ 9.5 million, which is nearly a jump of 10 times in the sales figures. We expect a similar increase for Russia as well, given the proximity and better connectivity with India,” shares Mayank Khandwala, cofounder of Cutting Edge Events. Shedding more light on the outbound market from India, Guldeep Singh Sahni, president, Outbound Tour Operators' Association of India, states, “With 27 to 38 per cent of youth in the age bracket of 15-35 years being the travellers in and out of India, sports tourism is high in demand and most sought after activity. The younger traveller wants to explore the world not just for its locations but for the adventure activities that location offers. Abu Dhabi tourism figures went up ever since Yas Island came into existence with Formula 1 races and other sports activities. Recent ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales shows how sports tourism benefits a country’s tourism. Wimbledon entry tickets get sold one year in advance. Of late we have seen a rise in number of travellers during soccer matches, ” adding that ICC Champions Trophy 2017 matches in England and Wales saw huge number of visitors from India to not only these regions, but even other parts of the UK and Europe. Last Commonwealth Games saw high volumes of visitors to Scotland and surroundings. Tour operators now keep an eye on the international sports events and plan their packages and inventory around it.

Inbound focus India possesses significant potential in the tourism industry. According to a 2014 report by India China Economic and Cultural Council titled, 'Sports Tourism in India', the country's sports tourism is also carving a niche for itself in Indian tourism industry, attract-

ing many adventurers to grab flights to India. The historical and geographical diversities of India open up great avenues for adventure sports and activities. With adequate support from relevant authorities, sports tourism in India is gaining prominence and popularity. People from different parts of the globe have started looking towards India as a world class holiday destination with top of the line sporting infrastructure. Sports tourism in India is also being encouraged by the tourism providers in India. Recent trends at Thomas Cook India also indicate that sports tourism is not just re-

ment and it is not a regularised travel segment. A lot of Indians travel extensively for tennis, FIFA, Grand Prix and Moto GP and a lot of bespoke experiences for instance, MiG21 flying experience in Russia, Formula 1 racing experience in France and more. Even small countries have such facilities, which is included in the itineraries. We have a vast potential for everything, which is unfortunately not systematically utilised by the sports industry,” points out Marzban Antia, MD, Avesta Travel & Tours and co founder, Fans on Stands, who is also VP, Travel Agents' Association of India.

stricted to cricket; events such as Pro Kabaddi League and Indian Super League too are seeing increasing uptake from a domestic perspective. The government needs to make significant investment on infrastructure. “Without that, there will be no improvement in sports tourism segment in India. The safety aspect also plays a crucial role and it has to be looked into. India is still a cricket-centric country, and cricket holds the top spot. As most people perceive, there's too much of cricket activities, but the essence of the game needs to be revived. The football stadiums in India are not at par with the ones in other countries. The sports ministry has to uplift certain areas of infrastructure, training facilities and budgeting for participation in international events. There is a very huge untapped market in sports tourism seg-

India is slowly growing in the sector with an emerging generation which is well informed on various sports. Anant Roongta, director, Fanatic Sports, comments, “While sports tourism in India is a new concept, we are seeing a huge demand from the high net worth individuals (HNIs), fully independent traveller (FITs) and corporates. No one is willing to go to the same boring old places but take a new experience while on vacation. That is when they look towards sports tourism.” Roongta further mentions that India has seen a drastic rise in sports travel due to events like IPL, ISL, Pro Kabbadi League, etc. The company does fly in corporates from countries like England and South Africa for IPL but majorly caters to the demand from the domestic market. Roongta adds, “India has come a long way in terms of stadiums and facilities but better infrastruc-

ture facilities and services can surely take the experience to the international level.” India boasts of an array of golf courses across regions and in order to highlight them some key industry people formed the India Golf Tourism Association (IGTA). The non profit organisation headed by its president Rajan Sehgal from Arrival Air Services, has been working to promote golf tourism in the country along with the ministry of tourism. Sehgal comments, “India has one of the best golf courses right from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala. Most Indian states receive more than 300 days of sunlight annually which is the best golfing weather. We are grateful to the ministry of tourism for the Golf Tourism Policy, which is a positive step for the members to promote golf tourism.” He further adds, “We organised International Golf Tourism Summits in association with Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) or PHD Chamber of Commerce with the support of the ministry where we we invited foreign golf tour operators from various parts of the world. We will also be hosting a Golf Tourism Show in the month of October or November this year to highlight India's services in the sector.” A golf traveller spends 40-45 per cent more then the normal tourist and takes two to three golfing holidays in a year. Whenever a golfer travels with his golf bag he plays three to four rounds of golf which means average stay is five nights, mentions Sehgal.

