TravelScapes January 2018

TravelScapes w w w . t r a v e l s c a p e s o n l i n e . c o m

JANUARY 2018, PAGES 80, `90

VOL. 6, ISSUE. 1

WE ARE

HIGH 5 TO THOSE FANTASTIC YEARS A GLIMPSE INTO THE JOURNEY TILL DATE

LOOKING BACK LOOKING AHEAD THE HOTTEST AND THE LATEST TRAVELLING TRENDS

www.macaotourism.gov.mo

TravelScapes PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Yes, TravelScapes has evolved over these five fantabulous years!

A

s we know, each journey starts with just one small footstep, a small seed sown or a long-held dream reaching fruition, TravelScapes, in January, celebrates its five years in the industry and I couldn’t be more thrilled. During this awe-inspiring journey, we, as a team have accomplished a lot and the magazine itself has grown much bigger compared to the little idea that germinated back in January 2013.

I have seen the burgeoning success of the magazine that came gradually in response to the evolving needs and demands of the industry. In addition to giving voice to the industry concerns, TravelScapes has not just featured the expert-written articles on the challenges but has covered everything from the role of tourism to the untapped opportunities, from the lesser-known marvels to the most-visited places on the bucket list.

Additionally, TravelScapes also took its readers on an adventure trail by launching the milestone annual products –“101 Experiences” and “Vistas by TravelScapes”. With more in store for 2018, we look forward to bringing you such explorations and discoveries and

taking you, just for a moment, to the places you are reading about. I am proud of these achievements and equally proud of my team who has not only put in that extra effort but has also played a crucial role in reforming TravelScapes from good to the best.

To mark our five successful years in the industry, we’ve put together the best wishes from the industry experts so they can tell you what TravelScapes is to them. None of the progress would have been possible without their support and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who is closely associated with the magazine. As we travel into year six and beyond, I encourage you to continue engaging with us — spread our message far and wide and let us know how we can better serve you to make your lifelong tourism journey an affair of a lifetime.

Now that 2017 is over with the hottest trends continuing to leave their imprints in 2018, it’s time to reveal the newest trend predictions. Our cover story features the travel pundits, the industry professionals speaking about what were the hottest and what are the latest.

PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra varun@versatilemedia.in DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar pranav@versatilemedia.in VICE PRESIDENT Shelly Chadha DIRECTOR- PR (MIDDLE EAST & SOUTH EAST ASIA) Sanjiv Chopra

In the ‘What’s trending’ section, we have talked about ‘overtourism’, a concept that is becoming a bigger and bigger issue. For decades, most tourism destinations have tried to attract as many tourists as possible, without any thought that there could be limits beyond which local people’s lives start to suffer. Are we failing as tourists or the local and state authorities are yet to wake up?

While we list you five unconventional winter spots in India that one cannot afford to miss, we also help you choose from the top five picks from across the world to navigate those who want to escape the powdery snow.

Varun Malhotra Publisher & CEO varun@versatilemedia.in

This issue brings news and reports about trade, hospitality, aviation and the latest in tourism worldwide.

We value your feedback and suggestions so please do write us on varun@versatilemedia.in.

Happy reading

ACCOUNTS Chandan Kumar Jha, Swati Jauhari ADMIN HEAD R Prem Lata EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Sameer Singh

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur ASST. EDITOR Sayanti Halder SENIOR REPORTER Ankita Jain BUSINESS HEAD - MICE Seema Joshi AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa SR. MARKETING MANAGER Nidhi Hinduja CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann ART DIRECTOR Rakesh Kumar

Editorial & Marketing Office: Versatile Media: 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008 Contact: 011 - 45530380/83 • varun@versatilemedia.in All information in TravelScapes is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.

Owned and published by: Varun Malhotra, Editor & Publisher, EB-63, Maya Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi - 110064 and printed on his behalf at Royal Press, B-82, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-I, New Delhi - 110020

CONTENT JANUARY 2018

VOL. 6, ISSUE. 1

Cover Story pg-22

LOOKING

LOOKING

BACK AHEAD

As the tick-tock for 2018 begins and we bid adieu to 2017, we take a look back at the travel predictions last year and catch a glimpse of the trends that this year promises to bring

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

HOTEL FEATURE

6 High 5 to those fantastic years

56 Sheraton Maldives : Full Moon Resort & Spa A NEW VIEW FROM MALDIVES

A glimpse into the journey till date

8 Five years, Five milestones On the occasion of turning 5, we recount the 5 key miletones that made the journey, good to best

The property offers private spa island, where you can enjoy an array of signature and nurturing treatments in the secluded ambiance of your own spa pavilion

10 The wall of well wishes

WHAT’S TRENDING

We present a platter of best wishes from the industry experts, showing their love and support for TS, over the years

60 Overtourism on the rise ARE WE FAILING AS TOURISTS?

SPECIAL FOCUS ASSOCIATIONS 46 In Top Gear OTOAI NEWLY ELECTED TEAM PLANS TO SET NEW PARAMETERS At the recently concluded Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) elections, a new committee has been elected for the two-year term, 2017-19

48 Revving up a strong connect TAAI’S NEWLY ELECTED COMMITTEE FORGING AHEAD FOR THE BETTERMENT As the association now plans to formulate a productive agenda for the term of 2017-19, a new Managing Committee and office-bearers have been appointed

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In several destinations, a tipping point has been reached and overtourism has become a local political issue, sometimes spilling over into the street

64 Wellness Tourism BOOSTING A HEALTHY TOURISM The industry may expect an increase in the inbound footfalls, inspiring tourists to embark on more wellness trips to the Indian states

SPOTLIGHT 20 INDIA TOURISM : PAVED WITH BIG WORDS KJ Alphons, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism in a candid conversation with TravelScapes

REGULAR UPDATES 18........................................................................................................................................................................................MoT 30.................................................................................................................................................................................... Trade 40....................................................................................................................................................................... Photo Story 44........................................................................................................................................................................ Association 52..........................................................................................................................................................................Hospitality 66............................................................................................................................................................................Outbound 72.................................................................................................................................................................................Aviation 78...................................................................................................................................................................... On the Move

IN CONVERSATION

SPECIAL FOCUS HOSPITALITY

50 THE APP WAY TO TRAVEL MANHEER SINGH SETHI

54 INDIANISING ibis JEAN-MICHEL CASSÉ

Co-Founder & Director, HOLIDAYS BY SAHIBJI PVT LTD | TRAVKART.COM shares the ISP of Travkart and more

TravelScapes explores more about Accor’s venture in India

GLOBETROTTER 68 Escape Here 5 PLACES TO ESCAPE THE POWDERY SNOW

UPDATE

TravelScapes

MoT

High

As we step into a new year with countless opportunities in the offing, TravelScapes is reflecting on five years of constant support and encouragement from the readers, contributors, and the entire travel trade fraternity. Like no other magazine--we’re independent, always accessible and inviting, full of hand-designed graphics and with a writing that grapples with the complexities of the industry.

The generosity and constant support of this industry have carried us from the publisher’s dream to the reality of a publication that reaches thousands across the globe.

From a journey of being believers to become the achievers, the two dynamic men, Varun Malhotra (Publisher & CEO) and Pranav Khullar (Director) initiated TravelScapes with a vision to provide the latest and the best in the industry.

From launching the TravelScapes Middle East edition to unveiling the informative coffee table books and tourism guides giving 101 travel experiences, TravelScapes has always kept the readers engaged. The magazine has received notable awards from Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) like the “Best Travel Trade Publication” in 2015, “Best Live IATO Dailies” in 2016 and “Best Travel Trade Publication” in 2017.

TO THOSE

FANTASTIC YEARS

Varun Malhotra Publisher & CEO, Versatile Media

Pranav Khullar Director , Versatile Media

The passage of five years that we have traversed through the magazine has been remarkable. TravelScapes has not just told the stories, interviewed the leaders but has also championed the innovations that are still making a difference across the country. The magazine packages its content in such a way that it deepens the engagement between the readers and the travel trade industry. Since its inception, the magazine has helped to explore and record pivotal moments in the travel and tourism industry and has also set a goal of inspiring others to help change the tourism sector for the better. As further developments take place in the tourism sector and we understand critical issues underfeeding the industry, we anticipate that TravelScapes shall continue to play a leading role in documenting these important aspects. This five-year anniversary is the result of a committed audience and the continued support and we look forward to sharing the next five years with you.

We have spent these five years strengthening our commitment to engaging the industry through exceptional quality and spoton content. Through these years, we are able to look back and take delight in the kind of support we have been getting from the industry. Within a short span of time, TravelScapes has managed to touch upon all the bases within the tourism sector.

To make a product successful and accessible to the audience, it takes perseverance and flexibility, of course. But primarily, it takes teamwork. From over half a decade, my team including the editors, reporters, art directors and the other professionals have left no stone unturned to make this a renowned publication.

Their contribution has been, still is and certainly will be crucial to everything that makes TravelScapes a vibrant reality and a successful monthly affair. Today, on the occasion of turning five, we salute all of their efforts and thank our readers and supporters. If it weren’t for all of them, we wouldn’t celebrate today.

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JANUARY 2018

5 YEARS, 5 MILESTONES

01

Launch of TravelScapes Middle East in May 2015

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02

Unveiling of the first Coffee table book in 2015

JANUARY 2018

03

Honoured with top recognitions at the IATO Conventions for three consecutive years: “Best Travel Trade Publication 2015”, “Best Live IATO Dailies 2016” and “Best Travel Trade Publication 2017”

04

Raised the curtains for “101 experiences

by TravelScapes” & “Vistas by TravelScapes” in 2016

05

Launch of MICEinsiders in 2017 – a bible on the MICE industry in India and worldwide

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THE WALL OF WELL WISHES K J Alphons Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Tourism

I would like to convey all my good wishes to TravelScapes on completing five years in the industry. They are putting a great effort to reach out to the Indian tourism industry with a focus not only towards attracting international but the domestic traffic as well. I wish them all the very best for future.

Rashmi Verma, IAS Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. Govt. of India

I am happy to know that TravelScapes Magazine is completing five successful years of its publication. I hope that the magazine will continue to provide useful and indepth knowledge on various aspects related to tourism and insights on the latest developments in the tourism sector. I congratulate the entire team of the publication and wish them all success in future.

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Taiwan Stay HealtHy, Happy & Fit!

THINK STRAWBERRIES, Taiwan Tourism Bureau India Office: C-41, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi 110049 Tel: +91 11 2653 1733 l Fax: + 91 11 2653 1735 l Email: noel@ttbrep.in Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Singapore Office: 30 Raffles Place, Cheveron House #10-01, Singapore 048622

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THE WALL OF WELL WISHES

Mahendra Vakharia President, OTOAI (Outbound Tour Operators Association of India) and MD, Pathfinders Holidays

There are many more celebrations to come. I foresee TravelScapes as a flagship media for the industry in the coming years. I wish to convey my heartiest congratulations to the publication for completing half a decade in the industry with pride and vigour. Keep publishing articulated issues.

P P Khanna President, ADTOI Shurbir Singh MD & CEO, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Govt. of Delhi

On behalf of DTTDC, I wish to congratulate the entire team of TravelScapes on the occasion of completing their five years in the travel trade industry. I hope your magazine performs even well in future and reach greater heights in the years to come

First of all, let me congratulate the TravelScapes team for completing five years in the travel trade. We, at ADTOI, appreciate for the brand you have captured in the industry as the finest and qualitative magazine showcasing the industry voice and day-to-day marts/ seminars/induction. TravelScapes is also publishing the new trends in the industry and trying to gauge the latest adoptions of the industry demand. We would like to express that more anticipation of articles should comprehend the problems of trade with present scenarios. TravelScapes with the young team has ‘Vakhra Swag’ in the industry. I wish the entire team to carry forward this legacy in style with passion.

Sunil Kumar R President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)

Our heartiest compliments to Varun for his outstanding publication - TravelScapes having completed five years of purposeful connect with the industry. We wish you all success in your endeavours to promote this most growing industry that requires magazines like TravelScapes to create greater awareness on the trends and industry hi-lights.

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Raj Rana Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

My congratulations to the entire TravelScapes team for a glorious five-year run! As an avid reader, I follow in-depth and varied perspectives across the industry. TravelScapes has contributed to shaping my viewpoint over these years and I would like to applaud the team for their dedication and hard work.

TravelScapes

MoT

Rajiv Mehra Vice President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)

On behalf of IATO and my personal behalf, I would like to extend our best wishes to TravelScapes and wish good luck for the future. Please accept our heartiest “Congratulations.” It is a proud moment for the publisher of this magazine and we are honoured to share this auspicious occasion. The magazine has been covering various emergent issues and developments in the field of tourism very professionally.

All these made this magazine an interesting read for all. TravelScapes has emerged as one of the leading travel and tourism magazines and is continuously motivating the readers to go for holidays.

I wish the magazine a progressive journey and big success.

Rajeev Kohli Senior Vice President, IATO and SITE President 2016-2017

I have been tracking this young team from the day they started and am happy to see where they have arrived today. They have not hesitated to be different in a busy media market. The first five years is a great milestone in a start-up’s journey and I wish you all the best for the next five.

Pankaj Nagpal Managing Director Travstarz Global Group

TravelScapes has been doing a commendable job and has made a distinct place for itself in the travel industry influenced by older and bigger names with its spot-on reporting and excellent print quality. I have seen them grow rapidly under the dynamic leadership of Varun and his team and on their fifth anniversary, I wish them even more success in the future. Keep up the good work and all the best.

