Travel and Hospitality (TnH) - February 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR

The unbeatable, unstoppable juggernaut

Publisher & Editor Srishti Rai Director Bharat S. Rai Managing Editor Prem Kumar General Manager - Marketing Prem Sagar premsagar@tnhindia.com (M) +91 99106 81111 Art Director Sunny Singh Correspondent (Kolkata) Swaati Chaudhury Accounts Chander Shakher Balodi Administration Executive Sarwat Jahan

For any query, write to us at: info@tnhindia.com

www.tnhglobal.com Printed, published and owned by Srishti Rai. Printed at Somsons Printing Works, 1/7, Doctor’s Lane, Gole Market, New Delhi - 110001, and published at P- 23/90, Connaught Circus, New Delhi 110001; Editor: SRISHTI RAI

The juggernaut that embarked on a grand and splendid journey in 2001 is unstoppable, and continues to march on and spreads its wings far and wide across the world. Dubai-headquartered VFS Global, the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, today is the trusted partner of 62 client governments, having 2997 Application Centres in 143 countries across five continents. And the credit for its success goes to Zubin Karkaria, who conceived, founded and steered the company to its current pinnacle position. The advent and rise of VFS Global not only revolutionised visa processing operations through outsourcing and use of information technology but also fueled cross-border travel and tourism. Thanks to the coming of VFS Global, long queues of visa applicants in embassies and consulates and long-drawn-out processing time became history. If international travel today is growing exponentially, the credit for its growth

goes to VFS Global, its CEO and the pioneer of modern visa facilitation services, Mr Zubin Karkaria. His sheer zeal and conviction simplified the protracted visa processing work of that period and ended the ordeal of visa applicants. In 2001, he pitched for the unheard idea of an outsourced visa application service to the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai and set up VFS Global. The idea of outsourcing the sensitive visa process was first met with scepticism across the diplomatic community. In his own words, "It took us a long time of dedicated efforts to convince the first diplomatic mission to sign a contract with us and give us a chance to fulfil our promises."

The U.S. Consulate in Mumbai became the first client of VFS Global in 2001, and very soon, the company not only became a leading global brand but also played a pivotal role in the creation and development of a new industry.

Our current issue is dedicated to this visionary leader and entrepreneur Mr Zubin Karkaria, whose imaginative and dynamic leadership transformed the traditional and tedious visa application process. Read our cover story (page 18), 'MEET ZUBIN KARKARIA: THE BRAIN BEHIND THE STELLAR RISE OF THE WORLD’S UNRIVALLED VISA SERVICES PROVIDER'.

The issue carries many interesting features including our regular feature 'Diplomat's Corner'.

Enjoy reading!

Srishti Rai

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FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS 10

N EWS

VFS Global joins Thai Govt to introduce new Thai eVisa 13

N EWS

Fortune Park unveils Fortune Select Forest Hill, Solan 14

N EWS

VFS Global to manage Ghana's passport services 15

16

NEWS

IndiGo to fly nonstop to Istanbul 24

NEWS

WelcomHeritage aims at a pan-India presence 32

NEWS

India: one of the top five markets for business events in Penang 43

NEWS

MP Tourism Project Buddhist cultural Park & John Marshall Museum

N EWS

TBO Group hosts awards and networking events in Delhi & Mumbai

HIGHLIGHTS 18

NEWS

MP receives tremendous response at SATTE

SPOTLIGHT

28

Interim Union Budget 2019-2020: an overview 34

18 COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Meet ZUBIN KARKARIA: the brain behind the stellar rise of the world’s unrivalled visa services provider 28

47

30

BITE CORNER

Amazing Cantonese delicacies

DIPLOMAT’S C O RNER 38

South Africa Tourism: 2019 to be the year of the great leapfrog from India

38

34

BLISSFUL STAY IN THE LAP OF NATURE

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NEWS

INDIA BECOMES ISRAEL'S 12TH TOP TOURIST MARKET

India has emerged as 12th source market for Israeli tourism, which received about 71,000 Indian visitors in 2018 Israel has recorded a 21% growth in Indian tourist arrivals with around 70,800 travellers visiting the country from January to December, 2018 vis-a-vis 58,700 tourists in 2017 and 44,700 in 2016. This marks a whopping growth of 58% from 2016 to 2018, as per the statistics released

by Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT).

by TNH DESK

BRITISH AIRWAYS WORLD TRAVELLER PLUS UPGRADE British Airways’ premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, is set to receive a substantial upgrade as part of the airline’s five-year £6.5 billion-pound investment plan. The update will see changes to the cabin’s furnishings, service and dining rolled out over the com-

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

ing months, with the introduction of new dining options from 01 February, 2019.

The new delicious menus will provide customers with a third meal choice for their main course, as well as a more substantial hot second meal later in the flight.

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NEWS

HONG KONG'S GENTING CRUISE SHOWCASES WORLD-CLASS OFFERINGS AT SATTE 2019 2019-2020 will be a very exciting year for Genting Cruise Lines highlighted by a USD50 million in vestment to transform the much loved SuperStar Virgo into Explorer Dream to further expand the fleet for the fastest growing cruise brand in Asia Dream Cruises. In addition, Genting Cruise Lines will in troduce the first of a fleet of 200,000 gross ton “Global Class” ships for Dream Cruises in 2021 along with innovative “Contemporary Class” ships for Star Cruises in 2023.

by TNH DESK

Audrey Chung Head of Global Sales and Marketing, Far East Hospitality Management

A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SENTOSA For Singapore-bound Indian tourists looking for experiential

travel, Far East Hospitality is all set to unveil the doors of three luxury properties at Sentosa Island in 2019.

Singapore’s Far East Hospitality is determined to provide experiences for luxury travellers with a difference. The leading hospitality player will throw open the doors of three luxury hotels on Sentosa Island- Village Hotel, The Outpost and The Barracks Sentosa in 2019.

Village Hotel is a four-star haunt while the other two properties fall in five-star category. Both Village

Launch menus, will include braised British beef with roast new potatoes, onion soubise and bourguignon sauce, roasted guinea fowl with braised red cabbage, green beans, roast potato and mustard and chive jus and rigatoni pasta in a creamy garlic and herb sauce with

leek, pumpkin and baby spinach.

The airline is also be investing in its World Traveller Plus amenities, with new amenity kits, quilts and pillows set to take to the skies in the spring.

Hotel and The Outpost Sentosa will be open for tourists in April 18, 2019 while The Barracks Sentosa will come up in the third quarter of the next year. The hospitality chain recently hosted a four-city road show in India themed “Far More Singapore 2018” as part of its

by TNH DESK

Asia-Pacific campaign.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

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8

NEWS

WORLD’S FIRST

Andhra Art & Craft Hotel launched

ANDHRA ART & CRAFT HOTEL, TOUTED AS THE WORLD'S FIRST HANDICRAFTS HOTEL, HAS OPENED IN VIZAG.

e Palm Beach Hotel, a sister concern of LeSutra,

Mumbai, recently opened the doors to its heritage wing, the Andhra Arts and Cras Hotel. e new wing, a ‘Microcosm of Andhra’ in itself, boasts around 70 sculptures and 50 art installations that weave in the narrative of Andhra’s arts and cras within the passages, corridors and residential areas of the hotel, making it the world’s first handicras hotel.

Le Sutra Hotel, the World’s first Indian Art

Hotel based in Mumbai, is designed on the three gunas or qualities as defined by ancient Indian philosophy, namely - Tamas, Rajas and Satva. Each room in the hotel is a unique representation of the three gun as giving guests a never before seen experience. e Andhra Arts & Cras Hotel is Le Sutra’s third landmark project, which aims to preserve and bring forth the local crasmanship of Andhra Pradesh,

the other two being the world’s first Indian Art Hotel and Tribal Art Homes. e property has all its rooms themed on cra forms like olu Bommalata or leather shadow puppetry, Budithi brass work, Kalamkari pen art and Etikoppakatoys to create an evolved aesthetic expression encompassing the #HeartofAndhra.

by TNH DESK

unveils Miss India Diaries itinerary for South Korea

Cox & Kings

Cox & Kings in association with Korea Tourism Organization, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, Jeju Tourism Organization & Seoul Tourism Organization unveils their itinerary of the magnificent trip of fbb Colors Femina Miss India Winners 2018, with an aim to make South Korea as one of the known tourist destination. Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Cox & Kings Ltd jointly organised a trip for fbb Colors Femina Miss India World 2018 winner Ms. Anukreethy Vas and Miss Grand International 2018 first runner-up Ms. Meenakshi Chaudhary few months

by TNH DESK back.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

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NEWS

SINGAPORE TO STRENGTHEN M&I GROUP TRAVEL FROM INDIA

GB Srithar Regional Director (South Asia Middle East and Africa)

Kicking off its first MICE-focused event for 2019 in India, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) organised a MICE thought leadership seminar in Mumbai with the theme “Meetings & Incentive Travel to Singapore – Forging New Possibilities”.

GB Srithar, Regional Director (South Asia, Middle East and Africa), Singapore Tourism Board said, “India continues to be a key source market for MICE travellers to Singapore.

by TNH DESK

MyanMar's

'Balloons over Bagan'

soars to new heights

Hot-air balloons take to the skies over Loikaw.

Myanmar’s iconic tour, Balloons Over Bagan, has set sail for new horizons this month with the launch of a new hot-air balloon flight in the remote ethnic region of Kayah State. Balloon Over Loikaw becomes the fourth option in the arsenal of this enterprising adventure tour operator, following successes in Bagan, Inle Lake and a two-day “balloon safari” in Shan State.