Leveraging sports International tourism boards have been promoting sports during their promotional campaigns and road shows in markets. Sports tourism has emerged as a widespread phenomenon in many countries. It not just offers economic benefits to local communities, but also helps generate enormous economic activity through various other forms of expenditure through both sporting as well as non-

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

“The Formula 1 event is very important for us and generates a significant amount of revenue” Sunil Mathapati Country manager – India, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority

sporting events. “At Tourism Australia, we have worked with prominent cricketers and sports influencers such as Harsha Bhogle, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist among many others to promote tourism in the country. We’ve driven advocacy campaigns on digital media, after welcoming Harsha Bhogle, that worked extremely well for us,” states Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia. Bahrain International Circuit is a unique selling point for overall tourism in Bahrain. It is a major event in Bahrain and attracts a large proportion of travellers from across the world. The destination sees a huge traffic from the European countries, however, it has witnessed growth from the India market over the years as Indians are gaining more interest in Formula 1. “The Formula 1 event is very important for us and generates a significant amount of revenue for the destination, with around 40,000-50,000 people attending it. Formula 1 is a major sports offering in Bahrain, but we also promote numerous other activities in the region. To promote the sports tourism

offerings in the India further, our strategy includes tie-ups with sports tour specialists in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru,” says Sunil Mathapati, country manager – India, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority Sport-specialist Fans on Stands has been enabling sport experiences for over seven years and has curated itineraries for mega events globally. Arun Raghu, cofounder, Fans on Stands, elaborates, “Whenever a mega sporting event happens, there is a mega imbalance from a demand and supply perspective. Sports fans are constantly running against availability and our strength lies in the ability to stitch things up in the right manner to deliver seamless experience. We have had a strong learning curve supported by a wide global network and that makes us a formidable team in the market. We as a company don't believe in making bundled standardised package due to margin opportunity and force it on the customers even though it might not suit their requirements. We don't operate in the inbound space. With reference to outbound, we

have in the past in partnership with tourism boards as well as independently drive awareness campaigns on the sports tourism experience opportunities.”

The game ahead Cutting Edge is planning to increase the network of offices within India as well as abroad as the potential for growth in sports tourism is tremendous. “We feel we have still barely scratched the surface. The sports tourism sector in India is growing exponentially and has tremendous potential. This potential can be harnessed by the tourism sector in India if the sports ministry and tourism ministry jointly work to promote sports events in India. This will lead to an influx of tourists who will visit India not just for the sports event but are likely to add on other tourist attractions to their India visit as well. Ultimately it will lead to revenue growth for the tourism segment and hence it is imperative for the ministry to look into this area and come up with a strategic plan to promote India as a sports tourism destination as well,” stated Khandwala.

The only way to make India a preferred golf destination and compete with countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc, is continuous support from the ministry and its overseas offices, believes Sehgal. “Sports plays an important role in promoting a country on the international platform and each player goes as an ambassador and creates awareness about his/her country. We need to market India as a golf destination by conducting regular golf tourism summits, panel discussions and invite golf writers to see our resources,” he reiterates. Antia points out that Indian tourism boards do not participate in promoting sports tourism as much as the foreign countries. Most of the international tourism boards in India promote sports primarily. Sports include events which travellers look forward to and India should also work in this area. Speaking on the outbound front, Sahni expresses, “There will be a tremendous growth in the coming years for sports tourism. Lots of enquiries are generated with sports ourism activities or during sports events. Soccer and base ball is catching interest out of India.”