UPDATE

THE WALL OF WELL WISHES Sucheta Nagpal Director and CEO, Travstarz Global Group

My good wishes are always with Varun and his team. I’ve witnessed TravelScapes grow with him and I must admire his dedication. He has climbed the ladder of success pacing up with the time. I am sure he’ll continue to flourish in the coming years. I wish the entire team of TravelScapes, all the very best for the future endeavours.

Rajan Dua Managing Director and Co-Founder Udaan India Private Limited

Congratulations, as you celebrate your five years of services.

TravelScapes is one of the most famous travel magazines. It not only brings us the travel news and updates but also features exotic destinations and shares the real-life experiences. This magazine highlights vacation destinations, hotel and resort stays, tours and custom itineraries from and around the world. This magazine is recognised for its stunning photographs and elegant writing. The magazine ensures a better travel planning as well as a memorable holiday to share. We would like to appreciate your long years in the services.

JANUARY 2018

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THE WALL OF WELL WISHES

B A Rahim Founder & Group CEO Akquasun Group

My heartiest wishes to Varun and his team on achieving their first time zone milestone of five years. TravelScapes’ success in such a short period proves a focused leadership and productive teamwork. I wish them more success in the coming years and we, at Akquasun, are very proud to be associated with TravelScapes.

Vinay Malhotra Chief Operating Officer - Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global Kulwant Singh Founder / MD - Lama Group

I would like to congratulate the entire TravelScapes team for having successfully completed five years. Thank you for providing us with a fresh and trendsetting coverage on various aspects of the travel and hospitality industry. Continue to serve as a one-stop-platform to travel enthusiasts and industry partners. We wish success to the publication and look forward to strengthening our relationship further.

Harmandeep Singh Anand Managing Director, Jagsons Travels Private Limited

My office has been receiving a copy of the TravelScapes Magazine since its inception and I have personally never missed a single issue. TravelScapes team has been doing a splendid job in terms of the content and quality of the publication. On their fifth anniversary, I and my team extend all our best wishes to the team of TravelScapes and its management on a great job done and wish many more years of success .

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It gives me great pleasure to congratulate TravelScapes on completing the milestone of five years in travel trade reportage and analysis. The magazine has emerged as an important source of industry information, regularly keeping the trade fraternity abreast of the latest trends and developments. I wish the entire team at TravelScapes the very best in their endeavours to generate engaging and relevant content and to excel in the years to come.

Saminda Perera General Manager Marketing SriLankan Airlines

We, at SriLankan Airlines, are pleased to convey our best wishes for the fifth anniversary of TravelScapes Magazine.

Over the years, your publication has captured and presented the scoops and trends of the industry in an insightful and innovative editorial voice. Thank you for the support that you have extended to SriLankan Airlines, and we wish your team all the success in your future endeavours.

Manish Dayya General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach

Heartiest congratulations to TravelScapes for completing five celebrated years.

TravelScapes has always provided its readers with a perfect balance of news, views, debates and updates. We wish you great luck and much more success in the years to come.

TravelScapes

MoT

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THE WALL OF WELL WISHES Amaresh Tiwari Hony. Treasurer, IATO

With the very young management and team on board, you guys are not only managing to bring fresh ideas but also innovating those to the trade. The magazine has been able to live up to the expectations of the industry and several times raising the burning issues without any fear and with courage. I would like to congratulate Varun and his team for the completion of five successful years.

May your publication keep scaling to new heights.

Anjum Lokhandwala Founder & Director, Outbound Konnections Reps Pvt. Ltd.

Hard work pays off and TravelScapes has proved it. We are proud of you and your accomplishments. With this achievement, comes greater opportunities and challenges, face it with the same zeal as you always have. And we are confident that you will continue with even more successes. When the root is deep there is no reason to fear the wind.

Prakash Bang Founder & Executive Chairman roomsXML Solutions Limited

Five years and growing in a competitive space is indeed praiseworthy. It reflects the confidence of your readers and advertisers. Keep it up. I wish TravelScapes and its entire team the very best for the years ahead.

Sudhir Sobti Chief Manager (PR & Publicity) Delhi Tourism & Transportation

It is indeed a matter of joy and success for TravelScapes as they turn five this month. No milestone is achieved without dedicated team work and strenuous efforts and I must say that Varun and his team have left no stone unturned to make this magazine a frontrunner in the travel industry. My best wishes are always with them.

Sanjay Sondhi President & CEO, OM Tourism

Here’s wishing good luck as you complete another year in the travel trade industry. We look forward to work closely with the magazine. We indeed want you to be an integrated part of our growth and wish you all the success for the coming years.

JANUARY 2018

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UPDATE

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THE WALL OF WELL WISHES

Davinder Juj Hotel Manager, Eros Hotel Nehru Place

I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the entire team of TravelScapes on completing five glorious years of success. The publication has left no stone unturned in setting the benchmark of par excellence and establishing a positive mark in the industry. The team is truly hard working and I wish them all the success and good luck for future.

Mamta Pall Director of Sales & MarketingIndia for Rotana Hotels

Travelscapes is a publication that not only provides interesting read to its readers but covers all possible facets of the travel and hospitality industry. They have been raising the bar high with their consistent hard work, over the years. I wish them continued success on their fifth anniversary.

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Rajiv Anand General Manager, Public Relations/ Advertising & Culture and Corporate Marketing & Sales, ITDC

This is indeed an important milestone achievement for TravelScapes that has completed five years in the hospitality and tourism industry. We understand the challenges and constraints which come in the way of a publication to make a mark by providing authentic information from reliable sources amidst competition. I would like to congratulate the entire team and wish you all successful years ahead.

Chinthaka Weerasinghe SriLankan Airlines, Manager Northern India

I would like to wish TravelScapes all the very best for completing five years in the travel trade media industry. TravelScapes has redefined what a travel trade publication should be like, in terms of its quality, layout and content. All of us in the trade look forward to your publication each month for new developments and stories in the industry. Wishing the team all success in the coming years.

Alefiya Singh Director, Iris Reps

I wish Varun, Pranav and team TravelScapes on completing their glorious five years in the travel trade. Kudos for being such a professional and innovative team. It is fun to work with such an energetic and dynamic team who are ready to offer out-of-the-box ideas to showcase destinations and other products in their classy magazine. Here is wishing you many more milestones.

SOUTH AFRICA’S GOT IT ALL

From Blue Flag beaches to Big Five wildlife safaris, buzzing city life, thrilling adventures, world-class shopping and spectacular surroundings, South Africa is the perfect holiday destination. We invite you, the trade, to be blown away by the variety of experiences and tourism products that our country has to offer at the 2018 South African Tourism Roadshow.

Date

Day

City

Time

Venue

12-Feb

Monday

Mumbai

11:00 – 16:00

Trident Hotel, Nariman Point

14-Feb

Wednesday

Kolkata

10:00 – 14:00

The Oberoi Grand

15-Feb

Thursday

Bangalore

10:00 – 14:00

Taj Vivanta, MG Road

16-Feb

Friday

Delhi

14:00 – 17:00

Le Meridien

19-Feb

Monday

Ahmedabad

10:00 – 15:00

Hyatt Regency

RSVP: Indiaroadshow@southafrica.net

SOUTH AFRICA

UPDATE

TravelScapes

MoT

2017: The fruitful and productive year for India Tourism Tourism is a major engine of economic growth and an important source of foreign exchange earnings in many countries including India. It not only has a great capacity to create large scale employment of diverse kind but can also play an important role in achieving growth with equity.

Augmenting tourism infrastructure, easing of visa regime, assurance of quality standards in services of tourism service providers and more are some of the responsibilities of the Ministry. Let’s take a look back to the successful journey of India Tourism in 2017: • India’s rank in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), 2017 has also shown a 25 places jump from 2013.

Rank of India in TTCI Report of 2017 was 40th as compared to 52nd in 2015 and 65th in 2013.

• Development of tourism infrastructure is being given priority to provide a better tourism experience to the tourists. Theme based circuits are being developed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme spanning the entire country. A total number of 11 projects have been sanctioned during 2017-18 for a total amount of INR 824.80 Crore.

• Creation of ‘Special Tourism Zones’ anchored on Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in partnership with the states was announced in the Budget for 2017-18.

• Paryatan Parv was organised in October, 2017 covering 31 States and Union Territories. The main objective of the event was to focus on the benefits of tourism, showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing the principle of “Tourism for All”.

• The President of India presented the ‘National Tourism Awards 2015-16’ on the occasion of “World Tourism Day” on September 27, 2017. The President launched the “Incredible India 2.0 Campaign”; “Adopt A Heritage” Project and new Incredible India Website on the occasion • The Heritage sites are being offered for adoption by the public sector, private sector and individuals to become ‘Monument Mitras’ for developing amenities and facilities at these sites under ‘Adopt A Heritage’ project.

• The Incredible India 2.0 Campaign is being released in the prime existing markets as well as important potential markets. Niche tourism products such as Heritage Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Cruise Tourism, Rural Tourism, Wellness and Medical Tourism, MICE, Golf and more are being promoted through the Incredible India 2.0 Campaign.

• Ministry of Tourism participated in the “International Tourism Bourse” (ITB) held in Berlin, Germany from March 8 to 12, 2017. It also participated in World Travel Mart (WTM) held in London from November 6 to 8, 2017. A total of 13 States Governments, 22 Tour Operators, Air India, IRCTC and ITDC participated as co-exhibitors at the India pavilion.

• Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned an amount of INR 2499.98 Lakh for developing tourist amenities at Madgaon, Karmali and Thivim railway stations in Goa considering the importance of the Konkan Rail route from tourism angle.

14.4 per cent growth in FTAs recorded in November, 2017 M inistry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and FTAs on e-Tourist Visa on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI).

Here are some important highlights regarding FTAs and FTAs on e-Tourist Visa during the month of November, 2017. The number of FTAs in November, 2017 was 10.05 lakh as compared to FTAs of 8.78 lakh in November, 2016 and 8.16 lakh in November, 2015. The growth rate in FTAs in November, 2017 over November, 2016 was 14.4 per cent, compared to 7.6 per cent in November, 2016 over November, 2015.

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FTAs during the period January- November 2017 were 90.01 lakh with a growth of 15.6 per cent over same period of the previous year, compared to FTAs of 77.83 lakh with a growth of 9.4 per cent in January- November, 2016 over January- November, 2015.

During the month of November, 2017, a total of 2.14 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1.37 lakh during the month of November, 2016 registering a growth of 56.2 per cent. During JanuaryNovember 2017, a total of 14.57 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 9.17 lakh during January- November 2016, registering a growth of 58.8 per cent.

JANUARY 2018

6th International Tourism Mart puts NE region in the spotlight

T

he Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the North Eastern States recently organised the “International Tourism Mart” (ITM) in Guwahati, Assam from December 5 to 7, 2017 at Taj Vivanta. The event was inaugurated by Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister Assam, Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, K.J. Alphons, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Dr. Hemanta Biswa Sarma, Minister for Tourism of Assam, Union Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma, V.K. Pipersenia, Chief Secretary of Assam and other dignitaries from Central Ministries and North Eastern States in Guwahati, Assam.

Delivering inaugural address, Jagdish Mukhi extended his greetings to all participants and said that this International Tourism Mart will go a long way in harnessing tourism potential in the North Eastern States. He said that this Mart is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the unique tourism treasures of North Eastern States.

Keeping in view the Act East Policy of the Government, this platform will serve its purpose. He opined that the Assam is very rich in ethnic and cultural diversity and people of Assam are always renowned with their hospitality. He said that we need to exhibit the highest level of courtesy.

K.J. Alphons in his address said that India is blessed with so many varied tourism potentials whether it is geographical position or its cuisines or its textiles or its varied cultures or its ancient cultural heritages and monuments. He opined that the North Eastern India is the most beautiful place under the sun. He said that we have the capability to put India on the forefront in the field of tourism and for this we need to realise the tourism potential of North Eastern States and work together.

In her address, Rashmi Verma said that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is paying much attention on the promotion of tourism in North Eastern States of the country. She opined that there is a need to have better synergy with private sector.

She suggested that the North Eastern States should regularly participate in road shows in foreign countries.

The 6th International Tourism Mart has put the spotlight on India’s “Act East Policy”, blossoming ties with ASEAN and the larger East Asia region, home to the world’s rapidly growing economies and India’s emerging tourism markets. Besides deliberations on promotion of tourism in the North East Region in general, keeping the objectives of the “Act East Policy” in view, the panel discussions are focussing on promoting cultural ties, people-to-people contact with countries in the ASEAN region providing enhanced connectivity to the states of North Eastern Region with other countries in our neighbourhood, thereby developing inter-regional tourism between the ASEAN and North East Region of India.

SPOTLIGHT

TravelScapes

KJ Alphons

INDIA TOURISM

PAVED WITH BIG WORDS

It is evident that a lot has been achieved in India tourism over the last few years. Nevertheless, there is no denying the fact that the way ahead is long when it comes to realising the full potential.

In a candid conversation with TravelScapes, KJ Alphons, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, the dynamic bureaucrat not only evokes the flavours and fragrances of India but also lists the roadblocks and shares his future vision

By Gagneet Kaur If we talk about the positive aspects, what are the current strong points of India tourism?

What are the recent initiatives you feel have worked in its favour?

Last year, we recorded an increase of 9.7 per cent in Foreign Tourist Arrivals, however, for this year, we observed a dramatic increase. We had a growth of 18.1 per cent in Foreign Tourist Arrivals in the month of October. But these numbers aren’t enough. So far, we have only 40.5 million foreign tourists coming to India and this has to increase in a rapid flow. Our objective is to double the tourist arrivals in next five years and also to increase the revenue.