Somewhat off the beaten track for most visitors, Loikaw is situated on a 3,000-foot plateau in eastern Myanmar and is surrounded by mountains and rice paddies. It is home to no less than 10 ethnic groups including the Kayan.

by TNH DESK

REDBUS, GOIBIBO PARTNER ACKO TO OFFER INSURANCE PRODUCTS ACKO GENERAL INSURANCE RECENTLY TIEDUP WITH IBIBO GROUP TO OFFER CUSTOMIZED TRAVEL INSURANCE PRODUCTS TO USERS OF REDBUS AND GOCABS. redBus is India’s largest online bus-ticketing platform in the country with over 2000 bus operators running on more than 100,000 routes across India.

With a market leading share of the market, redBus has the largest customer base of over 16 million. Two innovative insurance covers are the highlights of Acko’s travel insurance for redBus users, and novel in the industry. e first is an insurance cover on cancellation where the user can claim 50% of the ticket value in case a bus operator cancels and does not provide a replacement on the same day. e second is bus-type mismatch, where a customer can claim 50% of their ticket value in case the bus that is provided is not what they had booked.

On an average around 500-600 buses get cancelled daily by bus operators, impacting a large number of users every day.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

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NEWS

VFS GLOBAL JOINS THAI GOVT TO INTRODUCE NEW THAI EVISA • IMMIGRATION BUREAU OF THAILAND AND VFS GLOBAL COLLABORATE TO OFFER THE NEW EVISA ON ARRIVAL (EVOA) SERVICE FOR ELIGIBLE TRAVELLERS FROM 21 COUNTRIES. • EVOA HOLDERS SAVE TIME AND GET A FASTER IMMIGRATION SERVICE AT DEDICATED IMMIGRATION COUNTERS AT MAJOR AIRPORTS IN THAILAND • TRAVELLERS RECEIVE THEIR TRAVEL AUTHORISATION ONLINE PRE-DEPARTURE WITHIN 24 TO 72 HOURS OF APPLICATION BEING SUBMITTED • A NEW ‘EXPRESS EVISA ON ARRIVAL’ SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR APPROVAL WITHIN 24 HOURS • APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THAILANDEVOA.VFSEVISA.COM OR AT VFS GLOBAL VISA APPLICATION CENTRES ACROSS THE GLOBE In line with the Government of Thailand’s initiative to promote tourism, the Immigration Bureau of Thailand has partnered with VFS Global to offer the new eVisa On Arrival (eVOA) service that will enable a faster and more convenient arrival process for travellers from 21 countries like India, P.R. China, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine etc. Travellers who are eligible to use the online eVOA service provided by VFS Global will receive their travel authorisation from the Immigration Bureau of Thailand prior to their departure from their country of origin. The eVOA service will be available as of 14 February 2019 on thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

Zubin Karkaria CEO, VFS Global Group

The new Thailand 'eVisa On Arrival' offers travellers a whole new experience when applying for a travel pre-authorisation to Thailand and when entering the country at the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueng airports in Bangkok, as well as at Phuket and Chiang Mai airports flying by Thai Airways and other airlines. In three simple steps, eligible travellers can apply online for eVOA for Thailand by visiting thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com anytime, anywhere or get assistance at VFS Global visa application centres across the globe.

STEP 1:

Go to thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com. Share the application details and upload the necessary documents online. No physical passport submission is needed

STEP 2: Pay the applicable fee using the payment gateway facility with Mastercard, Visa or Union Pay credit or debit card which is enabled to make international transactions or via Wechat or Alipay

STEP 3: On the successful completion of the payment and once the application is processed with the pre-approved eVOA code, travellers can download and print out the eVOA application for reference and may even keep a copy of the file on their mobile phones.

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NEWS KEY BENEFITS OF THE NEW EVOA SERVICE:

• Official travel authorisation from the Immigration Bureau of Thailand received before starting the journey for eligible travellers within 24 to 72 hours

• Online application submission and payment options

• Online application support available at VFS Global visa application centre across the globe

• No submission of Passport needed

• Express eVOA service for quicker processing at an additional service fee for a decision within 24 hours

• Save time and experience a faster immigration process at major airports in Thailand through dedicated immigration counters for eVOA holders

• No physical copies of documents, photographs or local cash needed during immigration process at airports

• Round-the-clock email support assistance if required Travellers receive their pre-departure travel authorisation online before the trip within 24 to 72 hours. If there is an urgent visa requirement to travel to Thailand, travellers can also avail online the Express eVOA service for quicker processing. By paying an additional service fee, eligible travellers can get their eVOA decision within 24 hours for any short notice travel requirements. eVOA applicants benefit from dedicated Immigration counters at major airports in Thailand to save time and experience a

faster entry into Thailand. Due to the smooth online eVOA application process pre-departure, travellers don’t need to carry any physical copies like hotel booking confirmation or air-tickets, photographs etc. Since the eVOA fee was paid online, no cash in local currency is required at the immigration counter.

Commenting on the launch of the new eVOA service, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate HAKPARN, Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, said "With the eVOA service, we are proud to offer a new age digital solution which enhance the overall experience for the modern day traveller who seeks to visit Thailand from 21 countries across the globe.

In our cooperation with the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide VFS Global, we aim to effectively meet the objective of increasing tourism to the country through this solution especially taking into consideration the all-important security aspect that allows precheck of travellers prior to arrival, as it offers time to the Immigration Bureau for effective assessment.”

Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global Group, said "It is an honour to work with the Immigration Bureau of Thailand and Thai Airways to ensure a more convenient and faster service for travellers to Thailand, while maintaining the security and integrity of the visa process. With our experience and reliability in providing seamless visa application services across the world, and with the advantages of our eVisa solution, the Thailand eVOA service will further enhance ease of travel to Thailand, and thereby facilitate increase in tourism to the country. In addition, we are proud to be associated with the Royal Thai Embassy with whom we already share a long-standing relationship since 2005 and provide visa services across 27 cities in four countries through a strong network of 27 Visa Application Centres. As an organisation, we continue to support the economic growth and development of Thailand through our operations within Thailand where we employ 326 Thai nationals - of which 96 are dedicated resources for the new eVOA service.”

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NEWS

GERMANY RANKS AS A LEADING MICE DESTINATION IN EUROPE

DUBAI’S WAVEHOUSE OPENS ITS DOORS AT ATLANTIS, THE PALM Romit Theophilus Director of Marketing and Sales, GNTO

THERE’S A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN THE FLOW OF INDIAN TRAVELLERS TO GERMANY OPTING FOR LONGER STAY IN THE DESTINATION.

In its latest effort to pull Indian outbound travellers, German National Tourist Office (GNTO) has made trade fairs and multi country group travel as its forte. Romit eophilus, Director of Marketing and Sales, GNTO said, “Germany is now looked as a solo destination or a three country tour including Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Both India and Germany enjoy robust business ties that increases trade fair visits, meetings and incentive visits to Germany. We are working in tandem with the corporate groups and travel trade in order to ensure more such incentive and travel to Germany.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

OPENING ITS DOORS ON 1ST FEBRUARY 2019, THIS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND VENUE BRINGS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, FANTASTIC FOOD, CREATIVE BEVERAGES, BOWLING AND GAMING TO CHILDREN, ADULTS AND FAMILIES ALIKE.

Dubai’s ultimate entertainment destination, Wavehouse, will open its doors on 1st February 2019 and is well and truly set to shake up Dubai’s definition of dining, entertainment and nightlife. A first-of-its-kind for Dubai, Wavehouse is an entertainment venue concept that brings together live music, gaming, bowling, great food and chilled drinks overlooking a state-of-the-art wave machine.

by TNH DESK

Saudi Arabia plans to make the Kingdom a global entertainment destination

Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Sheikh GEA Chairman

UNDER A NEW STRATEGY, LEADING ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES PARTNER WITH GEA TO LAUNCH PROJECTS INCLUDING THE WORLD-FAMOUS MADAME TUSSAUDS. The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has revealed that 2019 will mark the start of a new phase for the entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia with a staggering number of projects and events lined up, including live performances, international exhibitions, Ramadan competitions, e-gaming events, and even the world-famous Madame Tussauds wax museum.

by TNH DESK

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NEWS

VFS GLOBAL TO MANAGE GHANA'S PASSPORT SERVICES

GHANA HAS BECOME THE FOURTH CLIENT GOVERNMENT OF VFS GLOBAL FOR MANAGING PASSPORT AND CONSULAR SERVICES. PROJECT WILL SUPPORT PASSPORT APPLICATION CENTRES IN GHANA ENHANCE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY. As part of the endevour by the Government of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance the overall passport application and submission processes in the country, VFS Global has been awarded the contract to open new Passport Application Centres across the country.

In line with this, VFS Global has launched the first Passport Application Centre in Ghana’s capital city of Accra on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana. Three more centres are expected to be opened in the cities of Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Taradi.

The Passport Application Centres offer citizens a number of benefits, including better accessibility, longer working hours, improved turnaround times, comfortable centres with automated crowd management systems for an enhanced customer experience.

Additionally, applicants can also avail a host of personalised services like Premium Lounge facility access for dedicated services, form filling assistance by professional and well-trained staff, SMS service facility to track the status of the application to name a few.

Apart from Ghana, the company also offers pass-

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

port and consular services in various countries for the Governments of UK (Her Majesty’s Passport Office), India (Ministry of External Affairs), and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

With over 17 years of experience in the application processing domain, and trusted relationships shared with client governments over these years, VFS Global offers smooth and efficient management of pass-port and consular services, delivering on a range of key requirements: from online appointment booking and customer support to front-office services, biometric enrolment and doorstep return-delivery of passports and other documentation.