“A golf traveller spends 40-45 per cent more than the normal tourist and takes two to three golfing holidays in a year” Rajan Sehgal President, India Gold Tourism Association (IGTA)

“The sports ministry has to uplift certain areas of infrastructure, training facilities” Marzban Antia VP, Travel Agents' Association of India

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

SPOTLIGHT

he 16th edition of Thailand's largest B2B travel trade event, Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2017, was held in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai recently. Organised by the the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the three-day mega event was held from June 14-16, 2017 at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC). The theme of TTM+ this year was “Discover Unique Local Experiences”. TTM+ 2017 witnessed a record number of participants. This is the second consecutive year that TTM+ is being organised in Chiang Mai, primarily to create greater awareness about the many attractions of the Northern Thailand region. There is a focused effort to promote the unique tourism products of North and Northeast Thailand. Inaugurating the event, Thanasak Patimaprakorn, deputy prime minister of Thailand, said, “TTM + has expanded enormously over the years and there is a lot of competition between buyers and sellers. Tourism is providing support and strengthening the economy. We have a great potential in Thailand. Culture is the spirit of tourism. We open new venues for tourism to at-

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

tract more visitors from across the world." Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, tourism and sports minister of Thailand spoke about the importance of community based tourism which is of great attraction to new age tourists who want to truly experience local culture. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Wattanavrangkul stated, "Chiang Mai has a unique identity which we want to promote to the world. This city is best of

the best and that is why we chose it to be the host city for TTM+ this year again." TTM+ is not just about Thailand but the Greater Mekong sub region, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Mayanmar, Vietnam and Thailand (CLMVT), and also southern China. Pointing out that TTM+ is among the top international platforms in South East Asia, Walailak Noypayak, executive director for ASEAN, South Asia and South Pacific,

SPOTLIGHT TAT, stated, “We don't want to promote only Thailand but also our neighbours. We want to have more involvement from SMEs in Chiang Mai and northern Thailand.”

India market Thailand receives about 1.1 million tourists from India and this year TAT is expecting 1.3 million Indian visitors. Speaking about the India market, Wattanavrangkul mentioned, "India is a very valuable market to us. You are quality tourists, and we are number one as destination wedding for the India market and a leading family destination. Even though Indian tourists have visited Thailand several times, there are many unique and lesser known tourism highlights of Thailand that Indian visitors need to explore and experience. For instance, they might have come to Chiang Mai a few times but there are so many new activities here that can be experienced." Considering the large number of Indian weddings held in Thailand, the country is considered the best overseas destination for weddings for the Indian market. “We want to promote, honeymooners, and single groups and of course luxury products. We want to promote new destinations in Thailand as wedding destinations for Indians,” added Noypayak. The family mobile app Family Fun has also recently been launched. There are many promotions and offers. There are 200 private sector companies including hotels and restaurants, which offer discounts. “The mobile app facilities FIT segment, they can know about good discounts, which can range from 10 per cent to 50 percent,” she stated. Thailand has now good connectivity with many tier II & tier III Indian cities for instance, Kochi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and other cities.

Knowledge sessions A panel discussion saw the minister for tourism highlight that community based tourism should be sustainable, it should be responsible tourism. People do not want to travel as

DISCOVERING CHIANG MAI As a tourism destination, Chiang Mai has much to offer to both repeat and first time traveller to Thailand. Nestled in the mountainous region of Northern Thailand, the city has emerged as a major tourism hub in recent times, attracting both leisure and MICE crowd.There are many hospitality options in the city, ranging from good budget accommodation to high-end hotels with banqueting facilities.The historic and cultural legacy of the city is the greatest draw for visitors. It is a site of many important Buddhist temples. From the tunnelled Wat U-mong temple which has a replica of Ashoka's pillar at Sarnath to the magnificent royal temple of Suan Dok to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in the mountains. One can get a panoramic view of Chiang Mai city from the look out point at the last temple precinct. For those looking to experience nature in all its glory the gardens of Bhubing Palace in the hills and the picturesque Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, which includes an Orchid Garden, are must visit. For differentiated experiences, a visit to Thai Elephant Care Centre and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum are interesting options.

tourists, they want to be a friend of locals. Wattanavrangkul spoke about CBT in ASEAN countries, “The ASEAN countries are promoting more CBT, at present there are 264 communities. We are planning to create another 99 CBT.” In his interesting presentation on security in tourism places, David Beirman, senior lecturer, Management Disciple Group, UTS Business School, Australia spoke about policing with emphasis on tourism vulnerabilities. He mentioned that there are lessons to be learned from ASEAN countries. “Ter-

rorists threaten international tourists. Tourism thrives on publicity so they also declare an economic warfare on the country. We need to have balance of security. Every person in the tourism industry needs to understand about risk management. Key tourism security holders range from tourism authority to hotels, airlines, tour operator, etc.” The CLMVT panel discussion on 'Moving towards shared prosperity' saw representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand share their vision and plans for the region.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