Our major concern is towards building the basic infrastructure in major tourist destinations. To facilitate this, a lot of investment is in place to beautify tourism spots and add basic amenities like public toilets. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been constructing better roads at a fast pace.

Various other departments have been

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strenuously working towards building the overall infrastructure of the country including the ports, heritage spots, airports and more. This entire thing, if put together makes the environment conducive for the tourist visiting India.

We have 20 billion Indians going abroad and we have 1.6 billion trips being made by Indians inside India.

Believing in one simple fact that, Indians are good spenders, we foresee to increase the domestic footfalls simultaneously. Keeping this in mind, whatever it takes to create jobs and to generate money in the tourism sector, we will always prioritise them.

How does the new Incredible India campaign take the story of India tourism forward?

Well, this is going further on what we build up so far in terms of creating the ‘Brand India’. It is focused on anything and everything that constitutes India, be it the 5000-year-old civilisation, heritage, dance forms, cuisines or the world-renowned textiles. A

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As we look ahead to the future, it is important to build on the recent momentum to accelerate the growth mushrooming India has a plethora of choices to lure any traveller. Starting from the Himalayan ranges to beaches and a roller coaster of natural beauty in between, this country has it all.

Besides, a gamut of ancient practices likes Yoga and Ayurveda have their roots in India. To summarise it all, we are just waiting to be tapped. With the launch of Incredible India 2.0 campaign, revamped Incredible India website and initiatives like ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project, I appeal the industry to come together and continue their efforts to develop tourism in a way that it stands out in an international market.

Where do you think are the gaps that need to be filled?

One of the major problems is pollution but that’s seasonal. Secondly, cities need to be a lot cleaner which can easily be done with the support of local municipal bodies. These are the initiatives that should happen at a local, municipal and corporation level.

Thirdly, service providers need to be skillful, starting with the taxi drivers to the tourist guides and the hospitality industry. Hence, everybody needs to be trained to be tourist friendly. Lastly, roads need improvement. These are the big gaps that I see as the hindrances.

What is the future that you foresee for India Tourism in the times to come?

We want tourism to be the biggest money spinner and to be the biggest job creator.

We are trying to sell India abroad and promote a new and vibrant India. As we look ahead to the future, it is important to build on the recent momentum to accelerate the growth.

UPDATESTORY COVER MoT

LOOKING

BACK LOOKING AHEAD

By Gagneet Kaur, Sayanti Halder & Ankita Jain

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2017 has been a great year with a lot of buzz in the tourism industry— from the rise of experiential travel to digitalisation embracing the evolving needs, from the teething problems caused by GST to Indians spending more on travel. As the tick-tock for 2018 begins and we bid adieu to 2017, we take a look back at the travel predictions last year and catch a glimpse of the trends that this year promises to bring. We asked the industry experts to give us cues on what they think were the hottest and the latest

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COVER STORY

SUBHASH GOYAL, Chairman - STIC Travel Group and Hony. Secretary - FAITH

GST UNDERFEEDS THE INDUSTRY 2017 was not a very good year both for outbound and inbound, as most of the industry was first trying to recover from demonetisation and secondly, it was trying to understand the implications of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) as both of these adversely affected our industry. GST has left the tourism industry speckled and we are still trying to meet the challenges being faced by the tour operators and hoteliers along with the excursion agents.

2018 seems to be an exciting year as the industry has now been able to cope up with the challenges faced due to demonetisation and GST and some of the issues related to GST have already been resolved. However, I still feel that the taxes on five-star hotels are quite high and are making the Indian tourism products more expensive. We are out pricing ourselves from the neighbouring countries. In the interaction that we have had with the GST Council through our association, we are hopeful that most of the issues should be resolved in 2018 and expect approximately 15 to 20 per cent growth both in inbound and outbound tourism. In 2018, we would like to get the input credit on the GST being charged by the other service providers to the tour operators. We have also asked the government to exempt GST on all Foreign Exchange earned from the international tourists. We are hopeful!

SHIVDULAR SINGH DHILLON, Special Secretary-cum-Director- Tourism, Govt. of Punjab

MORE FOREIGNERS HOLIDAYING IN INDIA In 2017, India has adopted several measures to welcome more inbound tourists, witnessing visible results. The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in April 2017 was 0.74 million as compared to FTAs of 0.59 million in April 2016. The growing air connectivity due to low-cost carriers (LCCs) and growth of woman and senior travellers coming from the overseas allowed more footfalls in India, this year. Visa on Arrival in India, which applies to tourists from over 40 countries, was started in 2014 and since then, a rise of foreign visitors has been observed. Under the GST, the tourism and hospitality sector stands to reap the benefits of standardised and uniform tax rates, with easy and better utilisation of input tax credit. As the final cost to end user decreases, we can expect the industry to attract more overseas tourists. This would ideally result in improved revenues for the government. Although, the GST paid at 18 per cent is higher than the prevalence rates, there are many pros to this new tax regime which could help the industry’s growth in the long run.

If you ask us, we have added farm tourism as an attraction and are hopeful for its developments in 2018. A special focus is being made to target the NRIs of the Punjabi community. Especially, the second and third generation of NRIs, having roots in Punjab, are being sought to be attracted to visiting their roots for an authentic Punjabi experience. In 2017, we had a daily footfall of over one lakh people visiting the Golden Temple and simultaneously populating other spots too. Thus, the next challenge hereby is to match up facilities and infrastructure for the increased visitors.

ANIL PARASHAR, President and CEO, InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ)

DIGITALISED TOURING BY TRAVELLERS FOR MORE EFFICIENCY The major travel trend adopted by the Millennial would be the digital efficiency as according to the Global Travellers Survey, a report by Travelport, 11,000 travellers in 19 countries use digital tools when planning, booking and experiencing a journey.

It shows that Indian travellers are the most digitally-advanced outpacing 19 countries analysed. The report also includes the world’s first Digital Travellers Ranking and India crowned champions. Indian millennials travel more than any other demography and are leading the change through a rise in sharing economy, experimentation and continued focus on mobile solutions. According to an Expedia survey, 49 per cent of Generation Y use smartphones to plan a trip, 40 per cent use it to share while abroad and 35 per cent use it to book a trip. The implementation of GST has increased costs for businesses in certain sectors and the burden of compliance. The hospitality industry has been one affected area and such a cascading effect of the tax regime rolls down right to the end customers. One major benefit of GST to the hospitality and tourism sector is that it will eliminate multiple taxations by subsuming all taxes previously levied under one single entity.

In the coming years, the technological spine will become more crucial for modern day existence. Both front-end technology (website, mobile interface, online company profile) and back-end technology (GDS, API connections, and hardware support) will be an essential for modern-day businessmen. Moreover, the advent of multiple government initiatives to aid domestic and international tourism such as UDAN, e-Visa, Visa on Arrival and more. The time has come for a strong technology back up to support the rise of travellers. Also, we are looking forward to the integrating fusion of technologies that blur the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres.

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COVER STORY

ANKUSH NIJHAWAN, Managing Director, Nijhawan Group of Companies

JAGDISH BHOJWANI, General Manager – India, SilkAir

DEV KARVAT, CEO – Emerging Markets, Cover-More Group

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VISA ON ARRIVAL TO BOOST FOOTFALLS Holidaying is no longer just for the rich. An increasing number of Indians are now taking time out from their busy lives to travel with their family and friends to bond, celebrate, explore and experience varied lifestyle, culture and food. Canada, East Africa, Santiago and Seychelles are a few new destinations or outbound flavours that grabbed a hold in the India market. Despite demonetisation and GST, the industry seemed to boom in 2017. When GST, one-tax one-nation reform rolled out, there evolved some confusion in the tourism industry in respect to different slabs that it incorporated. But over the period the global tax platform has paved the path to a better economy. The negative impact though is only a hype created by the tour operators.

The Indian travel scene is multi-hued—from not-so-well-off pilgrims to middle-class holidayers to top-end international tourist. While domestic destinations are always a favourite among Indian travellers for short haul over the weekend, outbound tourism will also see a hike. New destinations with Visa on Arrival will see most footfalls, one of them being Dubai. Because of the change in policies, Indians will be seen increasing their stay period in Dubai from 3N/4D to 5N/6D. Well, 2017 was more about luxury escapes and insta-worth dining experiences; the 2018 travel trends look to be more about heading off-the-beaten track and diving into new cultures around the world.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO DRIVE THE INDIAN AVIATION SECTOR Pricing has also played a major role in defining trends in the aviation sector. Over the last few years, demand for travel has gained incentive owing to airlines offering competitive pricing and flexible booking options. With reference to the government, we have witnessed special initiatives that provide further impetus to regional connectivity and domestic flying options. The Indian aviation industry has emerged as one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world and we are expecting a similar growth trajectory in 2018. The active involvement of the Indian government will help boost both international and domestic travel. With the consistent rise in traffic numbers, we are looking forward to the initiatives that the Indian governments are developing, such as more modern airports and sustainable infrastructure.

Apart from this, short haul destinations are gaining popularity as they allow travellers to make quick trips. This not only offers travellers an opportunity to explore the heritage and culture of the destination but also provides an all-around travel experience.

In terms of specific experiences, there is a demand for shopping, cruises, wine trails, adventure as well as family itineraries.

We also commend the Indian government’s efforts to achieve a unified and streamlined tax regime. Lowering of the tax rate on economy class travel is in line with the focus of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to make flying affordable for the masses. We will extend our full support to facilitate a symbiotically beneficial aviation ecosystem between our customers and the government.

We are sure that the new tax system will enhance the confidence amongst international investors and facilitate the growth of India’s economy.

PERSONALISATION, THE WAY FORWARD FOR ANCILLARY SERVICES Travel brands have smartly identified the need of an evolving traveller, which is to be constantly connected to information at the click of a button. Therefore, there is a growth in travel-related portals and apps and online presence for every business has become indispensable. With an increase in the growth of mobile-users, travel businesses have used mobile responsive sites and apps to their favour. With information available on all platforms, travellers today have become more aware of exigencies that may arise during a trip and the need to have travel insurance is greater than ever today.

Today’s travellers are largely young millennials with disposable income, looking for smart travel solutions. They mix work and leisure while offshore and turn their trips in Bleisure. We also see a growing number solo women travellers as well as young urban professionals looking for adventure and fun on their trips. As travelling has increasingly become customised, so have the ancillary services. There is a huge potential for promoting travel ancillary services that provide a sense of personalised attention.

The tourism sector in India is one of the highest tax generating sectors, apart from being a significant contributor to the economy. As anticipated, with the implementation of GST, India has definitely become one of the costliest destinations in the world. Nonetheless, Indian tourism is being promoted aggressively and continues to be a preferred destination and travellers see India as a value-for-money brand.

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COVER STORY

TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE THE CRUISING EXPERIENCE A demand for more experiential cruising in 2017 was high as people now are shifting towards things that are offbeat and are willing to go out of their comfort zone to have that “one-of-a-kind” experience. To make this dream come true, the highly skilled and experienced captains and crew of Hurtigruten sail the waters around Spitsbergen, Iceland, Greenland, Canada and Antarctica like their own backyards. For nearly 125 years, Hurtigruten has sailed along the rugged and beautiful Norwegian Coast. Every ship in the fleet is a comfortable basecamp at sea, tailor-made for you to connect with your inner explorer. The second most important trend of the year was more and more passengers opting for long halt itineraries and higher cost cabins in order to learn the true sense of cruising.

On the other hand, one thing that would be very prominent in 2018 would be the use of technology which will not only play a key role in the booking of the cruise but also during the voyage, in order to enhance the overall customer experience. A perfect example of this would be “Ocean Medallion” introduced by Princess Cruises which would keep you connected to an onboard experience you won’t find anywhere else. Further, more and more demand to travel to offbeat destinations would increase. This includes places like Antarctica, Arctic, Venice and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

NISHITH SAXENA, Founder & Director, Cruise Professionals

INFLUENCER MARKETING TENDS TO BLOOM A woman travelling solo was one of the popular trends in the year gone by. While this trend has been doing the rounds for some time, it finally gained ground in India too, as more and more women are willing to take the road less travelled and are packing their bags to go wherever and whenever they require a break. Cruise vacation was the other picking trend for the ones who do not want to limit themselves to land-based journeys. Among the social media platforms, Instagram has risen above all. The app which has evolved from a simple filter and photo app to one that includes anything and everything fascinating. When we talk about new destinations, the popular ones were Georgia and Russia. Talking about the GST buzz, initially, people and the industry were not able to understand what exactly GST is. Now, it is again encouraging people to do cash transaction which nearly vanished in the last three years. However, it is still debatable whether in the long-term GST is good or bad for the travel industry.

In 2018, for many travellers, seeing Northern Lights will be in their bucket list. As the beautiful, mystical, unearthly colours are indeed a treat to our eyes. Also, the footfalls in the ‘City of superlatives’- Dubai will rise by leaps and bounds. The concept of indoor parks such as IMG Worlds of Adventure will be among the trendsetters. Further, people will explore the unexplored through the not-so-popular resorts of Maldives. Besides, social influence or influencer marketing has become a worldwide trend in the recent few years and tends to bloom.