Commenting on the launch of the new Passport Application Centres in Ghana, Madam Shirley

Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana, said, "As part of the en-deavour to ease the congestion of applicants who submit the passport forms and to establish a more stringent yet established system in place, I would like to announce the opening of the new Passport Application Centres in Ghana through our association with the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missionsVFS Global. Going forward, we expect a total of 200,000 applicants to be serviced through these four centres every year, that will offer passport application enrollment services in Ghana in a more transparent and efficient manner.”

by TNH DESK

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NEWS

Tanes Petsuwan TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications

THAILAND BOOSTS PARTICIPATION IN 2019 The Tourism Authority of Thailand together with 70 Thai exhibitors participated in SATTE 2019 from 16-19 January in Greater Noida, UP. It is the largest contingent of Thai exhibitors at SATTE, a significant increase over the total of 54 exhibitors in SATTE 2018.

This year marks the 11th year of Thailand's presence at SATTE. The 70 exhibitors include 28 hotels and resorts, 21 tour operators and travel agents, five airlines and 16 tourist attractions, and related agencies.

According to TAT Governor Dr. Yuthasak Supasorn, “We are very pleased with the strong turnout at SATTE this year.

On 15 January, Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications also delivered a speech at the Amazing Thailand Product Briefing Networking Lunch. He provided an update of Thailand’s tourism situation, strategies, and new products and services.

by TNH DESK

TBO Group hosts awards and networking events in Delhi & Mumbai e TBO Group organized its Awards Night & Networking events in Delhi and in Mumbai for its travel partners from North, East, South and Western India. e event was attended by more than 1600 Trade partners, Airline Partners, Tourism Boards, Media and Government bodies at Delhi and 800 guests in Mumbai. is was the first of its kind “Sundowner Party” and set the pace rolling from late aernoon as the celebrations began on a cheerful note to felicitate productive partnerships with optimism for a great year ahead.

by TNH DESK

Abu Dhabi concludes successful participation at

2019

DELEGATION TO SATTE AIMED TO STRENGTHEN EMIRATE'S POSITION AS A LEADING DESTINATION OF DISTINCTION FOR CULTURE, HERITAGE AND HISTORY AMONG INDIAN TOURISTS The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has concluded its successful participation at the SATTE Conference in India, the seventh time that Abu Dhabi has led a delegation to take part in this renowned travel and tourism platform.

The DCT Abu Dhabi delegation for the 26th edition of South Asia's leading travel show, which took place in New Delhi from 16th - 18th January, included 11 stakeholders, tour operators, and government entities working across inbound, outbound, and domestic travel including Etihad Airways, Yas Experience Hub, Sofitel, Rotana, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Jumeirah, Radisson Blu, LAMA Tours, Royal Arabian Louvre Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.

The forum enabled Abu Dhabi to cement its status as a destination of distinction for Indian tourists by showcasing the Emirate's top attractions.

by TNH DESK

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NEWS

INDIGO TO FLY NONSTOP TO ISTANBUL

H Deniz Ersoz Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Republic of Turkey, New Delhi

INDIGO WILL DEPLOY AIRBUS A321 AIRCRAFT FOR THIS DAILY NONSTOP OPERATION BETWEEN DELHI AND ISTANBUL STARTING FROM 20TH MARCH 2019 The new flights will cater to business and leisure travellers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options. Customers who would like to plan their travel can book tickets through our official website www.goindigo.in.

William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “It is our privilege to be the first Indian carrier to fly into Turkey. Istanbul is one the most attractive tourist cities in the world and the gateway from Asia into Europe. Istanbul holds immense potential for IndiGo, and this launch is part of organic expansion within Europe for us, as we complement our domestic network with international connectivity. Boulter further said, “Adding Istanbul to its network will further augment the international connectivity that we provide to our customers. IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it. It is our constant endeavour to provide more flexibility of choice to our customers as IndiGo continues to offer them on-time, courteous and hassle-free service, and an affordable flying experience always.”

Commenting on IndiGo flying to Istanbul, H Deniz

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

TOP: Indigo Aircraft

Ersoz, Tourism Consellor, Turkey Embassy, New Delhi, said, "The direct air connectivity between the countries plays an important role for enhancing mutual touristic flow. In this sense, we welcome the Indigo airline's initiative to start flying to Istanbul from Delhi with non-stop flights. According to the Euromonitor report, Istanbul is one the most attractive tourist cities in the world and became the 3rd most visited city of Europe in 2018 with more than 12 million international tourists. We are very happy that Indian citizens will now have a choice of travelling to Turkey with a low budget air line company.

Besides that, with the help of Indigo's flights we will see more Turkish tourists to India as well. I think that with the increase of the direct flights between our countries both Turkey and India will benefit from the mutual growth of tourists".

by TNH DESK

Flight No.

Origin

Destination

Frequency

6E 0011

Delhi

Istanbul

Daily

6E 0012

Istanbul

Delhi

Daily

Effective

Fares, INR

Departure

Arrival

20-Mar-19

13:40

18:10

23,999

20-Mar-19

19:45

04:15

23,999

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MEET ZUBIN KARKARIA: THE BRAIN BEHIND THE STELLAR RISE OF THE WORLD’S UNRIVALLED VISA SERVICES PROVIDER

Zubin Karkaria CEO, VFS Global Group

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COVER STORY

In the last 17 and a half years, VFS global has challenged every convention of the tedious and unimaginative visa application process to become a platform that revolutionized and simplified the industry forever. As the company’s profile and reach have been expanding rapidly, TnH sits down with ZUBIN KARKARIA, CEO of VFS GLOBAL GROUP, for an exclusive interview.

Karkaria shares the challenges he faced on the way to becoming the world’s paramount outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide and sheds light on what the global visa processing giant intends to target next.

By Prem Kumar

1

VFS Global today is the face of visa processing services across the world, and the credit for taking the company to such a colossal height goes to you. Tell us more about your remarkable journey.

Thank you for the kind words, but the credit for VFS Global becoming a truly global leader in its space has to be shared with all my colleagues. It has been an exhilarating journey – from pitching an unheard-of-idea of an outsourced visa application service to our first client government, the United States Consulate in Mumbai back in 2001, to today, being the trusted partner of 62 client governments in 143 countries worldwide.

We have not just built a leading global brand, but also played a pivotal role in the creation and development of a new industry. As we have had no precedents or benchmarks to follow, we have had to develop our own systems and processes from scratch to set benchmarks for the industry.

We have also been very privileged to have gained the support and trust of so many governments who have supported our development.

The outlook for the future continues to be very bright.

2

What were the challenges in the initial days? How could you defeat them?

The first and biggest challenge we had to overcome was to convince Governments that outsourcing of visa services was beneficial for them and their diplomatic missions and for visa applicants and that it would enhance the overall visa application experience. In the 1990s the Indian

travel industry was at the threshold of a strong growth phase, and diplomatic missions were hard-pressed to cope with the sudden increase in visa application volumes. Being part of India’s largest travel company (Kuoni India), we had first-hand knowledge about the visa application process and the challenges travellers faced when applying for visas.

The idea of outsourcing the sensitive visa process was first met with scepticism across the industry and the diplomatic community. It took us a long time of dedicated efforts to convince the first diplomatic mission to sign a contract with us and give us a chance to fulfil our promises!

Another challenge was to make our model robust, scalable and sustainable, and expand it globally. Winning a majority share of the firstever global visa services tender (by the UK Government) in 2007 enabled us to expand operations from 11 countries to more than 30 countries in a matter of months. That was a game-changer for us, as it made us global. It also reinforced our reputation of being the only company which could successfully roll-out global operations with tight timelines – and then manage the operations smoothly.

3

How has your company grown in recent years, expanding and strengthening its presence?

From just one client mission in 2001, today we are a trusted partner to 62 client governments, serving them out of more than 2900 visa application centres in 143 countries. This is the largest network of physical visa application cen-

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COVER STORY

tres in the world.

Notably, we have won all major contracts which were tendered in 2017 and 2018. In the last 17 years, in fact, we have retained almost all the relationships we entered into with our client governments, and have further strengthened our market leadership position. Consider this: today, around 70 governments outsource visa services in different parts of the world, and we serve 62 of them. No other service provider serves more than 12 governments.

While acknowledging these great strides that we have made, I must mention that we don’t take our leadership position lightly. The hunger to keep enhancing and expanding our services in line with fast-changing customer expectations is as keen today as it was in our early years. And with an equally driven and committed team behind me, I have no doubt that we will be able to implement our plans and continue growing exponentially.

4

Tell us about your operations in India? How has your presence grown here?

In India over the last few years, we have expanded our client base and focused on increasing the accessibility and network of centres. Here, VFS Global serves 46 client governments through centres in 17 cities, processing around 5 million applications annually, and as such, is the largest visa service provider in the country. Besides these 17 cities, we also offer doorstep visa services in every corner of the country.

Given the ever-rising travel out of India, it has

always been a lead market for us to introduce innovations aimed at increasing convenience and flexibility of visa services for applicants. New services and products, especially if they are personalised in nature, tend to be well received here.

The modern Indian traveller is far more sophisticated, aware and prefers speed and comfort at every step of his travel process. It is, therefore, imperative that the traditional visa services evolve to align to these changing expectations, and we work closely with our client governments to achieve that.

Visa processing services have seen a significant change over the last decade? How important has been the role of technology in this change?

5

From the applicant perspective, today, there is less anxiety associated with the visa process than maybe a decade ago and far greater awareness about the options and services available to ease the process.

Despite the technological revolution we are witnessing, one fundamental principle remains the same: Customer is King. Over the past few years, both client governments and visa applicants have been demanding better, more convenient and seamless solutions coupled with higher service standards. This trend is expected to continue, driven by a new breed of consumers who expect and appreciate more agility and convenience in all manner of services, even in the closely regulated visa process.