EXPERT VIEW

GST: Playing the game right An introduction to the new indirect tax regime – GST, which will be a game changer for the country, including the travel and hospitality sectors By Suhas Tuljapurkar

ST is considered as a game changer because it is expected to weed out brokers (middlemen), be a borderless tax regime and curb corruption. It is a game changer also, for many other reasons. The manner in which the Government of India has implemented GST so far is unique, a welcome change and needs to be applauded by everyone. The GST Council has done remarkable work with microscopic details. The magnamity of implementing GST in India is not lost on anybody including global economists. GST’s hallmark is transparency, ease and simplification. Even before GST has come into force a lot of people have interpreted GST in a manner contrary to the intention of the legislation. A clear

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

Suhas Tuljapurkar

understanding of GST and its rules is the need of the hour. In true sense, GST is the tax on value added by the assessee. Procuring from unregistered vendors will not only place the tax burden on the

assessee but the assessee will also lose the benefit of availing Input Tax Credit (ITC). One must ensure that the vendor is not only registered under GST but is also compliant under the Act. Thus it is imperative that every organisation prepares and maintains documents in a timely and systematic manner. This brings me to what I consider as one of the most crucial aspects of GST - antiprofiteering. Any savings made by availing ITC is not to be considered as a “gain”. The benefit of availing ITC must be transferred to the consumer in the form of reduced prices. Failure to do so shall be termed as anti-profiteering, leading to dire consequences, including deregistration and imprisonment. Therefore, essential GST is a

“Zero Sum Game”. Systematic and micro level tax planning will be the key to successfully playing this Zero Sum Game. The nature of GST is such that one must correctly classify outward supply. I firmly believe that, organisations should stick to their classification of outward supply and refrain from trying to classify their goods or services into lower tax brackets. One may note that incorrect classification of supply of goods or services or both shall be a matter of dispute with the government. It is for the first time that a country as large and diverse as India has attempted implementing GST. Transition from a plethora of taxes to a single tax regime may see some transitional hiccups and diffi-

culties, however the GST Council and various mechanisms of the government are working tirelessly to ensure smooth transition. With the implementation of GST, for a brief time period, India may experience increase in inflation rates. In order to curb inflation, the government may come out with a price list of various goods and services. The dream of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi of “One Tax One Country One Market” would be possible only if every stakeholder understands the game and the rules of the game and ensures that India emerges as the winner! (The author is Managing Partner, Legasis Partners and Founder Director, Legasis Services)

GUEST WRITER

THE POWER OF THE CONNECTED AIRCRAFT By Neelu Khatri, president, Honeywell Aerospace India

he aerospace industry will soon witness a monumental change, driven by the connected aircraft. What started as a revolution in the passenger experience about a decade ago has now forced airlines to re-examine what amenities are a must-have on each flight to stay competitive. These developments can be witnessed in India as well. To make the travel experience for passengers as well as pilots safe and seamless, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry of civil aviation has been taking advantage of advanced technologies. The ministry of civil aviation is developing Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing infrastructure to make air travel hassle-free, and is planning to make regional connectivity affordable through the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The impact of changes in connectivity and new technological adoptions will be felt well beyond the cabin. India, along with other aviation markets around the world, will soon enter into a software revolution from nose to tail and air to ground. The global aerospace sector is set to experience major changes in the near future that will lead to a cultural and business shift within the industry worldwide. The software revolution, or digital transformation as many people are calling it, will open up data sharing in new ways and allow for ever-growing man-to-machine interfaces. For aircraft operators this means real-time solutions for weather, flight planning, auxiliary power units and engine trending, and predicted maintenance will be devised to make

use of the gigabytes of data aircraft are generating on each flight that today are largely going unused. Now that the global aerospace industry has access to high-bandwidth and integrated services within the aircraft, pilots and operators will be able to pull critically important data from the plane and create value from it. APAC is going to be the largest region for operating aircraft fleet by 2034, surpassing North America and Europe with triple the volume of aircraft fleet flying than there are today. With this in mind, airports and airlines in the APAC region need to strengthen their ability to cater to domestic and international passengers. In the aviation sector, there is an increased demand for integrated services and connectivity globally. Pilots want advanced technological tools that