KOMAL SETH, Director, Outbound Konnections

ALPA JANI, Acting Hub-Head MEISEA (Middle East Hub/ India/ South East Asia) - Tourism Execution

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INDIANS CONTINUE TO CRAVE FOR EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL In 2017, while the traveller’s mindset from seeing to experiencing continued, what came through strongly was the rise in the length of stays. Travellers are increasingly being driven by a need to have varied and entrenched experiences, leading to a rise in immersive holidays. Multiple domestic and global vacations annually have become the norm in most Indian households. The standout characteristic of Indian travellers is that there are no specific adventure or foodie travellers’ categories. They showcase wide areas of interests and don multiple hats. However, quests to experience adrenaline-pumping adventure activities have emerged as a significant motivation in 2017. In fact, Indians are the top second nationality to bungee jump off the Bloukrans Bridge and the top third nationality to undertake shark-cage diving in South Africa. Additionally in 2017, while the effects of GST in the industry have been mixed, it has definitely brought in a simpler and stronger taxation system, making it easier for the end consumers (the travellers).

With 62 million passport holders in the country and growing, the UNWTO predicts one in six passport holders will travel regularly by 2020. The tourism boom in India can be attributed to two key factors— a cultural mindset shift of Indian audiences and the increase in disposable income per household. For 2018, we will align our trade and consumer initiatives towards driving awareness and demand for our adventure and wildlife offerings. We will also be equally focusing on promoting the new towns of South Africa within both the consumer and trade spaces.

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Akquasun brings laurels Gets awarded as the World’s Leading Destination Management Company 2017

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ith a dare-to-do spirit and a competitive edge to do the business ethical way, Akquasun Group has been in the forefront as market leaders in their business since its inception. Under the leadership of the dynamic duo—B A Rahim, Founder & Group CEO and Sujit Nair, Founder & Group Managing Director, the company has set yet another milestone by bagging “World’s Leading Destination Management Company 2017” at World Travel Awards in Vietnam. Nair and Rahim received the award on the prestigious occasion by Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards.

Akquasun Group has in past won many prestigious awards to name few Golden Star Awards 2013-14, CMO council & CMO Asia Master Brand Award and many more. The company is also a proud winner of several other World Travel Awards. It was recognised as “Asia’s Leading Destination Management Company 2016” and had

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also won “Asia’s fastest growing DMC” in 2012. As 2017 was a successful year for the company, Akquasun now has much bigger plans for the coming year in order to rule the DMC market.

Established in 1993, World Travel Awards had an aim to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. World Travel Awards gala ceremonies are regarded as milestone events in the industry calendar, attended by the industry’s key decision makers and figureheads, as well as key trade and consumer media.

2018 has more in store, which shall be revealed during Akquasun’s prestigious and productive ROADSHOW to be conducted in Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Chennai from January 15 to 18, 2018 respectively.

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Connecting the dots

GPS towards a coherent strategy for 2018 T

he premier trade show of Central India, Global Panorama Showcase (GPS) is all set to make yet another successful appearance at the flagship city, Nagpur.

GPS Nagpur is scheduled to take place from January 15 to 17, 2018. Initiated with a vision to educate and empower the agents in the tertiary markets, GPS has always been providing numerous opportunities for networking. In order to further expand its domestic footprint this year, GPS has added Lucknow and Hyderabad to its portfolio of events.

Harmandeep Singh Anand, Managing Director for GPS said that with the event’s presence in six cities across India in 2017 and an attendance of over 7000 visitors across all the events, they realised that there are areas that still need to be covered to encompass the whole of Indian Tier II and III cities. “We will be doing the Hyderabad event in association with Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FTAPCCI) which is over a 100-year-old federation. With the addition of these two new cities, we envisage an overall increase in our market reach to over 8000 Travel agents / Travel professionals in 2018 across all the eight cities starting with Nagpur,” says Anand.

“With Lucknow on board, we would be involving the travel trade fraternity from the state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand and expect an attendance of over 500 delegates. Just like every year, the GPS events will be focusing on burning issues like GST and will also feature sessions on time management, cross-selling, up-selling and optimising revenues with the available resources that an agency may have at their disposal. In addition, the highlight at the 2018 edition will be the launch of a COMPLETE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SOLUTION for the small and medium travel professionals/agencies. This will be

Nijhawan Group appointed as Tourism Rep. for Bosnia and Herzegovina in India The South European nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has appointed Nijhawan Group as their Tourism Representative in the Indian market, with effect from January 1, 2018.

Dr Sabit Subasic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to India, said, “Bosnia and Herzegovina is predicted

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to be, according to World Tourism Organization, one of the fastest growing tourism destinations of the world in the period till 2025. And that prediction is getting confirmed and visible. Bosnia and Herzegovina is already known as a very attractive tourism destination and many tourists from all over the

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a unique platform and we foresee this as the future of our travel industry. The two products that the attendees would be engaged with will be RainbowCTM and Trip38. The GPS app has become an essential part of every attendee be it the exhibitor or the buyer so we’ll be promoting that more frequently. Those enrolling for GPS membership will have a full year access to the GPS app at no additional cost,” he adds.

Another initiative by GPS, EDWIN (Educational Destination Workshop) was conceived as early as 2009 when it was still a part of Jagsons Travels. At that time, Anand started taking the closely associated travel agents to the educational trips.

The aim of the EDWIN is to educate and empower the travel agents from the Tier-II and Tier -III markets by giving them a first- hand experience of the destination.

After a successful trip to EDWIN in Ladakh, GPS takes EDWIN to Bali from March 4 to 10, 2018. Speaking further on his expectations from EDWIN in 2018, Anand shares, “Within 24 hours of opening the registration for EDWIN – Ladakh, we received close to 200 registrations and the overall response was overwhelming. In 2018, we expect to have at least six Educational Destination Workshop International (EDWIN) programmes so the attendees will have an opportunity to earn points and discounts. The intent of EDWIN is to bring the travel fraternity of professionals closer and remove the territorial boundaries.”

Concluding on high note, Anand says, “With such unique tie-ups with RainbowCTM platform and Trip38 that are expected to be a game changer in the industry, we shall continue to empower every travel agent/professional not only across the Tier II and III cities but also across India and maybe even across international borders in days to come.”

world come to this country. From India, however, we would like to welcome more tourists since we see potential in this market. Therefore, we decided to develop a strategy and promote Bosnia and Herzegovina as a tourism destination for Indian tourists.”

Commenting on this partnership, Ankush Nijhawan, Managing Director, Nijhawan Group of Companies, said that with the growing middle class and increase in disposable incomes in the past few years, India has emerged as the fastest growing outbound travel markets in the world, second only to China. “With Indian

nationals looking for newer experiences and destinations, the demand for relatively new entrants like Bosnia and Herzegovina is only poised to grow. It is an exciting time for outbound tourism, and the Indian traveller will only benefit from this trend,” said Nijhawan.

He went on to say, “Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is a new destination in the Indian market, we will actively work with the trade community to enhance their knowledge about the destination as well as help them in curating exciting itineraries for their clients since the country is a treasure trove of history.”

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Industry awaits the grand Silver Jubilee edition of SATTE U

BM India, India’s leading B2B exhibitions organiser is all set to bring in the 25th anniversary edition of SATTE - South Asian Travel and Tourism exchange from January 31 to February 2, 2018 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This year, the exhibition has witnessed a tremendous response from the industry with participation from over 1,000 exhibitors and representation of over 50 countries and 28 Indian states. SATTE will provide a comprehensive platform to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry along with National and State Tourism Boards (NTOs and STOs) to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solution-driven innovations to counteract economic uncertainties, and promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India.

This most favoured industry platform is also well-supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

SATTE continues to receive the support of international organisations and Indian travel trade associations such as World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Association of Domestic

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Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) and IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), to name a few. Moreover, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan (HRAB) is participating as exhibitor at SATTE. Spread over three days, SATTE 2018 will be witness to several exciting partnerships and announcements that promise to augur in new trends in the industry.

Visitors at the signature expo can expect to witness a number of features including a special pavilion of ten start-ups and venture capital firms to provide seed investments for captivating ideas.

Speaking on the announcement of the 25th edition of SATTE, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, “A diverse country like India has a huge tourism potential. The industry is growing at an unprecedented pace with the urban middle class taking to every kind of travel – from conventional package tours to independent and off-beat itineraries.

Low-cost airlines and higher disposable incomes have ensured that Indians are travelling more than ever before. The Indian tourism industry is the fastest growing among the G20 countries. Ease of access through online portals and hassle-free bookings and accessible pricing will play a pivotal role in ensuring that India’s travel sector grows to a USD 48 billion market opportunity by 2020.”

“SATTE is perfectly placed to provide a most comprehensive industry platform for every company that deals in the travel and tourism space. It showcases the true potential of tourism for India and other countries, all under one roof. With this edition, SATTE will also achieve its Silver Jubilee milestone and we are excited to celebrate this expo by encapsulating 25 year’s success in the domain,” he further added.

SATTE 2018 will have an array of State Tourism Boards with many of them increasing their presence for the 25th edition of SATTE. So far, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have confirmed their participation. States such as Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Punjab, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, J&K, amongst others are in the process of finalising their participation for the coming edition. The eight North Eastern states will participate under the Incredible India Pavilion of the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.

Foreign Tourism Boards such as Spain, Peru, Czech Republic, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Turkey, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Fiji, New Zealand, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Israel, Sharjah, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mauritius, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi,

Visit Russia, Visit Florida and Las Vegas, amongst others have confirmed their participation too. Others such as Seychelles, Italy, Greece, St Petersburg, Oman, are all set to confirm their participation soon.

This year, the expo is also witnessing an increase in participation from an array of hospitality players and products. Groups such as Movenpick, Neemrana, Treebo, Sterling Resorts, Minor Hotels, Dusit, Melia Hotels International, Shangri -La Hotels and Resorts, DS Group, Choice Hotels, Abad Hotels, Lords Hotels, Alcon Victor Goa, Zen and Singge Palace from Ladakh, Grand Imperial Agra, Somatheeram, Ramada Kerala, Ananta Resorts, Venetian Cotai, Ayana Resorts Bali, Marasa Africa, Banyan Tree, Disneyworld Paris, EuropeCar, The Ultimate Travelling Camp and many more have confirmed their participation at the mega event.

One of the key features of SATTE 2018 will be the conference programme from January 31 to February 2 that promises industry discussions and sharing of new insights pertaining to the sector and industry best practices. Moreover, SATTE will host six panel discussions that will bring together stakeholders of the industry on a single platform, allowing exchange of ideas that will add value to Indian tourism at large.

As a pre-cursor to the expo, UBM India will be hosting the SATTE Awards 2018, the second edition of the awards. Slated for the evening of January 30, the awards is an endeavour to recognise and celebrate the excellence, achievements and innovations of key stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry and will be based on transparent, authentic and genuine parameters, a philosophy which is imbibed in the values of SATTE. The major categories for the awards will cover various segments of the travel and tourism industry including airlines, cruise, tour operators, hotels, destinations, online travel portals, to name a few. Networking opportunities, presentations and other features will add substance and style to the evening.

To celebrate its most awaited Silver Jubilee edition, SATTE launched a campaign titled ‘I am 25’ in the month of July 2017. As a part of the campaign, SATTE lined up a number of eye-catching events on 25th of every month to create more opportunities for the travel trade fraternity. The campaign included events such as SATTE pre-meet which was an informal get together of industry leaders and partners; a ‘Thought Leadership Summit’ which included 25 industry leaders speaking on a vast range of industry topics; a Single Malt Journey titled ‘Aged to Perfection’ which witnessed diplomats from various countries, leaders from the cross section of the industry and whiskey connoisseurs; a ‘Travel Tech webinar’ that debated on topics like - Distribution redefined, Consolidation in Online Market, Adoption of technology by offline players, product development and, the way forward; an evening of extravaganza for the women in the travel and tourism industry titled ‘Women in Travel’ which witnessed women leaders from all different segments of travel and tourism industry and a CSR initiative for the less privileged children in Mumbai.

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TITANZ

GEARS UP FOR T- SYNC 2018

A one of its kind award night to recognise the top talent in the travel fraternity TITANZ In today’s changing world where distance and trust are always a cause of worry, the right connections are everything you need to grow your business.

With a database of around 4500 plus members, TITANZ is a leading networking organisation generating genuine leads for the travel fraternity.

country about : • Image consultancy, power dressing, brand positioning • How to succeed in business and careers • How to pitch investors and get funding • How to tackle GST issues and how much important are legal contracts in the unorganised travel sector

Mission - Unite, Empower and Succeed The mission of TITANZ is to help fellow titanzers to increase their business through a structured, positive and professional lead management system using technology to enables them to develop meaningful, long-term relationships with quality business professionals in their trade and industry.

TITANZ believes in the overall growth of an individual and they complement the same by organising seminars for the fellow titanzers on self-

T-SYNC 2018: Titanz is back with its annual event T- SYNC 2018, so lets Synchronise Travel – The Annual Rewards, Awards & Networking Conference of Travel Industry being held on January 31, 2018, at “The Lalit, New Delhi”, 6 pm onwards.

T- SYNC 2018 takes this opportunity to honour the top travel agents or business associates in the industry.

It’s a one of its kind AWARD night to recognise the effort of the people in the travel fraternity.

Titanz believes in promoting Tier II and III travel agents as they lack networking skillset and a proper platform to showcase their hard work.

T-Sync is the platform where TITANZ will be recognising travel agents from Tier II and III is hard work and success which will not only boost their confidence and but will also help in brand positioning and increasing their business in their own domain.

TEAM MEGHA SHARMA - FOUNDER Megha Sharma is currently the Director of Travel Krafterz, a travel company specialising in MICE for the last five years. She brings to the table her nine years of corporate experience of customer retention, strategy planning and relationship management.