For service providers like us, this will necessi-

"We have not just built a leading global brand, but also played a pivotal role in the creation and development of a new industry. As we have had no precedents or benchmarks to follow, we have had to develop our own systems and processes from scratch to set the benchmarks for the industry."

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tate leveraging digital technology and increasing investment in developing more customer-centric services. While we regularly roll out routine innovations to improve services in all regions, some significant new products and solutions have also been launched, with outstanding success.

A prime example of this is the 'Visa At Your Doorstep Service', available in South Asia, the Middle East, Russia, South East Asia, China, and the US, for several client governments. The service has revolutionised the idea of visa application, by effectively bringing the visa centre to the applicant’s home or office, from where they can submit applications. Another interesting innovation is the 'Mobile Visa Application Centre', a centre ‘on wheels’, introduced in Thailand, equipped with technology to enrol biometrics and accept visa applications from any location.

This vehicle has been particularly useful to manage peak season loads at the centres.

On the government side, we are seeing increasing professionalization of the tendering and contract awarding process, with governments realizing the immense benefits of assigning high weightage to quality and security in the selection process rather than only considering the pricing.

6

How does VFS Global ensure the protection of the enormous data it receives from visa applicants?

Given the sensitivity of data and information we deal with, ensuring quality control and protection of personal data by our systems across people and geographies – 24x7, 365 days of the year –

in an uncompromising manner, is one of our biggest focus areas.

When the European Union’s new General Data Protection Regulation came into effect in May 2018, VFS Global was amongst the only 15% companies globally that was compliant with the new regulation (Capgemini report, 2018). This means the company has exhaustive methodologies in place to comply with demanding standards set by the various aspects of the regulation.

Today, the company is among 35% companies which are GDPR compliant (as per Talend Report, Sept 2018).

To be GDPR compliant, we have a 13 point data privacy and protection framework that has over 130 measurable metrics that enables us to monitor data protection across the organisation.

This level of monitoring naturally requires an investment in skills and technology to implement and manage such a framework.

The millions of data dockets we handle, and all our allied systems, are safeguarded in real time at multiple levels (virtual and physical), using sophisticated technology and equipment, monitored by regional and central command centres.

Therefore, today we are one of the few companies (in any sector) easily able to adapt to new data protection legislation that may be introduced in any of the 141 countries we operate in.

7

How do you see the present and the future of outbound tourism from India?

India continues to be an important source market when it comes to foreign travel, recording a

"The first and biggest challenge we had to overcome was to convince Governments that outsourcing of visa services was beneficial for them and their diplomatic missions and for visa applicants. It took us a long time of dedicated efforts to convince the first diplomatic mission to sign a contract with us and give us a chance to fulfil our promises!

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steady year-on-year growth in outbound travel.

The Indian traveller is truly coming of age, aided by more disposable incomes and a cultural shift when it comes to exploring foreign shores. The increasing affordability of travelling abroad, and many Countries recognising the value of tourism to their economic agendas, are also determining factors in the consistent growth in this space.

Based on trends in the visa applications, I would say that the biggest growth in a number of Indian travellers keen to explore foreign shores is emerging from across the vast Indian landscape, primarily from the Tier 2 cities. While visa application counts in the big cities remained largely consistent year-on-year, we observed steep hikes in growth rates in the smaller metros like, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Pune and Ahmedabad.

8

Beside visa services, what are the other key areas in which you are strengthening your presence?

Visa processing services have always been our core business, so that is, of course, the primary revenue driver. However, in the last few years, our Identity and Citizen Services (ICS) vertical has also emerged as an important source of revenue.

In ICS, VFS Global leverages on its expertise in the visa space to assist local governments with e-governance solutions, helping them assimilate next-generation solutions.

The recently-introduced doorstep delivery of civic services in Delhi has gained a lot of trust amongst applicants and governments alike, in terms of improving customer experience with

governments services, and going forward we will introduce more such tech-enabled models that enhance convenience and flexibility.

Another ICS that VFS Global undertakes for governments globally is migration and border management services such as resident permits, foreigner registration, driving licenses, birth certificates and shop licences, e-passports, etc.

As local and state governments around the world move to integrate technology and transparency into their governance systems, VFS Global is well positioned to support these initiatives by leveraging on our existing process management expertise.

9

Going ahead, where do you see your company in the next five years?

The focus will be to introduce faster and better services and products. Speed and time-to-market are critical success factors. The company constantly pushes itself to offer new services, develop and use new technologies, and maintain its leadership position by diversification into allied services.

With intense competition, opportunities remain as opportunities for a very short time, therefore, we need to keep our foot on the pedal.

We see strong growth potential in our ICS vertical and here too, innovation is a key business driver. That said, travel worldwide continues to grow – the sector contributes to almost 9.8 per cent of the world GDP – and more governments today accept the benefit of the outsourced visa services model, for being cost-effective while maintaining the integrity of the process.

"I must mention that we don’t take our leadership position lightly. The hunger to keep enhancing and expanding our services in line with fast-changing customer expectations is as keen today as it was in our early years. And with an equally driven and committed team behind me, I have no doubt that we will be able to implement our plans and continue growing exponentially."

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INTERVIEW

WELCOMHERITAGE AIMS AT A PAN-INDIA PRESENCE

WelcomHeritage Hotels will expand its presence in India's South, East & North-eastern regions, informs its General Manager Sanjeev K Nayar, in an interview to TnH.

By Prem Kumar

1

How was the year 2018 for WelcomHeritage?

2018 has been a rewarding year for us. We not only signed new properties, but also registered a reasonable growth last year, in which we opened a nineteenth century Heritage property, WelcomHeritage Ashdale in Nainital, besides another nature resort with a private waterfall in Coorg, WelcomHeritage Ayatana.

An interesting thing that we have noticed at our hotels is the trend of family holidays, reunion etc besides the conventional MICE and Inbound segment

2

What are your upcoming plans for this year?

WH brand is associated with the heritage of the country. The average number of rooms in our hotels are 27. It is not the number of rooms we add to our portfolio, our endeavor is to add more and more unique and offbeat destinations, providing a comfortable and decent accommodation facility in an enriching local environment which can offer the guests a 'Unique Experience'. Since it takes time to restore a heritage property, we target to add at least 3 to 5 new destinations every year.

As a strategic move, we aim to ex-

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pand our horizon in South, East and North-eastern regions of the country, and as of now have 4-5 new properties for evaluation this year. These properties will help the brand expand its footprints all over India.

3

How much demand are you expecting from the Indian weddings this year?

We are witnessing a good demand from this segment and are also aggressively looking forward to further tap the burgeoning wedding segment for our properties. They are capable of giving a royal experience as well as creating the most memorable moments of weddings /social event. We are focusing on small and intimate weddings as our properties have a limited inventory.

4

What kind of demand are you witnessing for your properties located in South India?

India's southern part is famous for its wonderful ghats, blissful rivers, extraordinary scenic beauty and delicious cuisine. With a private waterfall in the vicinity, we have recently flagged WH Ayatana in Coorg, Karnataka, which is a nature resort. We are receiving an overwhelming response not just

from South India, but also from all over the country. Spread over a huge area, WH Ayatana has a lush green forest, tea and coffee plantations, and a truly mesmerizing landscape. In short, we have all that a tourist is looking for in a resort. Besides, our other two properties in Ooty and Sandur (near Hampi) have also witnessed good occupancy throughout the year.

How are the European markets doing for you?

We are in the process of promoting all our hotels in prominent geographical regions like US, UK, Scandinavian countries and the Oriental through publishing our destinations in allied brochures and tour itineraries marketed by tour operators in these regions through local DMCs. Digital campaigns are being launched to target these markets specifically. As a Hospitality company, we are investing 22% of our marketing and promotions budget on Digital marketing campaigns in order to tap international markets.

5

6

How has been business so far for you in current tourism season?

The overall response has been quite good this year. The inbound market has registered a decent

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INTERVIEW

2018 has been a rewarding year for WelcomHeritage. We have not only signed new properties under the aegis of the brand, but also registered a reasonable growth over the last year.

Sanjeev K Nayar General Manager, WelcomHeritage Hotels

growth over last year and we too benefited from it at some of our destinations. Some of our destinations are predominantly patronized by the domestic tourists.

7

What is your overall expectation from year 2019?

We expect that the hospitality industry will do great business in 2019. We will continue to expand our footprint and business in 2019. We aim to launch three properties, one near the forest reserve of Tadoba, close to Nagpur, other in Jaisalmer that will be our second property in this famous destination. The third property scheduled for opening is in Udaipurwati, Rajasthan. We hope to open all the three in the coming months.

The nature resort in Tadoba will be our first property in Maharashtra and we are quite upbeat about it.

RIGHT TOP: WH Ayatana- Restaurant View ABOVE: WH Bal Samand Lake Palace - Room Ayatana

WH Ayatana Restaurant

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NEWS

INDONESIA, OYO'S NEXT MEGA FRONTIER AFTER CHINA, INDIA

● PLANS TO EXPAND ITS PRESENCE TO TOP 100 CITIES IN INDONESIA BY END OF 2019 ● INTENDS TO INVEST OVER $100 MILLION IN THE MARKET OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OYO is seeing exponential growth in Indonesia in less than three months of its operations in the country. Launched in October 2018 with a string of over 30 full-inventory - franchised and operated - exclusive hotels and over 1000 rooms in three cities in Indonesia - Jakarta, Surabaya and Palembang, today OYO Hotels is already operating 150 hotels across 16 cities, and has seen a 5x jump in growth. OYO Hotels is charting a strong growth trajectory for itself in the country by adding 70 hotels every month to its chain and is looking at ending 2019 with its presence in 100 cities across Indonesia. The company has been rapidly expanding through the Indonesian market at a pace that’s outstripping previous benchmarks.

by TNH DESK

SAN FRANCISCO: THE FINE DINING CAPITAL IN THE U.S. e 2019 Michelin Guide for the San Francisco Bay Area confirms the city as the fine dining capital in the United States. e eight three-star restaurants total more than any other American city (including New York). San Francisco and the region has a total of 80 stars among the 58 venues listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide. e area’s Bib Gourmands, “restaurants that offer high-quality food at pocketfriendly prices,” increased by one this year to 68.