Neelu Khatri

put real-time information and data at their fingertips, allowing them to focus on flying. In this scenario, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position as the third largest aviation market for domestic passengers calls for safer, faster, and more efficient and comfortable

transportation-related experiences. These market developments and technological trends have encouraged Indian airlines and airport authorities to adopt the integrated services that pilots are demanding. Recently, Indian airlines have adopted advanced software solutions to reduce fuel use and costs. These technological offerings provide a full range of data analysis, reporting and monitoring tools for enhanced fuel conservation. In India, an airline experiences all types of terrains and weather changes. Weather radar systems are now accessible for pilots in the cockpit, which enable them to receive an accurate three-dimensional, 180 degree display of weather from the ground up to 60,000 feet. Another growing demand within the Indian aviation market is the provision of in-flight connectivity for domestic pas-

sengers. Today, passengers want a safe, comfortable flight with in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment capabilities like the ones they get in the office and at home. To address this, the civil aviation ministry has started talks with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to take steps toward implementing in-flight Wi-Fi in the near future to fuel the growth of domestic and global passengers. As India embarks on a journey to build a nationwide regional network and connect cities, there needs to be a strong focus on supporting the aviation industry by developing a connected aircraft. The power of the connected aircraft lies in enhancing the concept of aviation, enhancing how airlines operate, enhancing how passengers fly and taking this industry into the digital age.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

SPOTLIGHT

The roadmap for Odisha With a view to promote Odisha on the domestic and international front, the second edition of Odisha Tourism Conclave highlighted the basic tourism infrastructure needs of the state By Saloni Bhatia

HE SECOND edition of Odisha Tourism Conclave held in Bhubaneswar in June 17, 2017 highlighted how tourism can be the driving force of India's future economy. Initiated by the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Odisha (HRAO), the conclave witnessed participation from government officials and major tourism stakeholders of Odisha. The entire day housed power packed panels on various sub-

20 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD July 2017

jects like branding of the state, need for tourism infrastructure, skill development in hospitality amidst other issues. The conclave concluded in the presence of Naveen Patnaik, chief minister, Odisha; Vikram Oberoi, president- Hotel Association of India and managing director and CEO, The Oberoi Group; Ashok Panda, minister of tourism, Odisha and Pronab Sarkar, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) among other prominent leaders. Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik urged all stakeholders to

SPOTLIGHT partner with the government in making Odisha the next big destination of India and the world. He commented, “The co-operation between HRAO and the Odisha government to bring together this conclave is indeed commendable. The past years have seen a significant rise in the tourist arrivals, and tourism in Odisha is headed for the big push. Air Asia's direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Kuala Lampur will result in higher tourist footfalls to the state.” Oberoi, mentioned, “I have seen a drastic growth and development of the state in the past years. As more Indians have started travelling within India, it presents a great opportunity to focus on tourism within the

country. Odisha as a state can make the best of this situation and built on the required infrastructure to attract tourist numbers.” Sarkar spoke on one of the sessions on how tourism can be the driving force of future economy. He stated, “The image of the state needs to be improved with the help of constant promotions. The best way to start promotions is in the domestic market which can generate more funds. If the environment and hygiene conditions reach international level, it will automatically attract tourists.” IATO will be hosting their annual convention in Bhubaneswar in September to give it the much needed tourism push.

Commenting on the how tourism strengthens the economy, Banjamin Simone, managing director, TravelLink stated, “Coastal tourism can be the future of this sector if the highways are well maintained. The

tourism policy should embrace the local community in an equal manner and involve them in tourism growth. This shall also help the regional areas to develop further.” The inaugural ceremony

was attended by Dr S C Jamir, governor of Odisha and Arti Ahuja, principal secretary, ministry of tourism. While talking about Odisha as a tourist destination, the officials agreed that the state has some unique locations to offer and with the right promotion it could change the tourism dynamics for India. Some other prominent discussions included topics like niche tourism and what were the advantages of investing in Odisha. N B Jawale, director tourism, Government of Odisha brought forward the benefits of the state's new tourism policy which makes investment in the sector relatively easier than other Indian states.