NISHANT S MEHTA – CO-FOUNDER Nishant Mehta has a unique educational background of possessing a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Law, while also being a Chartered Accountant (CPA of India) and MBA in Finance. He has a rich and varied work experience including Audit & Tax Consulting assignments and Legal Advisory Services in Corporate Law. He brings to the table his forte as a financial and legal adviser and joins TITANZ as the Head of Finance, Legal and Administration.

development and knowledge sharing workshops.

Vision Vision is to connect all the travel consultants and agents from Tier II and Tier III cities to connect to Tier I and metros – Travel Leaders and Corporates and hereby boost their business to a different level.

The target of TITANZ is to bring the entire travel consultants, leaders and agents at a single platform to share, learn and network.

TITANZ had organised “WINGS” in June 2017 with a motive of educating and spreading knowledge to their fellow travel consultants and agents across the

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“T-Sync” – “9 Fundas of Right Networking” 1. It’s a dedicated event in New Delhi, exclusively for the travel industry across the globe 2. Be connected with the top DMCs and Suppliers across the globe on a one to one basis and get yourself associated with them to gain more business and more profit 3. WIN – WIN situation for both the agents and suppliers 4. It will help to highlight your brand to current and future corporate leaders 5. Promote your products and services to an affluent and influential group of individuals and travel leaders and fellow travel consultants 6. Get a platform to attract, connect and influence aspiring young minds 7. Not a onetime association, but ongoing support and network through WhatsApp groups 8. Right Network; More Business 9. Bonding over Cocktails, Dinner and Smiles

UPDATE

TravelScapes

TRADE

Asia-Pacific’s largest travel show OTM all set for a record edition in 2018 Close to 1,200 sellers are confirmed as exhibitors at OTM 2018 held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai from January 18 to 20, 2018. Over 45 National Tourist Organisations (NTOs) and more than 21 Indian State Tourism Boards (STBs) sets up country and state pavilions at OTM 2018

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he largest travel show in the Asia Pacific is on target to witness 300 hosted buyers and 15,000 trade visitors. Turkey, Greece and Thailand are three largest Partner Country pavilions, returning to OTM. Turkey is the Premier Partner Country at OTM 2018. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir are the largest Partner State pavilions this year. Host state Maharashtra is also putting up a large pavilion to showcase its destinations. The leading tour operator Cox & Kings has signed up with for the next three years as the Knowledge Partner, starting OTM 2018.

OTM has partnered with TravHQ, to organise Travel Technology Track, with sessions on innovative travel tech solutions, panel discussions with industry thought-leaders and digital skill development workshops. Phocuswright, the global travel market research company, will be also conducting a session at OTM 2018.

What makes OTM unique?

OTM Mumbai has emerged as the largest travel trade show in the Asia-Pacific region. On the two parameters - the number of participants and gross exhibition area rented by the organisers, OTM has gained an edge over ITB Asia and SATTE; the other two leading shows in the Asia Pacific region.

OTM 2017 also had participants from a larger number of countries (45) when compared to SATTE 2017 (40), as per publicly available information that can be verified.

According to a visitor survey, approximately 76 per cent of the trade visitors at OTM 2017 did not visit

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any other show in India. It shows OTM is visited by unique buyers from Western India and Mumbai, not accessible through any other show.

Approximately a quarter of OTM’s buyers are from outside Mumbai, out of which half are from Delhi. This data highlights that OTM is also effective in providing access to trade buyers and visitors from all over India.

Mumbai serves as a gateway city to the largest chunk of India’s outbound market. It is also the largest

MORE THAN 300 CORPORATE BUYERS FROM RENOWNED COMPANIES HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS

source market in India of business, luxury, MICE and domestic travel in India. This is a great factor behind OTM’s success and emergence as the largest travel trade show in the Asia-Pacific region. India is ranked among one of the fastest emerging travel destinations in the world as Indians continue to take more than a billion domestic and 20 million international visits annually.

The advent of online technologies has enabled the travel sector to further utilise its potential. Keeping in mind the business prospects, an easy-to-use online meeting diary to fix appointment between buyers and sellers has been scheduled this year.

Exhibitors at OTM All in all, OTM 2018 will be showcasing the National Tourist Organisations (NTOs) of India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Fiji, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Macau, Maldives, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Romania, Rwanda, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey.

To tap into the booming travel market of India, country representatives from Bulgaria, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan and Vietnam will also be making it to the Asia Pacific’s largest travel show.

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is also expected to have a strong presence at the show.

Major Indian destinations, too, are not far behind their international counterparts. The Indian State Tourism Boards of Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Manipur, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh, Punjab, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram will be ensuring their representation with a large number of sellers to showcase India at its best.

Buyer’s Turnout More than 300 corporate buyers from renowned companies have scheduled meetings. They will be visiting the show from all over India to meet the pool of exhibitors showcasing their products and services at OTM 2018.

Major companies include, DDB Mudra, Corporate Flyers, Alembic Pharmaceuticals, Gammon Infrastructure Projects, Aircel, WOV Travel Company, Crowley Accord Marine Management, Expedition 2 India, The Travel Planners, Seven Vows - A Planned Chaos, Intellect Life Sciences, Eventzinspired, Prime Connections, Wander Globe, Sterling Hospitals, Magma Fincorp, Scotch and Water Innovations, Gionee and many others.

PHOTO STORY

Travstarz Global Group organises FAM to Azerbaijan T

ravstarz Global DMC launched its operations in Azerbaijan with a luxury FAM tour for top Indian agents from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore to Azerbaijan covering the cities of Gabala and Baku.

The airline partner for the FAM was Air Arabia who has convenient connections to Baku via Sharjah from all major Indian Cities and the hotel partners were the five starQafqas Riverside Hotel, Gabala and the luxurious Fairmont Hotel Baku at the famous Flame Towers.

During the tour, the group explored the cities of Qabala and Baku visiting most of the famous excursions including the 1300 years old Juma Mosque at Shamakhi, Gabaland Amusement Park, the Heyder Aliyev Congress Hall, Gabala Shooting range, the famous Ski Resort ‘Tufandag’ going right to the top on cable cars. At Baku, they explored the Old City, Little Venice, the famous temple of Eternal Life with strong connections to Hinduism called ‘The Atashgah’ or the temple of fire beside the famous and most happening nightlife of Baku with its pubs, bars and nightclubs.

The group was led by Pankaj Nagpal (Managing Director, Travstarz Global Group). Commenting on the initiative, he said, “Azerbaijan is the perfect destination for the Indian market for all segments like honeymooners, families and MICE. It has something to offer to everyone and easy availability of good quality Indian food and some amazing shopping with steal deals on big brands is the icing on the cake for Indians. It is a perfect blend of rich culture, heritage and the modern lifestyle. We now have our own operations at Azerbaijan and are very positive on the numbers from India.”

Ajay Chhabria, Director, Intime by Design Mumbai, one of the participants added, “I am amazed at the destination which is a class apart in every way. It is even better than some of the best European Cities that I have visited and is much more economical. It is a perfect destination offering class, a variety of cuisines for the avid traveller and a rocking nightlife. It is indeed a super destination to sell in India.” Agreeing with what Chhabria said, almost every other participant shared the same view on Azerbaijan.

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TravelScapes

PHOTO STORY

Sri Balaji Representations takes South India agents to Bali Sri Balaji Representations and CCI Tours and Travel recently hosted a familiarisation trip to Bali. The five days FAM trip started from November 2 to 6, 2017. This FAM was organised for the South India travel agents (Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai) and 36 travel agents in total attended the FAM. The event was supported by CCI Tours and Travel Bali , Golden Tulip Jineng Resort, Ayodya Resort Bali , Hotel Santika Siligita, Hotel Adhi Jaya, Bangle Bali Restaurant, Spice Mantra, Seres Hotels and resorts, Max One Hotel Ubud, Hotel Tijili Benoa, Bali Indah & Water Sports, Holiday Inn Resort Bali Benoa, Transera Grand Kancana Resort Villas and Permata Kuta Hotel.

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TravelScapes

UPDATE

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ASSOCIATIONS

ADTOI launches Andhra Pradesh chapter

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he Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) launched its Andhra Pradesh Chapter during its 8th Annual Convention held in Visakhapatnam recently. The AP Chapter will be headed

by Vijay Mohan, Member, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, Government of Andhra Pradesh and President of Tour and Travels Association of Andhra Pradesh.

Mohan seems confident about the response as he reveals that the association has received 12 registrations in just 24 hours. The state chapter will now work aggressively towards increasing membership. Rajat Sawhney, Vice President, ADTOI emphasised that the association had less presence in the southern parts of India and the launch of AP Chapter will give them a better opportunity to enter the southern India for larger benefits to the domestic tour operators.

The launch of AP Chapter was followed by the unveiling of state chapter in Rajasthan in December 2016. Mahender Singh of K K Holidays N Vacations, Jaipur was nominated as the Chairman of the Rajasthan Chapter.

ITB China 2018 partners with China Tourism Academy

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iding on the success of 2017 show, ITB China, taking place from May 16 to 18, 2018, has partnered with China Tourism Academy (CTA) to mutually promote each other as well as to enhance business opportunities and raise global awareness for the Chinese tourism industry. The China Tourism Academy is a research institution directly under the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) with a focus on studies in the tourism industry, such as tourism research, data analysis and tourism promotion. The institute is promoting China tourism industry development and international exchanges.

The research conducted by China Tourism Academy focusing on China’s outbound travel will be presented at ITB China 2018.

The research analyses the overall situation of the development of outbound tourism by the market environment, industry operation and consumption characteristics, forecasts developmental trends and puts forward suggestions to the respective organisations.

A talk on this topic will also be given by the institute.

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Paving the road ahead

IATO discusses the stumbling blocks and throws a light on the forthcoming activities at the interactive luncheon meeting

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he Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) recently hosted an interactive luncheon meeting on December 15, 2017, at The Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi. The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss the roadblocks that the industry is grappling with. The travel trade fraternity was welcomed by Pronab Sarkar, President- IATO, Rajeev Kohli, Senior Vice PresidentIATO, Rajiv Mehra, Vice President- IATO, Amaresh Tiwari, Hony. Treasurer- IATO and Sandeep Jain, Hony. Joint Secretary- IATO. Starting off on a practical note, Sandeep Jain, Hony. Joint Secretary- IATO said, “We in the Executive Committee are really disappointed to see a very lukewarm response from the members for our meetings. We need an active participation from the members in every activity or the key meetings. Without the support of members, it is very difficult to achieve the desired results.”

“IATO, in the last few months, has organised training programmes for our members in Delhi, Chennai, Kochi and Mumbai on digital marketing for the Owners/Director of the Company, which were very successful. A request was made by our Chapter Chairmen in West Bengal and Karnataka to conduct a similar training programme in their state as well.

We have proposed to organise another training programme in Bangalore in January 2018.”

He further informs, “As we have informed you, after the implementation of GST with effect from July 1, 2017, members have a lot of confusion on the operational and implementation part of GST. Keeping that in mind, for the members benefit, we have appointed S.C Kamra, Advocate and Expert on GST, as GST consultant on retainer ship basis for six months.”

Jain also highlighted that IATO has been constantly writing to the Ministry of Tourism and to the Bureau of Immigration about the problems being faced by the foreign tourists at the Immigration Counters for clearance and also for the e –Tourist Visa applicants to complete the formalities for the bio-metric process.

Applauding IATO’s efforts, he informed that Ministry of Home Affairs has acceded some of their requests which include restoration of First/Business Class counters, the addition of new counters and biometric machines, availability of additional staff being

posted especially during the peak hours and more. He announced that the Annual Day of IATO will take place in the month of February 2018 and the venue is yet to be finalised.

Giving further insights, Pronab Sarkar, PresidentIATO informed, “As already highlighted we are really disappointed with very low attendance of our members in the meeting. Your support and presence are crucial to achieving our goals for the association. Therefore, I request you all, to please motivate your other friends to join the meetings on regular basis.”

“We have been getting feedbacks and queries from our members on GST issues and we accordingly took up those issues with the Finance Minister, Joint Secretary (TRU), GST Council. We also approached the Finance Ministers of all the States. We had two meetings with Amitabh Kumar Joint Secretary (TRU) and expressed that tourism is being highly taxed and it also has a cascading effect due to GST being imposed for the services by one tour operator to another. So whatever we have written to the Government is under active consideration and we hope something positive will come out soon. Our other important move will be challenging the applicability of GST on foreign Exchange earnings by the tour operators and getting all benefits as are being given to physical exporters of goods. We have already initiated our work on this.”

As IATO is closely associated with the Ministry of Tourism, the members of the association are actively involved in the overall development activities.

Recounting the contribution, Sarkar shared, “IATO showed our solidarity with MOT on the celebration of Paryatan Parv. We also pleaded for revamping the India Tourism offices with regular RD’s for the overseas offices so that we as trade, can better coordinate our roadshows and other promotional activities. We have written to overseas offices to let us know what global exhibitions they are participating in so that our members can also join them. IATO was asked by FAITH to give our suggestion/inputs on “a list of high priority sites” which need to be developed in India with very specific world-class infrastructure. The same was required by Ministry of Tourism for submitting the same to the PMO. IATO immediately gave its inputs and so did Chapter Chairmen.”

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ASSOCIATIONS

UPDATE

ICPB plans to take MICE in India to the next level

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ndia Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), a body sponsored by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India has a very successful 2017. Today, ICPB takes pride in being emerged as the frontal organisation in promoting India as a preferred MICE destination. ICPB not only boasts of its achievement in creating a confidence among MICE fraternity and the Ministry of Tourism in the year gone by but also looks forward to adopting fresh ideologies in the coming year.