Two restaurants were given three-star rankings for the first time: Atelier Crenn (San Francisco) and Single read (Healdsburg). ey join Benu, Quince and Saison in San Francisco and e French Laundry (Yountville), Manresa (Los Gatos), e Restaurant at Meadowood (St. Helena) in locations surrounding the city.

Dominique Crenn at Atelier Crenn is now the first female chef in the U.S. to achieve three Michelin stars.

by TNH DESK

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Blue Iris: a 'quintessentially Goa’ restaurant

Blue Iris, a 'quintessentially Goa’ beachfront shack style restaurant has recently opened at Azaya Beach Resort, Goa. e shack-style luxury beach restaurant set amidst the powder white sands of Benaulim beach with private cabanas, Blue Iris is all about a relaxed dining experience in south Goa. Indulge in sunset cocktails with sand beneath your feet or enjoy the ‘Grills of the World’ from the comfort of your lounge-bed. Sit seaside and savor the best of local produce and Mama’s mouthwatering Goan recipes. Enjoy a sensory culinary journey at Azaya Beach Resort Goa and be prepared to be excited, enticed and enchanted by there innovative and decadent preparations.

by TNH DESK

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NEWS

Vivanta Kathmandu, IHCL's 2nd hotel launched in Nepal The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is introducing the Vivanta brand in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal with the opening of Vivanta Kathmandu. This will be the Company’s second hotel in the region after Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safaris Lodge in Chitwan National Park. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Patan Darbar Square, the hotel is a perfect gateway to explore the land of yaks and yetis, snow peaks and ancient temples.

“We are thrilled to embark on this exciting new venture in Kathmanduwhich will complete the tourist circuit by providing a stopover to UNESCO listed Chitwan National Park. Nepal offers medieval cities and sacred sites to Himalayan peaks and wildlife safaris, catering to a multitude of experiences. We look forward to working with our partners, CG Group on this project, reiterating our commitment to the region.” Said Rohit Khosla, Executive VP – Operations, North & West India, IHCL.

by TNH DESK

WORLD FIRST: VIRGIN ATLANTIC'S NEW ONBOARD DRINKS MENU Virgin Atlantic has launched the world’s first no and low alcohol cocktail menu at 35,000 feet. Launched in January 2019, the No Lo menu has been designed in partnership with Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits and Regal Rogue, the Australian quaffing vermouth and is available across in Economy, Premium and Upper Class cabins. The menu has been created to offer customers choosing not to drink alcohol onboard, a grown up option with unique flavours. by TNH DESK

UDAIPUR WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL SET TO BEGIN FROM FEB 15 THE THREE-DAY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA ON FEB 15- 17, 2019 WILL SEE PARTICIPATION OF OVER 150 GLOBAL ARTISTES FROM 20 COUNTRIES. Udaipur World Music Festival, India’s biggest world music extravaganza will be held this year from 15th-17th February 2019 in the beautiful city of lakes. The 4th edition of the festival will witness the presence of over 150 renowned artists from across the globe with participation from over 20 countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Cuba, Brazil, India and many more.

by TNH DESK

N YC & C o m p any par tners M a ste rc a rd to enhance visitors' ex p e r i e n c e in New York City NYC & Company and Mastercard has announced a new global, multi-year partnership to enable people to further experience New York City, one of the most visited cities.

From NYC & Company’s iconic programs including NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway WeekSM and NYC Must-See WeekSM to its other citywide initiatives, the two will collaborate to bring all that is Priceless about NYC to life. In addition, Mastercard will also become the preferred payment technology partner of NYC & Company and will be integrated into the organization’s global tourism promotional efforts.

by TNH DESK

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SPOTLIGHT

INTERIM UNION BUDGET 20192020: AN OVERVIEW

A

s per the budget proposal 20192020, individual taxpayers having annual income up to 5 lakh rupees will get a full tax rebate. This is a huge relief for the middle class.

Besides, individuals having gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not have to pay any tax provided they invest in provident funds and prescribed equities. The budget has proposed no changes in tax slabs for those having income over Rs 5 lakh. Individual taxpayers with annual income up to 5 lakh rupees to get a full tax rebate. Around 3 crore middle-class taxpayers will get tax exemption due to this measure. Standard tax deduction amount for salaried persons has also been increased from 40,000 rupees to 50,000 rupees. These exemptions no doubt will increase the disposable income of people, thus fueling consumption demands in the market.

In order to provide assured financial support to farmers, the Budget 2019-2020 has proposed to give Rs 6,000 per year as a relief to small and marginal farmers who hold lands not more than two hectares. In recent years, farmers have been facing TOP: Narendra Modi Prime Minister

ABOVE: Piyush Goyal Finance Minister

lots of distress. Keeping in mind the plight of the small farmers, the Government has introduced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, said Goyal, terming the launch of the cash incentive for the country's farmers as a historic decision.

Allocation for the North Eastern region has been increased to Rs 58,166 crore this year, which is a rise of over 21% from the previous year.

Railway Budget 2019-20 As the country prepares for the General Elections, few were expecting any hike in rail fare in the Railway Budget 2019 presented by the Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who did not propose any hike in railway fare.

In the Interim Budget, Goyal, who is also the Railways Minister, had allotted Rs. 1,58,658 crore as capital expenditure for the Railways Ministry for FY 2019-20, the highest-ever allocation for the Indian Railways. Last year the Railways had been al-

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SPOTLIGHT HIGHLIGHTS Individuals earning annually up to Rs 5 lakh exempted from paying tax.

Small farmers having lands upto 2 hectares will get Rs 6,000 per year.

Budget increased allocation for the North East by 21% in the next FY. Launch of first indigenously built Vande Bharat Express announced.

Strong focus on infrastructure and sanitation development.

lotted Rs. 1,48,528 crore.

The FM informed that all unmanned level crossings in broad gauge network have been completely eliminated. Goyal also announced the introduction of first indigenously built 'Vande Bharat Express' in line with the Government's 'Make In India' drive CIVIL AVIATION As it was an interim budget, some of the sectors have not got due attention. No new measures have been announced in the budget for the civil aviation sector. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal talked about UDAN scheme, asserting that today due to ‘UDAN Scheme’ an ordinary citizen is also travelling by air.

The minister added that domestic passenger traffic has doubled during the last five years leading to a large number of job creations. He also talked about the recent opening of Pakyong airport in Sikkim, which is India’s 100th airport. As was expected, the budget made no announcement regarding Air India.

Presenting Narendra Modi government's sixth and final Budget, the Finance Minister also took the occasion to spell out vision for 10 most important dimensions in 2030, including job creation, physical and social infrastructure building, and pollutionfree nation and clean rivers.

Commenting on the interim budget, the last one of his government, Prime Minister Modi said, "This is just a trailer of the Budget, which after elections, will take India on the path to development," As the Interim Budget 2019-20 has fully exempted individual taxpayers having annual income

TOP: Vande Bharat Express

up to Rs 5 lakhs from paying income tax, their increased disposable income due to the tax exemptions will lead to more expenditure by them on travel and tourism.

With its strong focus on the development of rail, road and civil aviation infrastructure, the Interim Budget will hugely benefit the country's tourism sector. The budget promises to build more than 100 airports across India that is a great step forward.

Tax exemption for the middle class will result in increased disposable income triggering an increase in travel and tourism spends.

The Union Budget 2019-20 has earmarked Rs 2189.22 crore for the tourism sector in FY 2019-20.

The budget allocation for the tourism sector for FY 2019-20 is slightly higher than Rs 2113.48 crore earmarked for the tourism sector in the Budget 2018-19.

Of the total budget allocation, Rs 1448 crore has been earmarked for tourism infrastructure development and Rs 506.23 crore for publicity and promotion. Allocation of increased funds towards the improvement of railway networks, roads and tourist destinations will help increase the economy driven by tourism.

Enhanced budgetary allocations for schemes like UDAN, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) together with a strong focus on infrastructure and sanitation will certainly go a long way in tourism infrastructure development.

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BLISSFUL STAY IN THE LAP OF NATURE

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F E AT U R E

sort has spectacular views of the verdant valleys, lush apple orchards, tall deodar trees and the snow-capped peaks to offer.

In terms of amenities, the rooms are equipped with study table and chair, stocked Mini bars, full-size looking mirrors and dressing, 40” inch LCD televisions, WiFi connectivity, electronic safe, tea/coffee maker, hair dryer, conduction heaters, bathrooms with all modern fittings and premium bathroom toiletries.

By Rakesh Kumar

Manali is a famous hill station in Himachal Pradesh, a northern state of India, which invites a lot of backpackers, tourists and honeymooners. However, the influx in heavy numbers has diluted the peaceful environment of this serene hill station.

Hence, when we visited Manali for vacation, tranquility was in mind. And our quest for peace ended at 'ShivAdya', a luxurious resort in Karajan village of Manali region. e resort is easily accessible both by road and air, 20 minutes’ drive from Manali city and an hour away from Kullu airport.