‘WE WANTTHE GOVTTO OPEN AWORLD CLASS CONVENTION CENTRE IN BHUBANESWAR’ Continuing with its expansion plans in Odisha, Swosti Group will launch Swosti Chilika Resort, the premium luxury resort at Chilika Lake this month. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, J K Mohanty, chairman, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO)& CMD, Swosti Group shares the group's future plans and Odisha's infrastructural needs ning to aggressively market Odisha on the the international and domestic front through he print and digital media. Roadshows have been planned for every state this year as well, says Mohanty.

The 11 acre property at Chilika Lake will offer 70 deluxe rooms and one presidential suite along with other event and restaurant facilities. Scheduled to open in July, the property will be one of a kind in the lake area. Speaking about his the new venture, Mohanty, informs, “Chilika Lake holds a lot of potential as a tourist spot and our resort is sure to attract more tourists. We are confident that the quality and service will fulfill the needs of the high end domestic and foreign tourists.” Swosti Group currently owns three hotels in Odisha and this will be its fourth property. While speaking about the expansion plans, Mohanty mentions, “We will continue to expand in Odisha as there is a scope in a lot of areas. We own lands in locations like Puri, Bhitarkanika, Satpura which shall shape up as future projects. Since majority of hotels in Bhubaneswar are business hotels, the average occupancy

J K Mohanty

ranges from 60- 70 per cent but at the resort property we are looking to cater 80 percent leisure guests.” The government has raised the tourism budget to `200 crore from `45 crore which showcases the importance of tourism in a growing economy. They are plan-

Recently Air Asia started a weekly services from Bhubaneswar to Kuala Lampur which directly connects Odisha with the south Asian region. Mohanty reiterates, “The government is planning to do roadshows in countries like Sri Lanka, Kuala Lampur, Thailand and Singapore thanks to the connectivity of Air Asia flights. This shall help put Odisha at the centrestage of India's tourism map.” The tourism policy of Odisha has made it easier to make investments in the state. The government realises that tourism is going to be the future game changer and will give boost to the economy by providing employment, generating foreign exchange and increasing

tourist inflow. The hotel association has been constantly working with the government for the same and gives recommendations on the infrastructural needs for growth. The second Odisha Tourism Conclave highlighted the areas of opportunity, providing the much needed information for investors and entrepreneurs. Mohanty asserts, “We have suggested to the government to open a world class convention centre in Bhubaneswar that can attract more business tourism to the state. Another important aspect is to improve infrastructure, build more hotels and also improve the connectivity to far off areas like Jaipur.” Odisha will also host a Travel Bazar in association with Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI ) in October to bring in more investors and agents to the state.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

CONSERVATION

' THERE IS ANEED TO SENSITISE TRAVELAGENTS TOWARDS THE SENSITIVITYOFNATURE' Ranjit Barthakur, founder trustee of Balipara Foundation in Assam highlights the focus on community conservation in the Eastern Himalayas and the engagement with the travel industry to attract discerning visitors to the region By Sudipta Dev What is the vision/mission of Balipara Foundation in terms of eco-tourism in the Eastern Himalayas? The Eastern Himalayan region is home to some of Asia’s major rivers and three of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots which are of vital importance to the communities residing not only in the Eastern Himalayan region but many others across the world. Since the inception of Balipara Foundation, our vision has been to preserve and conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the region and develop symbiotic models for community conservation through technology to facilitate business and tourism based on the concept of Naturenomics - creating interdependence between nature and economics. Through our projects and initiatives, we are revitalising local communities through botany and promoting village, botany, community and agriculture tourism in the Eastern Himalayas. We envision converting each village into “nature assets”. What kind of engagement do you have with mainstream travel trade and tourism industry stakeholders? Thus far, we have had over 10,000 people from 40 countries visiting us, visitors from 40 companies and 20 travel agents, who we are linked to. There is however, a need to sensitise travel agents towards the sensitivity of nature. The Eastern Himalayas