Chander Mansharamani, Vice Chairman – ICPB seems quite optimistic as he shares, “We, at ICPB, strongly believe that the time has come to adopt a very aggressive approach and to have a new strategy in place. I am pleased to inform you that the new board has already started deliberating

not only on the various activities which we in ICPB have been organising over the years but also working towards how we can strengthen ICPB and adopt a strategy for marketing India as a preferred convention destination .”

Listing the activities planned for 2018, Mansharamani informs, “From now onwards, ICPB will be bidding for International Conferences. We already had an opportunity for bidding for a large International Conference to be held in 2020. For all the future biddings, we are working towards formalising the process. We will also be giving a lot of importance to skill development as handling an international event requires a trained manpower that could provide the services of international standards. We had in the past organised two very successful certified programs in collaboration with ICCA and SITE and the same shall be taken forward by organising a series of guest lectures by international faculty and certified training programs in collaboration with international agencies like ICCA and MPI to enhance the professional handling of the event.”

“The other priority area for us in ICPB is to create Chapters. As of now, the plans are to open four Regional State Chapters in Mumbai – Bangalore – Kolkata – Jaipur. To initiate the process, we are planning to have a roadshow in the above cities. The first roadshow has been planned in Kolkata. The other purpose of the roadshow is to create a business platform for our members to interact with potential conference organisers of the state. ICPB in collaboration with

Chander Mansharamani

Ministry of Tourism for the first time will be organising an international roadshow in the cities where most of the World Organisations have their head quarters mainly Geneva – Brussels – London. The roadshow will be in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism.”

He says that the action plan is already in place and the working committees have been formed for their recommendations to the Board for implementation.

WHERE BUSINESS MEETS PlEASURE

Stay at Our Attractive Hotel near the Khajuraho Temples The Radisson Hotel Khajuraho is an ideal place to stay when visiting Khajuraho, 1.5 Kms from the western group of temples a UNESCO World Heritage site and less than 2 kms from Eastern& Southern Group of Temples. Other major attractions are Panna National Park, famous for its tigers Pandav Falls, Raney falls, Kallinjer Fort.

After a day of travel, schedule a pampering massage at the on-site Temple Spa.or to play a game of chess in the recreation area. You can also soak in the sun by our scenic outdoor swimming pool or take the kids to watch a puppet show during dinner. Enjoy the Famous International Dance Festival during the evening in the last week of February Hotel Amenities & Services. Additional amenities and services include: • Restaurant and bar • Car hire service • Concierge and currency exchange • Fitness centre • Valet parking • Business centre • Wireless broadband Internet access in all public areas

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ASSOCIATIONS

IN TOP GEAR Newly elected team plans to set new parameters

By Ankita Jain

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t the recently concluded Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) elections, a new committee has been elected for the two-year term, 201719. Mahendra Vakharia, Managing Director of Pathfinders Holidays Pvt Ltd, who has been appointed as the new President of OTOAI, has planned his term with new goals and objectives.

“There are areas that we need to focus our attention on in the coming years.

Primarily, the main focus areas will be first, increasing our membership Pan India basis to double the existing base.

Secondly, ensuring periodical training workshops, seminars, webinars and events related to the development of skill for the benefit of the members.

And lastly, meeting embassies, consulates and discussing to resolve issues and challenges faced by the members,” Vakharia zeroes in.

Himanshu Patil, Kesari Tours, Mumbai has been appointed as the Vice President. The other office bearers for the post of General Secretary and Joint Secretary are Chitra Bhatia of Aashman Travels and Gurdeep Singh Gujral of Gujral Tours and Travels from New Delhi respectively. Sidharth Khanna, Khanna Enterprises, New

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Mahendra Vakharia

Delhi has been assigned as Treasurer of the association.

Praising the association, Bhatia avers, “OTOAI is an association of like-minded tour professionals, who got together to address issues of tour operators and also to assist them to enhance their products and add value to their ventures. At OTOAI, it’s teamwork of the entire EC, which will be responsible for the overall enhancement of operations at the Association.”

Chipping in Patil, talks about his role to help achieve the parameters. “I will contribute to maintaining a healthy atmosphere, communication and prompt work flow. In the process, making sure the hurdles are smoothly dealt with and our goals for the months

JANUARY 2018

Himanshu Patil

Chitra Bhatia

Gurdeep Singh Gujral

Sidharth Khanna

to come are channeled in the best possible way.”

With over 62 million passport holders, who are potential travellers, India has emerged as the second fastest growing outbound market after China in terms of visitor numbers. In terms of percentage growth, India is the fastest.

Sharing views on the growing graph of outbound tourism, Khanna states the future growth with a pinch of snuff.

“With increasing number of Indians travelling abroad each year, UNTWO estimates that Indian outbound has potential to grow to 50 million by 2020. However, it is imperative to equip the travel agencies in India and train them on charging fees to the extremely price sensitive Indian passengers.”

Being very crisp, Gujral mentions the reason behind the booming outbound numbers. “We are all aware of the hassles that come with making

preparations for a holiday. However, the most difficult of them all is getting a Visa on Arrival for Indians for the destination we intend to visit. Today 58 countries are offering a Visa on Arrival for Indians which indeed is helping the footfalls grow.” Agreeing with Gujral, Vakharia further adds the factors for the inclining numbers. “Steady political leadership, steady growth and maintenance of the GDP in the country, and overall stabilisation in the economy of the country combined with the aspirations of the huge Indian traveller, will drive the growth in the coming future.”

The Executive Committee members of OTOAI for the term of 2017-19 will consist of Riaz Munshi, N Chirag Travels, Shravan Bhalla, High Flyer, Ankush Nijhawan, Travel Boutique Online, Rajeev Sabharwal, Gaurav Travels, Sujit Nair, Akquasun Holidays India P. Ltd. and Adl Abdul Karim, Creative Tours & Travel.

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ASSOCIATIONS

REVVING UP A STRONG CONNECT

TAAI’s newly elected committee forging ahead for the betterment

By Gagneet Kaur

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ormed with a vision to regulate the Indian travel industry, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has around 2,500+ members and covers 16 chapters across India.

With its primary purpose to protect the interests of those engaged in the industry and encourage developments, the association has been leading from the forefront. As the association now plans to formulate a productive agenda for the term of 2017-19, a new Managing Committee and officebearers have been appointed.

In a triangular fight between Marzban Antia, Harmandeep Singh and Sunil Kumar for the post of President, Kumar, yet again secured the position bagging 275 votes. Sanjay Narula (Apex Travel and Tours, New Delhi) is elected as the Vice President, while the dynamic lady Jyoti Mayal (New Airways Travels, New Delhi) has been chosen as the Hon Secretary General.

Imtiaz Qureshi (Viceroy Travels Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad) will be the Honorary Treasurer.

The road ahead for TAAI: Kumar, the man on the move, has been diligently working towards the betterment of the association and has laid his primary focus on addressing member expectations in order to keep them actively engaged with TAAI. Carrying forward a similar yet a stronger agenda, Kumar believes that a stronger and more intense member connect will be an important priority. “Member connect is all about getting our members involved as we find solutions to the growing industry challenges, which are never-ending and keep posing newer hurdles, from time to time,” he asserts.

He further reveals, “Surely, GST is another area we have already got involved with, immediately post-

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Sunil Kumar

election. IATA NewGen ISS and NDC demands greater member awareness and preparedness and we will go all out to find ways to deal with this revolutionary change that will witness more IATA agencies all over. Technology to empower our smaller and mid-size agencies, an agenda of the previous term, will be in greater focus, for sure.

The industry needs a lobby – it is the time that we get all strengths of our

Sanjay Narula

Jyoti Mayal

members and see to it that we engage fruitfully with all the stakeholders be it airlines, hotels, transporters, travel agents, tour operators, DMCs, foreign tourism boards, media and the Ministry of Tourism and Government. I will try and drive focus towards solving issues which will help us to be profitable as TAAI members. We are already working on GST’s challenges and opportunities and are in touch with the relevant

TAAI WOULD VERY EFFICIENTLY ORGANISE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, WILL FOCUS TOWARDS PROMOTING TOURISM AND MAKE SURE THAT MORE ANCILLARIES ARE INCLUDED FOR CREATING A STRONG REMUNERATION industry together with a common voice that is louder and heard better.”

“You will find 2018 more focused on growth, enhanced image, greater member participation, a definite reflection that we are a comprehensive association with leadership in all industry verticals –inbound, outbound, MICE, aviation, technology, hospitality and more,” avers Kumar.

Feeling honoured on being appointed as the Vice President for TAAI, Narula looks forward to being as productive and useful as the association has always been. “During our term, we intend to work together for the interest of the

JANUARY 2018

authorities. Education for our frontline staff in the offices is an emergent need as business is changing rapidly and TAAI will be addressing that too, over the next two years.”

Mayal, the Hon. Secretary-General strongly feels that the travel business is evolving and the changes are very rapid so it’s the need of the hour that the issues are given a quick addressal.

“We, as an important association, need to motivate our members to work as a team and towards the betterment of TAAI and the entire industry. We would like our members to be aware of new avenues and have a proper knowledge

Imtiaz Qureshi

so they could work with higher abilities and passion. I, as the Secretary General of TAAI, would like the travel fraternity to be deemed as an industry and have a strong voice with the government as policymakers. The government, the airlines and other principals should recognise us and also support us for doing the ethical business and should look into the survival and growth of the industry,” she urges.

Further highlighting on the initiatives, Mayal informs, “TAAI would very efficiently organise training and development programs, will focus towards promoting tourism and make sure that more ancillaries are included for creating a strong remuneration.

In this tenure of two years, our goal would be to corporatise TAAI for its smooth working and to amend the memorandum of articles so that the working of TAAI is defined and the members’ responsibilities would be well defined in order to work more efficiently.”

Qureshi outlines the clear vision of TAAI for 2018. “We have set our priorities in certain specific areas primarily being agent’s increased remuneration to agents from our principals mainly airlines, web parity, clarifications on GST, training to our members for better business

TravelScapes

management and more. Our team has already had meetings with the GST council and has submitted the necessary observations in this regard for their consideration. TAAI would also be holding roadshows and training programs in association with various tourism organisations both international and domestic for their members to impart and educate their members on selling the destinations,” he says.

Filling the gaps for India Tourism Kumar strongly feels that India’s potential continues to be underutilised and there is a lot more to be done in terms of infrastructure, a tourism-

ASSOCIATIONS

friendly law regime, consistent visibility of the earnest initiatives, greater participation of all stakeholders and incentives that can encourage these players to invest as well. “As an association with a large membership catering to inbound, TAAI is ever ready to play an active role and commit to keeping the attention growing. It is not about our priorities – it is about creating an environment that makes inbound tourism a feature worthy of greater participation,” he avers.

Stressing upon the not-so-incredible numbers, Narula says that India’s potential as a tourism destination is unmatched, however; the numbers don’t show up well. He feels that a

proper infrastructure including the availability of quality hotel rooms and a major emphasis given to the railway network can act as a catalyst for growth to both inbound and outbound tourism in India. Keeping in sync with Narula, Qureshi shares that TAAI on its part has been in association with various state tourism bodies for the promotion of their destinations and have been actively participating in promotion. “We have advocated a policy of public-private partnership (PPP) for development and management of properties with various governmental organisations for an increased inflow of tourism,” he informs.

Calling tourism the backbone of every country, Mayal believes that both inbound and outbound tourism are the major growth drivers. “Our Inbound tourism has been stagnant for many years and there is hardly any growth.

Three things predominantly affecting the growth are safety, infrastructure and cleanliness. All the three things are more of a perception than the reality. The MoT needs to take regular inputs and recommendations from the associations to make a plan on eradicating the wrong perception of the

SPECIAL FOCUS three above stated points. These plans with TAAI’s support need to be put into action with a time frame. TAAI and its newly elected team would be very proactive in creating a vision document for the immediate future,” she informs.

“I have proposed to have a special team for image building and media, not only for TAAI but also to showcase our country. We definitely need a responsible and committed media to uplift India’s image. We are also picking up one social cause in each region for the upliftment of society and growth of tourism. I think as an association, it is very important not only to look at the interest of your members but also your region and the country. All of this will help the growth of tourism to and in our country and this, in turn, can help in growing our business,” she concludes on a positive note.

As the Managing CommitteeLeadership looks forward to scaling new horizons, the association has also appointed the National Managing Committee for enhancing the domestic operations. The new Committee includes Anil Kumar, Anoop B. Kanuga, Bhagwan T. Ramnani, Devaki Thiyagarajan, Gurmeet Singh Vij, Rajan Sehgal and P. Saravanan.

IN CONVERSATION

TravelScapes

THE APP WAY TO TRAVEL

Travkart, a unit by Holidays by Sahibji, gives you more reasons to globetrot

By Ankita Jain

I

t is the start of the month which means planning vacations for the entire year well in advance.

While some people like to ‘carpe diem’ their way through the travel season, the rest of us believe in a bit of organising before haring off to the desired destination. Travkart, a unit by Holidays by Sahibji, is a one-stop travel app that can help to make your journey a buoyant time merged with the best rates.

Every inception is etched with inspiration. Similarly, Manheer Singh Sethi, Co-Founder & Director, HOLIDAYS BY SAHIBJI PVT LTD | TRAVKART.COM, narrates one behind Travkart app. “At a time when fixed departures are sold manually and excel are maintained, this inspired us to pass on the benefit to the end user and Travkart was incepted.

However, with a vision of creating an online holiday mall for the customers, Travkart not only offered feasibility for

the end user but also brought best B2B rates for its associate agents on board.”