ROOM WITH A VIEW A vacation at Manali is always memorable, but if you love nature, peace and solitude, then ShivAdya is just the perfect place for you. ShivAdya is a handcraed 15 room boutique resort in Himalayas, which is a beautiful mix of stone, mud and wood that blends into its surroundings. e rooms are named aer the villages, passes and the awe inspiring mountain peaks of Himachal Pradesh. e resort has been built using authentic local and Himalaya construction concepts and styles. Inspiration for the entire concept comes from Himalayan Villages around Himachal, wooden temples, colonial buildings and old royal bungalows around Himachal. 90% of areas are without any paint work. e resort’s scenic silence is a welcome relief over the cacophonous chaos of congested Manali for those desirous of tranquility.

Flanked by the majestic Himalayan range, the re-

TOP: Lake ABOVE: ShivAdya Luxury Room

FOOD For food, the resort has one multi-cuisine restaurant Taala, which serves Indian, Chinese, Continental, Tandoori and Himachali dishes. Just like the rooms, the architecture of the restaurant is also tastefully done.

Taala is inspired by the traditional Kath Khuni houses of Himachal. Interestingly, the restaurant does not have any menu and food is prepared aer discussions with the guest taking into account his likes and dislikes. ey claim to serve the best local cuisine in the whole Manali. Other than this, at ShivAdya, one can learn cooking traditional Himachali dishes too. ey also have open garden restaurant Agni providing option for morning sunny breakfasts, leisurely lunch in warm winter sun, evening bonfire and barbecue.

ACTIVITIES ShivAdya’s location surrounded by Apple Orchards and fields makes it an apt place to explore its surroundings. ey organise various activities like a visit to orchards and fields, Nature Walk, Village Story Walk, Vishnu temple and Sajla waterfall hike, lunch amidst an apple orchard/Himalayan stream/forest, barbeque night, apple plucking and mountain biking around ShivAdya.

SPA Aer a enjoyable day of sightseeing, one can head to the Bouri’ spa for rejuvenation to get tempered with services like massage and reflexology or one can soak in the Jacuzzi to re-energise. is blissful experience right in the lap of nature will be enough to make your stay memorable for lifetime.

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NEWS

ASHWIN GUNASEKERAN, YEOH SOON HIN, Satees Muniandy during press conference by Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau in New Delhi

INDIA: ONE OF THE TOP FIVE MARKETS FOR BUSINESS EVENTS IN PENANG

By Pradeep Chamaria

A DELEGATION OF 13 MALAYSIABASED ORGANISATIONS RECENTLY VISITED NEW DELHI FOR THE PENANG SALES MISSION TO INDIA 2019 TO PROMOTE PENANG AS THE PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR CORPORATE AND ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, CONFERENCES AND INCENTIVES, AND LEISURE TRAVEL. Led by Ashwin Gunasekeran, the Chief Executive Officer of the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), the sales mission to New Delhi was joined by honourable Yeoh Soon Hin, the Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism Development, Heritage, Arts & Culture. Also present was honourable Satees Muniandy, Penang State Legislative Assemblyman.

Capitalising on Penang’s rising popularity in India, the Penang Sales Mission to India hosted a B2B

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engagement session with participating Business Events and leisure travel buyers from India as well as a media session with the local Indian and Business Events media. PCEB launched its Meetings and Incentives Support Package specially tailored for the Indian market. The support packages start from as low as sponsorship of souvenirs and welcome luncheon for the organisers valued at RM2,000 (for confirmed meetings/conferences of 50 to 100 delegates) to hosted site inspections, welcome luncheon for organisers, cultural performances and souvenirs valued at RM15,000 (for incentive groups of 501 delegates and above.

In the press conference, Yeoh Soon Hin said; “I am very honoured to represent the Penang state government to join in this year’s Penang Sales Mission to India, here

in New Delhi. Penang is a state in Malaysia and it has been listed in various travel articles for Top Ten Cities to Visit, one of the Must-Visit Destinations, Top Ten Best Budget Travel Destinations, Most Liveable City in Asia, Best Street Food in Asia and the list goes on Currently, Penang is the top ranked second-tier destination for association meetings in Malaysia as ranked by the International Congress and Convention Association or ICCA, headquartered in Amsterdam.”

“Penang has also always been a melting pot of culture – an intersection for history and trade. As its State government, we are committed to continue developing the tourism sector and to continue showcasing our proud heritage and history,” he added.

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AMAZING CANTONESE DELICACIES Yauatcha, the only Michelin-starrer restaurant in Kolkata, specializes in offering the finest quality of dim sums and Continental desserts.

Veg cheung fun

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BITE CORNER

By Swaati Chaudhury

N

o New Year celebration is complete without savouring fine dining experience.

Hence the thought of having an authentic Cantonese meal on New Year Eve has crossed my mind several times and hence I was determined to go forward with a fine-dining experience in Cantonese style in Kolkata. Having said this, Yauatcha, nestling on the 5th floor of the plush Quest Mall on the busy thoroughfare of Syed Amir Ali Avenue in Kolkata, is the ultimate destination for gourmet lovers. The very mention of Yauatcha evokes a lingering taste of Cantonese delights that implies having your favourite cuppa with dim sum.

Owned by Mumbai-based Ka Hospitality chain, Yauatcha is incidentally the one and only Michelin-starred, fine-dining restaurant in Kolkata and in the eastern region of India. The Michelin Star is a body that certifies fine-dining outlets into categories based upon its parameters. Next to Mumbai and Bengaluru, Kolkata is the third city to have Yauatcha sprawling over a 6,000 sq. ft area. Set up in September 2014, the 103-seater food outlet restaurant serves exclusively Cantonese fare with a contemporary touch. The interiors flaunt the charm of China with simple furniture, which exudes a vibrant feeling.

I was in luck when the opportunity of relishing Cantonese delicacies knocked on the door. To begin with, the outlet has on offer the widest range of tea right from Kashmiri Kahwa to Assam tea and Chinese Oolong tea from the Fujian Province to High Mountain Oolong from Chiayi Taipei. One can also come across Darjeeling’s reputed Makaibari tea. There are as many as 28 different kinds of tea served at the outlet. I decided to go for a glass of orange juice instead and settled with an all-vegetarian Cantonese fare. Since dim sums can be savoured at any time of the day, I was offered three ranges of dim sum including steamed dim sum, poached dim sum and fried dim sum. I tried the Vegetable Chive Dumpling and Truffle Edamame Dumpling that are all steamed dim sum. There was Poached Peking Dumpling while the best of dim sums are the fried ones. I tried a number of fried dim sums including Pan-fried Turnip Cakes that were quite spongy and done up with spices and Crispy Vegetable

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BITE CORNER

VERDICT: For the well-heeled class of travellers visiting Kolkata and those from the eastern region of India, Yauatcha is a contemporary dim sum tea house and diners do not have to shell out a fortune. One can get to relish genuine Cantonese.

Yauatcha - Mock meat poached peking dumpling

Vegetable chive dumpling

Cheung Fun, which are crispy spring rolls wrapped in rice paper sheet steamed and sprinkled with soya sauce. Pan-fried turnip cakes come in rectangular slices with a thin crunchy layer and are pan-fried before serving. Dumplings are healthy options to fill up one’s stomach.

No hearty meal is complete without some sweet treats. The outlet churns out delectable Continental desserts.

There are multiple types of nine kinds of desserts rustled up by the outlet and seven kinds of ice creams.

I took a dig into Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Cake and Chocolate Pebble which were heavenly. I rounded off my meal with vanilla ice cream that was bitingly cold. One can also bite into Red Fruit Fromage, Pecan and Coffee Delice, Raspberry Delice, Sacher Torte and a wide variety of macarons.

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RATING

Food:

Service:

Ambience:

4/5 3/5

3.5/5

According to Kushal Lama, Unit Head Chef, Yauatcha, “Chinese restaurants in Kolkata are dishing out a fusion of Indo-Chinese delights but we believe in serving authentic Chinese fare. Our customers are usually leisure groups while corporate groups and Non-Residential Indians form a large part of our clients. High-end tourists visiting Kolkata also head to our outlet.

Celebrities also visit our food outlet.

Our desserts have delicious takeaway options.” The food outlet has an open kitchen and is open from 12 noon to midnight.

Address: Yauatcha, Quest Mall, 5th Floor, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Park Circus, Beck Bagan, Ballygunge, Kolkata-700017 Phone: 09819431907 (M) Food for two: Rs 2,000 approximately plus taxes exclusive of alcohol.

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NEWS

SEAWINGS INTRODUCES ‘BEYOND BY SEAWINGS’ A LUXURY EXCURSION TO EXPERIENCE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IN STYLE. Seawings, the only luxury seaplane tour operator in Mid-

dle East which has been providing scenic aerial tours and charters within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) , has announced the launch of ‘Beyond

by Seawings’- day excursions and holidays by private seaplane. Beyond by Seawings is a unique collection of handpicked luxury experiences in the UAE for the leisure and corporate incentive/MICE market. This unique offering is an ideal complement to the already existing popular Dubai scenic tours the company ofby TNH DESK fers.

2018: a landmark year for IndIan arrIvals to

Jordan

Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Issam Arabiyat

Hot-air balloons take to the skies over Loikaw, home to the long-neck Kayan women.