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

Ranjit Barthakur

is a kingdom of wilderness and has the best national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. At Balipara Foundation, we promote the Asian Safari – visit to Manas National Park, Pakke Tiger Reserve, Nameri National Park, Kaziranga National Park and other wildlife sanctuaries, where there is plenty of adventure tourism to experience and nature to fall in love with. Another aspect that requires development is connectivity linkages in the region. There is ample “rural tourism” opportunity in the region and to encourage realising its full potential, we are actively involved in facilitating connecting stakeholders to help achieve seamless connectivity through river transportation, road and railways, airline penetration and many new airports. Which have been your key initiatives related to tourism (including conservation efforts)? Our biggest global tourism brands this year are the

Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark and Elephant Country. Through the Botanic Ark, we have been able to convert 22 acres of barren land into a biodiverse haven of the Eastern Himalayas with 100,000 + plants, 52+ butterfly species, 40 + bird species, and 13+ snake species. The Ark has been nurtured and restored by the nine communities that live around it. Visitors can “connect” with nature through interactive botanic trails where they experience the thriving and threatened biodiversity of the region. Our Naturenomics School at the Ark offers nature based learning. Wild Mahseer, residences at the Ark, with an exclusive Heritage Bungalow and four tea bungalows, offers the lifestyle of a British era tea planter to visitors. Elephant Country is our global brand for synergising community conservation and Asian elephant conservation

efforts. This year, we have plans to explore collaborations with existing partners in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia to connect important elephant corridors through the Eastern Himalayas and Asia and through the Asian Elephant Secretariat, we aim to leverage technology to build a borderless world for elephants. Any important projects in terms of community based tourism? How are you engaging / training the local populace? The Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark is a community–led social enterprise surrounded by nine communities of the Eastern Himalayas – Mishing, Bodo, Adivasi, Rajbanshi, Assamese, Nepali, Bengali, Garo and Nyishi, who have nurtured and brought it to life. Wild Mahseer, residences within the Ark is Balipara Foundation’s living model of a Naturenomics busi-

ness model. Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas it is a unique model for botany tourism through the empowerment of local communities. The staff running Wild Mahseer comes from the neighbouring communities and have been trained in hospitality management and food preparation. We offer tourism opportunities for meaningful interaction with these communities by visiting these villages through walking tours and cycle tours. What is the focus of Naturenomics Forum 2017? The Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum has been a global platform for “people to people connect” with over 1400 participants and 10 participating countries such as China, USA, UK, UAE, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Myanmar. Our theme this year is 'Community Conservation and Botany'.

MOVEMENTS Jet Airways Jet Airways recently announced the appointment of VINAY DUBE as its chief executive officer. Dube's appointment has been approved by the Jet Airways board of directors at its meeting. An accomplished industry leader and an aviation veteran with close to three decades of global business experience, Dube has an established track record of business restructuring at large, complex, multinational organisations. He has lived and worked in the US, Europe and Asia and is recognised within the industry for consistently delivering high levels of customer service, brand improvement, profit expansion, revenue growth, operational excellence and employee engagement.

VFS Global NILOY PYNE has joined the VFS Global Group as its group general counsel, based out of Dubai. His primary duty will be to oversee and head the group's legal department covering businesses, functions and activities spread over 120 countries. Pyne, who was based in Kolkata, with more than 25 years experience with expertise in diverse fields such as company law, private equity, power and energy and commercial litigation. He started his carrier with Khaitan & Co and later became partner of leading Indian law firms such as Amarchand & Mangaldas, Paras Kuhad & Associates and

Niloy Pyne

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan. VFS Global has also appointed MUKESH JAIN to a newly created role of chief technology officer. In this role, Jain will lead the company’s strategic thrust towards introducing advanced technologydriven projects that involve

New Zealand from Westland Milk Products where he had been based in Shanghai as general manager, China and general manager of marketing for the past three years. He has over 20 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry. He graduated from Massey University in 1994 and joined what was then the New Zealand Dairy Board. With Fonterra and legacy companies, he has held a variety of technical, sales and general management roles in New Zealand, USA, Singapore, Thailand and Germany.

Etihad Aviation Group

Tourism New Zealand recently announced the appointment of GREGG WAFELBAKKER to the role of general manager, Asia. Wafelbakker joins Tourism

Etihad Aviation Group has appointed RAY GAMMELL as interim group chief executive officer, effective immediately. James Hogan, current president and group CEO, will leave the company in July 2017. Gammell was Etihad Aviation Group’s chief people and performance officer and has been a member of the executive leadership since joining the business in 2009, where he has led the creation of a performance culture across the group. Gammell joined as a member of the executive leadership team, developing and leading the company’s people strategy to create a performance driven culture, enabling the growth of the business and positioning Etihad as one of the most attractive employers globally.