Among the various features, ISP (Immediate Selling Point) is one feature on Travkart in which a user may book any add-on activity (sightseeing, tour or day trip) online while on the go. Explaining with an example, Sethi adds, “If you are on a Dubai trip and suddenly you plan to visit Burj Khalifa then chances are high of either being overcharged or getting it done manually over a long queue or a no-show at last. Well, the solution lays just a click away with the Travkart app where one can book it right over there at the best possible price without any negotiations. This way we save the traveller from the last minute hassle.”

The app works seamlessly offline. “It allows you to go through your itinerary details without being online. This helps you to be prepared in advance for the upcoming events on the journey without even waiting for an internet

WE SHALL BE LAUNCHING NEW THEMES NAMED BABYMOON HOLIDAYS, BIKING TOURS, FOOD & WINE TOURS AND MORE

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Manheer Singh Sethi

connection to browse through the same. Carrying vouchers in hand in a separate file is replaced with this,” he elaborates. If you are one of those people who simply cannot keep the travel itineraries intact, this app is a Godsend.

Making the travel game soar high in 2017, Travkart had numerous achievements glittering in the year gone by. “Be it getting the award for “Fastest growing Holiday Portal” from the Minister of Tourism, Alphons Kannanthanam or be it being one of the only OTA’s to bring accessible tours, self-drive, cruise holidays, short breaks, weekend getaways, luxury, spa and wellness, honeymoon and many more themes online, Travkart is ruling the market. With live inventory, instant confirmation and as many as 3000 plus itineraries to choose from, 2017 has been a year of transformation and growth for the app. Booking count of 2500 plus, increase in queries and traffic more than 150 per cent monthon-month has been observed,” he

summons up.

For 2018, it has geared up to be praised for the unexpected ideas and itineraries. “In the coming years, we plan to move ahead with our packages and themes to allure greater number of customers. We have packages to be booked in advance up to September 2018 and further up to any dates in an offline mode. We shall be launching new themes named babymoon holidays, biking tours, food and wine tours and more,” enumerates Sethi grinning from ear to ear.

Emphasising on the importance of social media platforms, he shares his views on the blooming mobile travel market, “Today the mobile industry is growing by leaps and bounds and the same is expected to grow at greater pace in the coming era. Currently, we at Travkart receive 37 per cent of our bookings through the app and the same is expected to cross its counterpart by 2025. The mobile travel market is rising and is expected to beat the desktop bookings in next few years.”

UPDATE

TravelScapes

HOSPITALITY

Bajor Group bullish on expansion Priyavrat Pal Singh, Managing Director, Bajor Group of Hotels discusses the gradual growth of their hotels and their foray into the ‘Education City’ with Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Kota

Priyavrat Pal Singh

How is the Malkera Group venturing into the Indian hospitality industry?

The Malkera Group is a sister concern of Bajor Group, under the able leadership of Prem Singh Bajor, Minister of State in the government of Rajasthan. With two other hotels operating as the Heritage Village, Jaipur and Royal Heritage, Kishangarh, the Bajor Group of Hotels is also coming up with two more Greenfield five-star hotels in Udaipur and Jal Mahal, Jaipur.

deliver 100 per cent in whatever I do.

I consider that if we, as a team, give our best and keep an eye over the best practices in the world, we are bound to be successful irrespective of minor hiccups, which we may face at times.

With a philosophy, “if a client says something, then you have nothing more important to say”, I preach to my team to give their best and delight the customer for utmost reputation in the market.

into Kota. The hotel is strategically located in the heart of the city with ample of parking space and facilities.

With around 85 highly advanced rooms, three banquets of different sizes, a highly sophisticated lounge bar (UNWIND), multi-cuisine restaurant (MOSAIC), a terrace pool, lounge bar (SPLASH), gymnasium and spa, the property offers all hospitality needs of the city under one roof.

Please highlight the most significant strengths of the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Kota.

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Kota is the first international brand to foray

What are your target customers for both the hotel and Kota city?

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Kota caters to various types of clientele including the coaching industry (Kota’s biggest industry), corporates

Royal Heritage, Kishangarh

As a chief leader of the group, how do you motivate your team for success?

Being a firm believer of hard work, I

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Kota

Heritage Village Jaipur

and leisure tourists. The property is strategically positioned around business hubs, the aerodrome and an upcoming railway station within the radius of two kilometres.

What are your marketing initiatives for 2018?

In 2018, we seek a multi-pronged strategy to market our properties, which encompasses both Above-theLine and Below-the-Line activities, to various segments of clientele. Also, we are aggressive in the digital and social media marketing and promotion. We rigorously use a lot of online analytics tools to study online guests behaviour and re-strategise to have more targetoriented marketing.

Swiss Garden Intl Hotels, Malaysia mesmerises Delhi agents S wiss Garden International Hotels in association with SriLankan Airlines and Akquasun Holidays hosted a familiarisation trip to Kuala Lumpar and Damai Laut for top agents from Delhi. It was Swiss Garden’s first FAM Trip where they hosted key travel agents from Delhi to showcase their properties which include Swiss Garden Hotels, Swiss Garden Residence and Swiss Garden Damai Laut, D’majestic and Swiss Inn China Town.

The objective of the FAM was to make the

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participants familiar with the Swiss Garden properties and enable them to promote the same to their customers.

The FAM trip was conducted in November 2017 with participants such as Yatra.com, Rising Star, SDS Tours, Youngistan Travelers, Flightshop, Yorker Holidays, The Leaf Holidays, HolxoHolidays. The group got the opportunity to explore and stay at properties such as Swiss Garden Hotels, Swiss Garden Residence and Swiss Garden Damai Laut

Alefiya Singh, Director – Iris Reps (I) Pvt Ltd, Indian Representation of Swiss Garden International Hotels commented, “The FAM trip was a good opportunity for the Delhi agents to know about the MICE possibilities and how Swiss Garden International Hotels is ready to handle any incentive or a wedding group from India. We plan to host more familiarisation trips in the future as this is a great way to promote the hotels and receive more visitors from the region.”

SPECIAL FOCUS

TravelScapes

HOSPITALITY

INDIANISING

ibis

Accor plans to enlarge the leisure slice of its business

By Gagneet Kaur & Sayanti Halder

T

he French hospitality group, Accor is looking ahead for more influx to their economy brand, ibis in the coming years in India. According to Jean-Michel Cassé, COO- AccorHotels (India and South Asia), “Indian customers are no different than the rest of the world but their requirements are definitely diverse” and that is exactly where Accor is standing out of the crowd, with their economy brand ibis, to establish it as a brand of high demand. ibis in India has customised the brand to the expectations of Indian travellers. By adding facilities and services including its recent F&B offerings, familiar to the Indian guests, ibis seeks to cater the maximum number of occupancy in their economy properties.

“Throughout India, around 80 per cent of our customers are Indians out of which 90 per cent are millennials and the number of Indian guests wouldn’t have been so high had we not customised our product for them. Globally, there are over 1000 ibis hotels known to have very limited services but in India, we have designed the ibis’ services matching with the expectations of our Indian guests. Indians who are among the top spending international

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tourists worldwide are becoming increasingly important to Accor brands. Although we have reached an average occupancy of 65 per cent, the customisation initiated by redefining our F&B services is estimated to bring more footfalls. Accor gives utmost importance to F&B for more revenue and occupancy as Indians are driven to hotels by this very facility that they can afford,” says Cassé. He also informs, “Towards the beginning of 2018, we would be launching new promotional campaigns, tapping the new customers and millennials from India and educating them about our exclusively designed, tailor-made-services in ibis.”

Furthermore, Accor’s key presence across the 53 hotels in India mainly comprises of ibis and Novotel for the economy and mid-scale segments, respectively, with a major chunk of their target customers mostly being the corporate segment of travellers.

Consequently, their distribution of properties, by increasingly tapping more leisure destinations, across the country is becoming more eye-catching for the existing and prospective clients. With three recent properties in Goa, Accor is gradually blending the very aspects of corporate and leisure tourism and giving a bigger share to the leisure segment

JANUARY 2018

Jean-Michel Cassé

“India is a significant market for AccorHotels globally and we are committed to it...” in their consolidated portfolio.

According to Cassé, the hospitality group is keen to further explore opportunities in Goa and achieve the figure of around five to six properties in 2018.

Discussing the scope of MICE tourism in India, Cassé shares that the current scenario is yet to pick up in terms of the improvement of infrastructure, business and convention facilities to cater to the MICE segment but then, finds the progress in the metro cities truly promising. He is of the outlook that although 28 per cent of GST is acceptable, understanding the context of luxury space in India, the radically

high pricing of the hotels and low taxation in our country, in comparison to popular MICE destinations is acting as a roadblock in catering for more business and footfalls. “India is a significant market for AccorHotels globally and we are committed to it.

To avoid reduced business, we expect the government to develop the quality of infrastructure and services and adjust major issues such as tourists’ security and environmental pollution in the leading cities, to experience a cohesive understanding with the brands and companies, allowing more traffic of both business and leisure tourists in the country,” opines Cassé while speaking of the challenges.

HOTEL FEATURE

TravelScapes

SHERATON MALDIVES

FULL MOON RESORT & SPA A NEW VIEW FROM MALDIVES

By Ankita Jain

Location Keeping intact Maldives’ USP “one-island one-resort”, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is situated on its own island, Furanafushi Island. The country, which has around 1192 islands, with about 200 of them still uninhabited, can effectively allocate an island for almost everything. Surrounded by tropical turquoise waters, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has its own lagoon. On a privilege account, the resort is barely 15 minutes away from the airport.

Accommodation

Facilities

What’s nearby?

Imagine staying in a luxury villa over water! That’s what the ‘Water Villa’ (or ‘Ocean Villa’) concept is all about. The resort comprises 176 guest rooms and villas furnished with the finest amenities in a tropical style.

You not only have a private plunge pool and Jacuzzi, you even get your own ‘Blue Lagoon’ experience — just descend down the deck of your villa! You will be spoilt for choices as you can put on your snorkelling gear and take a dip, go for a swim in the picture-perfect shades of blue or choose to go for a leisurely walk on the softest white sand on this side of the planet.

Get the first brush of holiday excitement with a chance to escape from the everyday hustle to enjoy a staycation at this tropical paradise. Choose from a range of day excursions, several water sports activities around the resort’s lagoon, scuba diving or just relax by the freshwater pool. If you have an intention to get a little pampered, visit Shine Spa for Sheraton, set across a bridge on its own small island—a haven of absolute tranquility. To add, the resort comprises business center, fitness center, kids’ pool, tennis court, Club Lounge and more to give you a thrill pill.

Along with the surreal colours of blue and thousands of fish for an ideal company, some of the available activities and tours include sunset dolphin cruise, local island tour, snorkelling excursion, big game fishing, capital city tour and destination dining.

These activities are luxury in the middle of the ocean. The memories created here are preserved and marvelled for years to come. Nevertheless, every corner of Maldives is spectacular and words fall short here. With views that you have never seen before, Sheraton Maldives is a bliss in paradise.

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HOTEL FEATURE

TravelScapes

“THE PROPERTY OFFERS

PRIVATE SPA ISLAND, WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY AN ARRAY OF SIGNATURE AND NURTURING TREATMENTS IN THE SECLUDED AMBIANCE OF YOUR OWN SPA PAVILION”

In conversation with Jean – Louis Ripoche, General Manager, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

PUSHING BOUNDARIES W

hen anyone mentions Maldives, the vision of exquisite resorts and beautiful waters comes up while Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa pops up for the nearest uninhabited island. Jean – Louis Ripoche, General Manager, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, introduces us to the property saying, “What you see today at the property might be different tomorrow with added services.”

Looking back at the India market growth in 2017, Ripoche avers, “Since last year, we have seen the market grow from four to nine per cent. As far as 2018 is concerned, we expect it to grow further to 15 per cent. If direct flights from Mumbai and New Delhi are connected, we further expect the market to flourish.”

He believes food is one factor that pulls Indians towards any destination.

Keeping this in mind, the property tossed up their menu with deliciously

Summarising how Sheraton Maldives is marketing itself in the India market, Sandeep Raghav, Business Development Director – South Asia, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, highlights the key points. “Sheraton Maldives fits better to Indian guests both honeymoon couples and families. Also, we are one of the top five family resorts for Maldives. We have recently included customised services and facilities like Indian food, complimentary internet, kids club and more for the Indian market. We are participating in all major travel trade shows and also organising Maldives road shows with our preferred partners. This has resulted in the growth of our market share with 125 per cent in two years and we are expecting more in future.”

innovative fusion cuisines. “We did an in-depth research on Indian market and came up with the fact that food is the way to their heart. Hereby, we tailored our services according to their needs. Also, our resort is quite large; family oriented and caters to travellers who look for luxury, comfort and privacy of a five-star resort. These act as positive points while catering to Indian traveller,” he assures.

At Sheraton, you can see fish below from the bathroom floor, and there’s no better feeling than sinking into the plunge pool at the edge of the deck jutting into the ocean. You can stay up all night watching the stars, with just the soothing sound of the ocean and the vast expanse of sky and sea for company. If you have a quest for more, water sports offer a pool of opportunities. “Take the plunge and dive right into all the exhilarating water sports in Maldives – there’s something for everyone between the turquoise waters and the golden sun. Cruise the Indian Ocean with friends or get up close with life underwater – the adventures begin at Extreme Maldives Water Sports, our very own Sheraton one-stop shop for endless fun. Whether you prefer to stay above the water or explore the underwater world, the property has a range of water sports equipment and activities to fulfill your thirst for thrills,” suggests Ripoche. From parasailing to seabob, one will have a variety of options to choose from and rather every day will be filled with a different activity.