Myanmar’s iconic tour, Balloons Over Bagan, has set sail for new horizons this month with the launch of a new hot-air balloon flight in the remote ethnic region of Kayah State. Balloon Over Loikaw becomes the fourth option in the arsenal of this enterprising adventure tour operator,

following successes in Bagan, Inle Lake and a two-day “balloon safari” in Shan State. Somewhat off the beaten track for most visitors, Loikaw is situated on a 3,000-foot plateau in eastern Myanmar and is surrounded by mountains and rice paddies. It is home to no less than 10 ethnic groups including the Kayan, whose “long-necked” women are famed for the brass coils around their necks and colorful traditional cos-

tumes. Loikaw’s hot-air balloon rides will take off at sunrise on a daily basis throughout the year and can carry six to eight passengers per flight, which lasts one to two hours.

Powered by liquid petroleum gas, the balloons soar to maximum altitudes of 10,000 feet. Safety is paramount, the company says; most of the pilots and technicians are UKtrained while the remainder are Australian, Canadian, and Spanish license holders. All flights are comprehensively insured. “With its pagodatopped hills, mountain ranges and beautiful valleys dotted with farms and villages, Loikaw was a natural choice for our next venture,” said general manager Tun ura.

by TNH DESK

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SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM: 2019 TO BE THE YEAR OF THE GREAT LEAPFROG FROM INDIA Aiming to make year 2019 the year of the great leapfrog for South African Tourism from India, South Africa's Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said that SAT will continue to introduce new regions and experiences to Indian visitors.

He also announced introduction of pre-vetted visas for top tour operators to fasttrack visa processing.

Derek Hanekom Minister of Tourism, South Africa

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R

By Prem Kumar

“We want 2019 to be the year of the great leapfrog for tourism from India.

The growth in total spend and the average length of stay signifies that Indians travelling to South Africa are staying longer, exploring more and experiencing newer activities.

South Africa's Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom recently visited India to engage with key representatives of the travel and tourism ecosystem in an ongoing effort to strengthen tourism ties between the two nations. Accompanied by Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism, and Maropene L Ramokgopa, Consul General, South Africa, the Hon. Minister reiterated his commitment to enhance destination marketing support in India, which has consistently been among the top 10 source markets for South Africa.

The delegation shared a positive outlook for the Indian market, noting that as of June 2018, total spend by Indian travellers in South Africa had increased by 20% and that there was an upswing in the average length of stay (+7.7%) and total bed nights (+4%).

INDIANS STAYING LONGER IN SOUTH AFRICA “We want 2019 to be the year of the great leapfrog for tourism from India. The growth in total spend and the average length of stay signifies that Indians travelling to South Africa are staying longer, exploring more and experiencing newer activities than ever before. This certainly is a positive indicator of the potential growth of the market and gives us the confidence to con-

TOP: Walking Safari ABOVE: Safari

tinue introducing new regions and experiences,” Mr. Derek said.

VISA SIMPLIFICATION AGREEMENT Mr. Derek Hanekom indicated that a visa simplification agreement, addressing various initiatives to simplify ease of travel to South Africa from India, was expected to be signed between the two nations. “There has been a lot of improvement in the length of time it takes between the application and issuance of South African visas for Indian travellers. We recognize the need for a more solution-driven approach that eases visa regulations to unlock the full potential of tourist arrivals from India. We are currently running a pilot for e-visa processes and

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R

on successful completion, the intention is to begin rolling-out e-visas in other countries,” the Minister added.

Speaking about new initiatives to ease visa applications, Maropene L Ramokgopa, Consul General, South Africa, said, “The Consulate of South Africa will work closely with South African Tourism to accredit select travel agents and tour operators and allow fast-tracking visa applications from preferred partners.

The efforts would seek to further to reduce the time for visa issuance, which is currently between 5 to 7 days from time of application, while enabling faster turnaround times during peak seasons.”

LIKELIHOOD OF DIRECT FLIGHTS The Minister acknowledged air connectivity as a key driver for outbound travel particularly MICE and business tourism from India.

Speaking about direct flights between India and South Africa, the Minister said, “There

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

TOP: Drakensberg Camping KZN

are currently serious discussions about the possibility of resumption of the direct route.”

MICE FORMS 28% OF INDIAN VISITS TO SA From January to June 2018, MICE accounted for 28% of the Indian traveller visits while 23% Indians travelled for business. On the other hand, leisure travel continued to gain an increasing share of the traveller pie currently contributing to 25% of the total visits from India.

INDIA VITAL IN SA'S GOAL OF 5 M ADDITIONAL VISITORS Reinforcing India as a key source market, Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism, said, “India has been a key source market for us and will continue to play a critical role in our long-term vision of attracting 5 million additional visitors, including 4 million international tourists by 2021. We aim to surpass

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R

TOP: Hermanus ABOVE: Hermanus, Braai, Boulders Beach, South Africa

POTENTIAL IMMENSE FOR DIVERSIFICATION

100,000 visitors from Indian in the current year of 2019. Towards this ambition, we remain committed to continue investing in our promotion and engagement efforts, both with our Indian trade partners and travellers, while bringing diversified products to the market.”

Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, Middle East, India, South East Asia, South African Tourism, added, “With the depth of experiences and breathtaking natural beauty of South Africa, there is immense potential to diversify our promotions of innovative and unique experiences. We are focused on transforming the way we promote our destination in India and will adopt a more localized approach to selling South Africa through the lens of the Indian traveller.”

Tourism is one of the key contributors of growth to the South African economy. Travel and tourism supported 1.5 million jobs in South Africa in 2017 - 9.5% of total employment in the country. The WTTC report estimates that by 2028 almost 2.1 million jobs in South Africa will depend on travel and tourism.

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NEWS

LOT POLISH AIRLINES TO FLY NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM WARSAW TO NEW DELHI

Poland’s flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines will launch a new non-stop service between Warsaw and New Delhi, commencing on 17 September 2019.

Like all LOT long-haul flights, the new route will be operated by state-of-theart Boeing 787 Dreamliner five times a week. The announcement was made

by LOT Polish Airlines during the Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai.

The new route launch will provide the

CHENNAI IS ANA'S NEW DESTINATION IN INDIA • New city joins Delhi and Mumbai as Japan's All Nippon Airways’ third Indian destination.

• Announcement comes as ANA looks to expand its reach in Asia-Oceania.

• ANA is taking steps to meet growing demand in Asia by expanding its routes to include the first direct flight from Japan to Chennai, India.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

shortest and most convenient connection from New Delhi directly to the centrally located hub in Warsaw as well as access to many Central, Eastern and Western European cities. The first flight will commence on 17 September from Warsaw Chopin Airport to New Delhi’s Terminal 3 (with the return flight taking off from New Delhi on 18 September).

by TNH DESK

JAPAN AIRLINES TO FLY NONSTOP BETWEEN TOKYO-NARITA AND BANGALORE Japan Airlines (JAL) recently announced that it will launch a new nonstop service between Tokyo-Narita and Bangalore India, during the summer of 2020.

As direct flights are currently not in service from Japan, the launch of this route will provide customers from North America a new option when traveling to the southern region of India. And, through the expansion of JAL`s international network, the carrier looks to contribute to the further development and economic growth in both countries.

In order to realize the JAL Vision1, as introduced in the JAL Group Medium Term Management Plan, the carrier will continue expanding its network in order to become the world’s most valued and preferred airline.

by TNH DESK

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NEWS

Mandsaur

MP TOURISM PROJECT BUDDHIST CULTURAL

Deur Kothar Stupa

park related structures and exhibits. The proposed concept and storyline enable its audiences to explore the social and cultural impact of the ancient past and get deep knowledge of the Buddhist philosophy. Other important objectives are to work out a plan to implement innovations in the landscaping components, physical infrastructure, specific actions to increase visitation, and develop staffing plan.

This DPR builds upon the cultural significance (OUV) of the site, recognized by UNESCO nearly three decades ago. Larger goal is to create an interactive and visitor friendly Theme Park and Museum. The current effort has been an exercise in assertion and continuity, with an added inducement for quickening the process. The concept has been communicated through interac-

PARK & JOHN MARSHALL MUSEUM Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) has undertaken a project to conceptualize, design and supervise the John Marshall Museum and Buddhist Theme Park in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. The museum will be established in an existing heritage building.

The main objective of the project is to establish a museum in memory of Sir John Marshall and a Buddhist theme park representing the Sanchi site and the philosophies of Buddhism through specially designed immersive exhibits - integrating physical and digital interactive design and specialized theme

Sanchi Stupa

tive designs. The concept revolves around the teachings of the Buddha. His teachings lean on the religious and philosophical vocabulary of the time which is uniquely displayed at Sanchi.

Buddha envisioned Buddhism as a reformist movement from within Hinduism. Sanchi is a tranquil ode to the magnificent undying Buddhist faith. All the Buddhist monuments evoke the presence of Buddha and his teachings. The cultural landscapes of Sanchi marks the broad concept for the Buddhist Theme Park at Sanchi. Another component of the project is the John Marshall Museum. Over the centuries, archaeologists have played a major role in documenting, studying and conserving the monumental edifice at Sanchi.

by TNH DESK

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AROUND THE WORLD

POPULAR FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD TO LOOK FOR IN MARCH 2019

KAKKU PAGODA FESTIVAL February 24 – March 3, 2019 Location: Thaunggyi, Myanmar

It is the annual harvest festival of the ethnic tribe of Myanmar known as Pa’O tribe residing in the south of Inle Lake of Shan state. The festival occurs at one of the biggest and spectacular landmarks of AsiaKakku Pagoda on the full moon day in the month of March that happens to be the last month of Myanmar lunar calendar. The tribal populace head to the pagoda with their offerings to the image of Lord Buddha and eventually comes to an end with devotees offering rice and scores of other items to around 1,000 monks.

PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL March 8-11, 2019 Location: Port Fairy, Australia

An annual four-day celebration of music based in the fishing hamlet of Port Fairy in Victoria, Australia, the 43rd Port Fairy Folk Festival took off in 1977 and has now emerged as one of the most highly regarded festivals not only in Australia but also across the global festival scene.