Gregg Wafelbakker

Ray Gammell

Mukesh Jain

digital transformation, innovation, analytics and interoperability of systems. Jain comes to VFS Global with an experience of 21 years in strategic product engineering and innovation, setting up and leading global product engineering teams and building large scale technology products from ground-up along with in-depth analytics.

Tourism New Zealand

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has appointed VISHAL SINHA as chief executive officer of CWT India. He will be based in CWT India’s head office in Gurugram. Reporting to Kai Chan, CWT’s president for Asia Pacific, Sinha will be a member of CWT’s Asia Pacific leadership team. He takes over from GEETA JAIN, who has moved into a new global role at CWT as strategic programme vice president, responsible for driving innovation and business transformation. Sinha will lead CWT India’s team of over 1,200 people across nine offices. He will also be

JW Marriott, Mumbai

responsible for growing CWT’s business in India, particularly with local companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), many of whom do not yet have managed travel programmes.

Sofitel Mumbai BKC

CHEF VISHAL ATREYA has been appointed as the new executive chef at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. With a career of over 16 years, he brings with him knowledge and understanding of the hospitality industry. After graduating from the Institute of Hotel Management in Chandigarh, Chef Atreya started his culinary journey as a trainee with The Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. In 2010, he moved on to The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi as the executive sous chef. He later joined The Ritz Carlton LLC in 2013 as the executive sous chef.

AccorHotels has announced the appointment of PANKAJ WADHWA as the new director of sales and marketing for Sofitel Mumbai BKC. In his role, Wadhwa will be responsible for leading and further improving all aspects of the sales and marketing communications and promoting brand strategies. He has been in the hospitality industry for over 18 years. He started his career with Hotel Trident Udaipur, in May 1999 and thereafter worked with Hyatt Regency Mumbai and Pune, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, The Park Hotels, IntercContinental The Grand Mumbai and Grand Hyatt Delhi.

Chef Vishal Atreya

Pankaj Wadhwa

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

weekend

E V E N T S

TRAINING THE TRADE Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI) has signed an MoU with Malaysia Tourism for product training sessions for its members

ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT Bangalore-headquartered Active Holiday Company has roped in actor Milind Soman into its board of advisors

TOURISM TECH Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran (second from left) inaugurating the second edition of International Conference on Tourism Technology (ICTT) in Kochi

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

BUILDING SYNERGIES Airbnb has signed an MoU with Maharashtra government's tourism department to boost tourism and create positive travel experiences

NATURAL RECOGNITION Skal Bombay has won the 'Environment Award 2017' on behalf of ITC Maratha at the recent Asian Area Congress in Bahrain

UNIQUELY MUMBAI Kids at KidZania Mumbai paying a small tribute to the 'Dabbawalas' of Mumbai

weekend

E V E N T S

SHOPPING EXPERIENCES Cox & Kings has opened Holiday Club stores across high street malls in New Delhi to cater to its discerning clientele

SUSTAINED SUCCESS Authenticook has emerged as an award recipient of Booking.com's first accelerator programme for start-ups in sustainable tourism

BEST IN SERVICE Garuda Indonesia has been awarded 'The World's Best Cabin Crew' for the fourth consecutive year by SkyTrax at the Paris Air Show 2017

QUALITY SERVICES BLS International Services has signed the contract with Embassy of Afghanistan in UAE to represent the Afghanistan Mission in UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait

FACILITATING TRAVEL VFS Global's new Germany visa application centre has been inaugurated in Langford Town by representatives from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bengaluru

GEARING UP Over 25 travel agents attended a GST session organised by ETAA in Mumbai and conducted by Yash Parmar, renowned CA with Gabhawala & Company

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

July 2017

REGD.WITH RNI NO. MAHENG/2005/15993,POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18,PUBLISHED ON 11TH EVERY MONTH, POSTED ON 12TH,13TH,14TH OF EVERY MONTH, POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE,MUMBAI – 400001.