The festival is committed to excellence in programming and community engagement and lays a special emphasis for the masses to have a remarkable cultural and social experience that is born from music.

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AROUND THE WORLD

NARVIK WINTER FESTIVAL March 15-24, 2019 Location: Narvik, Norway

The winter festival dates back to the era of World War II and pays tribute to the workers who laid the foundation of the renowned Ofoten iron-ore railway connecting Kiruna and Narvik. The nine-day festival sets in with scores of events including music, dance, drama performances and art exhibitions. It depicts the town’s cultural and historical heritage through 200 events and performances.

There are colourful parades by local residents sporting attractive costumes.

International Yoga Festival March 1-7, 2019 Location: Rishikesh, Uttarkhand

Jaipur Elephant Festival

Held at Parmarth Niketan on the banks river Ganges, International Yoga Festival observes yoga as a way of life. The festival took off back in 1999 at Parmarth Niketan Ashram and in contemporary days, the popularity of yoga is on a steady rise. It is held amidst spiritual ambience and it aims to boost harmony of the body, mind and soul. The festival practises ancient techniques and sessions on the art of yoga and meditation.

March 21, 2019 Location: Jaipur

An annual celebration in Jaipur, the elephant festival is held on the full moon day. For those who have a penchant for rituals and elephants, this is the festival to look forward to. Elephants form an intrinsic part of the culture and lifestyle of the capital city of Rajasthan. The elephants are highly adorned with rugs, anklets and jewelleries during the festival.

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E V E N T WAT C H

SKAL DELHI MEET Skal Delhi organised its monthly lunch meeting on 30th January 2019 at hotel Aloft Aerocity, New Delhi. The meet was graced by the participation of a large number of skalleagues and their guests and concluded with a delectable lunch hosted by Aloft Hotel Airocity. Here are some glimpses of the event...

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

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NEWS

BOOSTING MINING MOT GRANTS RS. 85.23 CRORE FOR AND ECO-TOURISM NEW SPIRITUAL CIRCUIT IN KERALA

HIGHLIGHTING THE STATE AS A PROSPECTIVE MINING AND ECO-TOURIST DESTINATION FORMS THE HIGHPOINT OF JHARKHAND TOURISM. Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation Limited (JTDCL) is consolidating its tourism infrastructure and projecting the state as a prospective pilgrim, ecotourist and mining destination with an effort to woo travellers. It is into publicizing its eco-tourist points and has added a host of amenities all over its Dr. Alok Prasad tourist getaways.

Deputy General Manager, Jharkhand Dr. Alok Prasad, Tourism Development Corporation Limited Deputy General Manager, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation, said, “We are hosting Winter Festival at Netarhat- popular as Queen of Chotanagpur Plateau that is spruced up with Swiss cottages in the wilderness with cultural programmes performed by tribal folks.”

by TNH DESK

THE NEW CIRCUIT TO COVER 133 RELIGIOUS SITES IN 14 DISTRICTS OF THE STATE. e Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned projects worth Rs.85.23 crore for the development of Spiritual Circuit III in Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme, informed Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons. Addressing the media recently in iruvananthapuram, the Minister said that the sites identified under the circuit are spread across all 14 districts of the state and cover 133 religious places. He said the districts where the projects would be implemented are: Kasargode, Wayand, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malappuram, rissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamhitta, Kollam and iruvanathapuram . e Minister said the destinations have been selected keeping in view the inherent historic, cultural and religious significance of the places. e development works include Community hall, Annadhana Mandapam, Multipurpose hall, toilets, cafeteria, parking facilities, landscaping, pathways, illuminations, signages, dustbins etc.

by TNH DESK

MP RECEIVES TREMENDOUS RESPONSE AT SATTE Madhya Pradesh Tourism

Board participated in SATTE 2019 to educate and highlight growth in the tourism sector held at India Mr Yuvraj Padole Expo Mart, Greater Noida, (Deputy Director- Events & Marketing Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Bhopal) Delhi – NCR from 16th – 18th January, 2019. is year, the exhibition has witnessed a tremendous response from the industry with participation from over 1000 exhibitors and representation from over 50 countries and cities from across India. Yuvraj Padole, Deputy Director- Events & Marketing, MPTB, said, “is year MP has bagged an excellent response with market leaders increasing their stall size with information driven approach for attendees. Globally, travel trade fairs are considered important annual opportunities for face-to-face meetings

by TNH DESK and networking among buyers and sellers.”

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MOVING ON

APPOINTMENTS OF THE MONTH

1 2 jasPReet siNGh

GM, azaya Beach Resort, Goa azaya Beach Resort, Goa has appointed jaspreet singh as its General Manager. an industry veteran, with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, jaspreet brings with him a deep understanding of the same after having worked at different hotels across india.

RaGhu MeNoN

GM, the st. Regis Doha the st. Regis Doha has appointed Raghu Menon as its GM. in this role, he will be responsible for overseeing the award-winning 336-room luxury property as well as managing its operations and maintaining the service excellence that matches the legacy of the st. Regis Brand.

3 4 PaRvez NisaR

hotel Manager Fairfield by Marriott Pune Kharadi Fairfield by Marriott Pune Kharadi has appointed Parvez Nisar as its hotel Manager. a well-recognized industry veteran with almost 18 years of experience in the luxury and upscale hotel segment, Nisar is adept and well-acquainted in the know-how.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

Kshitij jawa

GM, Radisson Noida Kshitij jawa has been appointed as the new General Manager of Radisson Noida sector 55, a luxury 5 star property. an accomplished hotelier with 13 years of hospitality experience, Kshitij will be responsible for spearheading all the operations at the property.

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MOVING ON

5

KunAL dEWAn

director of sales & marketing Hyatt regency delhi Hyatt regency delhi has appointed Kunal dewan as its director of sales & marketing. A driven, strategic and skilled individual, Kunal possesses a huge knowledge base of the hospitality industry and brings more than a decade of experience with him.

7

dEBAsHisH muduLi

Gm, The Fern sattva resort, dwarka debasish muduli has joined as the Gm, The Fern sattva resort, dwarka.

He has 16 years of work experience having worked with dukes retreat, Khandala, ras resorts , siLVAssA, silver Palace Hotel, rajkot, Hotel imperial Palace, rajkot, Cambay sapphire Hotel, Ahmedabad, Country inn and more.

6

ruPAm KumAr GHosH

General manager The Fern residency, Bhuj rupam Ghosh has 15 years of work experience having worked with mahindra Holidays & resort, Park Plaza Ahmedabad, Holiday inn resort Kandooma, maldives, The manohar, Hyderabad. He has completed his diploma in Hotel management from iiAs school of Hotel management.

8

AnAnd KumAr

Executive Chef, Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks recently appointed Anand Kumar their new Executive Chef.

With 16 years’ experience across a vast array of establishments, Chef Kumar brings in expertise refined from a multitude of cuisines.

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NEWS

ROYAL CARIBBEAN RECOGNISED THE BEST CRUISE LINE

PALACE DOWNTOWN CROWNED WITH A HOST OF AWARDS IN 2018 Palace Downtown, the premium luxury hotel ideally located by the picturesque Burj Lake, near the iconic Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai, celebrates excellence across various categories with 20 prestigious awards.

Each award recognises Palace Downtown for consistently redefining luxury hospitality standards in the Middle East with its exceptional facilities and outstanding service.

Leading and driving the performance of the hotel, David Simon, General Manager of Palace Downtown won the ‘Best Business Leader’ honour at the Middle-East, North Africa & Asia Award Organization (MENAAO) 2018.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2019

Royal Caribbean International, exclusively represented by TIRUN Travel Marketing in India won the award for Best Cruise Line at the SATTE Awards powered by T3, organised by UBM India alongside SATTE Exhibition. e 3rd edition of the event took place at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida on 17th January, 2019. e ceremony saw the attendance of industry leaders, influencers and recognized names from the travel and tourism sector including government bodies. Royal Caribbean International’s best-in-class cruise ships offering a vast list of itineraries to the best destinations in the world-from party spots to unexplored lands- garnered unanimous praise from the attendees, and the award further underlined the cruise line’s creative marketing initiatives and the new technologies brought in the cruise line.

ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI WINS 27 COVETED ACCOLADES Armani Hotel Dubai, the iconic hotel in Burj Khalifa, has had record breaking year during 2018 winning an incredible 27 prestigious awards and accolades covering all aspects – from design and management excellence to its food, beverage and spa offerings. is marks a strong testament to the hotel’s exceptional focus on providing ultrapersonalised lifestyle experiences. by TNH DESK

THAILAND RECOGNIZED 'BEST FOREIGN DESTINATION' AT SATTE 2019 AWARDS

ailand won the “Best Foreign Destination 2019” award at SATTE 2019 organized by UBM India at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida. TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said: “We are very proud to be recognised thus by senior leaders and executives of India’s top travel institutions. It will go a long way to bolster our strong marketing and promotional efforts across India.” e SATTE award supplements other similar recognitions for the ai travel industry in India. In November 2018, the ai capital of Bangkok won the top honour as the Best City – International category in the seventh edition of India’s Best Awards conferred by the respected travel publication Travel + Leisure India & South Asia.

India is one of ailand’s top ten sources of visitors, and one of the growing club of countries that generate more than one million visitors a year.

by TNH DESK

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DL (ND)-11/6167/2017-18-19 | DATE OF POSTING: 5-6 OF MONTH | RNI NO.: DELENG/2010/33723 | DATE OF PUBLISHING: 4 th OF THE MONTH