The delightful fragrance of essential oils and scented candles, dimly-lit rooms, soothing music, clean fluffy towels and a comforting silence only broken occasionally by the sound of your contented snores — isn’t this what most spas are synonymous with? But Sheraton Maldives is etched with more. “The property offers private spa island, where you can enjoy an array of signature and nurturing treatments in the secluded ambiance of your own spa pavilion,” he enumerates.

Pushing towards MICE business, the property will soon unveil a recording studio. “We are coming up with a recording studio to promote the local artiste as well as the international artiste. It will be further in a 50: 50 ratio. Our guests will also be entitled to use the recording studio. In respect to MICE, we are up for incentives and there are possibilities for convention centres in the future,” he zeroes in.

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UPDATE

TravelScapes

FITUR

ONE EVENT

COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES

A flashback of FITUR 2017 and the high points this year FITUR: THE YEAR GONE BY A global meeting point for the tourism professionals, FITUR has been holding the flag high in the travel and tourism industry. In 2017, FITUR had beaten the participation record with 9,893 exhibiting companies from 165 countries/regions, 135,858 trade participants and 107,213 people from the general public.

Among the participation figures of note was the increase of 18.8 per cent of international trade visitors compared to the previous staging. Moreover, the volume of agendas organised by FITUR within the different B2B had also reached 6,800 business appointments. The attendance of 7,452 journalists was a turnout that shows the importance of FITUR on the international circuit of tourism sector events.

THE HIGHLIGHTS THIS YEAR FITUR 2018 will be the global meeting point for tourism professionals and will become, yet another year, the leading trade fair for Latin America’s inbound and outbound markets. Good progress is being made in marketing the Trade Fair, with more than 90 per cent of the space allocated turning FITUR into the worldwide professional centre of attraction.

FITUR will concentrate in Madrid the latest worldwide tourism proposals and will put the focus on sustainability and on new technologies as the keys to the transformation of the tourism industry The upcoming staging of FITUR 2018, which is organised by IFEMA from 17 to 21 January, 2018 at Feria de Madrid, is set to once again become the major international benchmark event of the tourism industry. In this regard, FITUR’s contents will place special emphasis on sustainability and technological innovation as the keys to the current transformation of the tourism industry. This context will reveal the actions being undertaken by countries, businesses and institutions to contribute to improving the environment.

Together with the new FITUR FESTIVALS, FITUR 2018 will feature the regular FITURTECH Y sections, the Sustainability, Innovation, Technology and Business forums organised by the Hotel Technology Institute (ITH); Fitur Know-how and Export organised by SEGITTUR in collaboration with ICEX and FITUR; FITUR Shopping; FITUR Health together with Spaincares; and FITUR Gay (LGBT) organised by Diversity Consulting International. Added to this will be the staging of Investour, the Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa organised jointly by the UNWTO, Casa África and FITUR.

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A glimpse from FITUR 2017

INDIA, THE PARTNER COUNTRY FOR FITUR 2018 The Asian powerhouse will have an important showcase for promoting the destination by linking its brand to FITUR. India will thus exhibit tourism as one of its leading-edge sectors with some of the highest business possibilities.

With seven per cent economic growth, India presents a key market for worldwide investments and economic relations. The upcoming staging of the International Tourism Trade Fair is presenting India as the FITUR partner country. This global power is a rising destination for business, trade and tourism.

This collaboration provides a close tie by linking the India brand to the International Tourism Trade Fair, allowing the new FITUR partner, whose presence has increased more than 30 per cent at the Fair, to make the most of the event’s exceptional promotional potential and capitalise on it. In this way, the Asian country, under the slogan of ‘Incredible India’, will enjoy an important international showcase for promoting the destination.

TravelScapes

FITUR

UPDATE

Good progress is being made in marketing the Trade Fair, with more than 90 per cent of the space allocated turning FITUR into the worldwide professional centre of attraction

SHOPPING TOURISM UNDER ANALYSIS AT FITUR 2018 In the January 18th session, the FITUR SHOPPING section will be discussing some of the key issues for this tourist segment that is already one of the main motivations for millions of people when it comes to choosing a destination.

The upcoming edition of FITUR will again set the stage for analysing shopping tourism in its FITUR SHOPPING section. On this occasion, FITUR SHOPPING will revolve around a series of roundtables that will discuss topics such as: ‘Shopping tourism at the destination: global brands and local design’; ‘Shopping tourism in distinctive Madrid shops’; and ‘Shopping Tourism and Digitisation’.

Shopping tourism is now one of the main motivations for millions of people when it comes to choosing a destination for their holiday, as the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has highlighted on several occasions. Between January and September 2017, tax-free shopping increased by 18 per cent in Spain, which means that revenue could exceed 2.3 billion euros.

FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF 5G TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY ANTICIPATED The IFEMA LAB 5G research team is working on the development of 5G prototypes based on four applications: “Augmented Trade Fair”, “Time Travel”, “Translator” and “Teleport”.

The work performed by IFEMA LAB 5G, launched by IFEMA and 5TONIC back in September, is achieving advances in the research and development of various 5G prototypes for application to the tourism sector. The prototypes will provide the initial gateway to an understanding of the potential offered by this innovative technology, which will completely transform the way we experience tourism and tourism management within the context of the trade fair, providing access to practically unlimited communications, data and computation services in real time.

A whole process born out of the task of data analysis, natural language processing, 360° video, haptic and multisensory interfaces, augmented reality, localisation, virtual environments and many other operational fields with huge potential application in the tourism sector.

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WHAT’S TRENDING

TravelScapes

Overtourism on the rise Are we failing as tourists?

In several destinations, a tipping point has been reached and overtourism has become a local political issue, sometimes spilling over into the street. But the questions still juggle. How to cope with too many tourists and how to avoid having too few? We spoke with the industry experts on how the issue should be dealt with

By Gagneet Kaur

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WHAT’S TRENDING

TravelScapes

Kadakampally Surendran

F

rom a consumer’s perspective, there are many answers, but it is not difficult for a traveller to say why they are travelling. It could be anything related to either business, leisure, adventure, pilgrimage or to visit family and friends. It’s much more difficult from a destination perspective. And the answer to this is that the industry often simply wants more, in terms of tourist numbers. This raises the question, why? What is tourism for, from a destination perspective? Why spend money to bring tourists who arrive in significant numbers, worsen congestion, drop litter and use the public realm for free? To dig in more, let’s understand the term ‘overtourism’, its effects, challenges and the solutions.

THE CONCEPT OF OVERTOURISM: Overtourism describes destinations where hosts or guests, locals or visitors, feel that there are too many visitors and that the quality of life in the area or the quality of the experience has deteriorated unacceptably. Overtourism is just the opposite of responsible tourism which is about using tourism to make better places to live in and better places to visit.

First used on twitter as #overtourism back in August 2012, the concept is likely to become commonplace over the next few years. Its meaning is vaguely unclear, in a sector which celebrates rapid and seemingly endless growth in tourism arrivals figures, have we got over tourism? Has it become archaic? For some, perhaps, but the growth in tourism is best understood as a sector of consumption, as 11 per cent of global consumption is by tourists. All of this being done at the cost of displacing local people by increasingly

Vasudha Sondhi

Suneet Goenka

unregulated holiday lets, littered beaches, shops that used to meet the needs of residents being displaced by the outlets selling expensive goods to tourists. Is overtourism plaguing the good touristy destinations?

Has the world’s population explosion finally arrived?

Suneet Goenka, Group Managing Director, Red Apple Group begins by listing the challenges caused by overtourism. “With the upward moving economic graph, rising incomes and elevated lifestyle of families, foreign holidays are planned like never before. In short, going abroad on a vacation has become affordable and therefore enticing. While on the one hand, travel sector thrived on this surge of merrymakers, on the flip side, it has triggered over tourism i.e. crowding of tourists, especially at popular destinations.”

“This has given rise to problems like crowding, littering and congestion. Public property is used recklessly thus impacting not just the locals but also the tourists. Tourism is an important industry segment that creates jobs for the local population. Yet favoured destinations are getting overwhelmed by the influx of tourists, not just from flights, but from land and sea as well. A case in point is the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Charles Bridge at Prague. The sea of people there can easily dampen the quality and peace of a trip for the tourist and for the residents; it can be an eternally distressing situation. All this makes overtourism a worrying issue,” he continues.

Vasudha Sondhi, Managing Director, Outbound Marketing Pvt Ltd. feels that this is an extremely serious issue which has not been given the right kind of attention. “Roughly 20 years ago, the Indian Ocean countries had signed a comprehensive pact

Number of tourist (In Millions)

A graph revealing approximate tourist arrivals in millions 1800

Estimates

1600 1400

Asia, Africa & Middle East (Millions)

1200 1000 800 600

Europe and Americas

400 200 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Date

Ratna Chadha

on ‘controlled tourism’. Sadly, I don’t hear anything about this pact now. Controlling tourism numbers ensures the sustainability of the destination, therefore, contributing to the economy for a long term. This also helps in preserving the culture and heritage assets including nature for posterity,” Sondhi opines.

Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi expresses his concern as according to him, overtourism with its huge impact on social and environmental aspect, is taking away the essence of a destination. He further explains, “Although this is not something which cannot be controlled, a long-term planning can avoid such tense situation. There has been a huge increase in the number of travellers since few years and various destinations have witnessed the repercussion of overtourism like environmental degradation, excessive traffic jams, security concerns and these destinations have become vulnerable to losing their social and cultural spirit. Hence, it is important for the destinations to curtail these imbalances such as encountering a damaged tourist experience, overloaded infrastructure and threat to nature and culture and devise strategies accordingly.”

Speaking on why India is grappling with overtourism issues, Tejbir Singh Anand, Vice President, ATOAI & MD, Holiday Moods Adventures highlights, “In India, the ‘carrying capacity’ word sadly is not at all understood.

Our tourism destinations are overstretched and overflowing especially in the peak season. All pilgrimage circuits are the biggest illustration of this.

All the hill stations are today a glaring example where they are overcrowded with massive traffic jams.

This concern is more relevant in the sector where our entire natural heritage is at risk – adventure and eco-tourism. All the state administrations must understand that there would be nothing left for our future generations.”

MANAGING THE SOCIAL IMPACTS: Tourism has reached a point where either the hosts or guests and often both, are dissatisfied. Years ago, a tourism concern was pointed out saying “we take our holidays in their homes.” Almost every holiday destinations have residents, local people and local government. In recent years, the Destination Management Offices have extended their role on marketing the destination but they have miserably failed in closely working with the government agencies and local authorities.

Increasingly, within the last few years, the residents

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WHAT’S TRENDING

TravelScapes

Bejan Dinshaw

Tejbir Singh Anand

are raising the issue and it is moving up the political agenda in the city governments. In Seoul, Bukchon Hanok Village famed for its traditional Korean houses is included in the itineraries of tour groups because it is open early morning and evening and the access is free. It enables the tour operators to add value to their itineraries at no cost to themselves as a result of which the community suffers the externalities of noise, litter, loss of privacy and over-crowding. The major challenge here is to make all destinations sustainable and to avoid spreading the problem. For local government, the key question arises: Will the destination use tourism or be used by it?

Ratna Chadha, Chief Executive, TIRUN (exclusive India representative of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.) strongly feels that social impacts can either make or break the industry. “Tourism is the most vulnerable industry impacted by social implications hence, it is necessary to manage these issues as is effectively done by most countries that rely heavily on tourism. This is especially crucial for us, with such a vast country, where each state represents a European county. But sadly, it is not managed appropriately in India,” says Chadha.

Dinshaw rightly feels that tourism is not just an economic phenomenon, but also includes the involvement of social, cultural and environmental aspects. “The social impact of tourism is the way in which tourism is infusing changes in individual behaviour and lifestyle, relationships and conduct. And for this reason, it is imperative to manage the social impact of tourism, because not screening such things later leads to a bigger problem, overtourism being one of them.”

Sondhi suggests that industry needs to play a significant role in understanding and addressing the social impacts. “The industry has to be concerned about these issues and cannot afford to look the other way as this directly impacts our business. A very popular (now) international tourism destination

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was once labelled ‘exotic’. The destination did not have direct flights and yet there were the discerning travellers from the world travelling to that destination.

Today the situation there is sad and tells about the lack of industry understanding. The five-star hotels are selling way below their fair price. Yes, the numbers have gone up incredibly, but this should have been done in a framework over a period of time. While the government makes the policy, an active and concerned industry can take the lead in starting the dialogue. The industry needs to be accountable and take ownership of looking at the social impact in order that the quality experience for the tourist is sustained,” she urges.

Keeping in sync with Sondhi, Anand makes a valid point. “More than mass tourism and giving economic benefit to the local communities, conservation and systems in place are the first drivers. The leaders of the state tourism need to understand that mass tourism is the lowest end of the segment which can never benefit the local communities. It is only leading to massive traffic jams, carbon emissions and global warming.

Alternative spots must be identified with an offer on capital investment subsidies to the investors so that slowly the hot spots start getting decentralised.”

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM— THE WAY FORWARD: As the best way to maximise the positive impacts of tourism and minimise the negative ones, Responsible Tourism is gaining widespread acceptance across the world today. Pioneering the concept of Responsible Tourism in India is Kerala in 2007, which launched the initiative in four destinations – Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Vythiri. Kumarakom bagged ‘Best Responsible Tourism Project’ at National Tourism Awards 2015-2016 and highly commended Responsible Tourism Award at WTM London.

Encouraged by the success of this unique initiative in Kumarakom, Kerala Tourism initiated a first of its kind initiative in India- PEPPER (People’s Participation for

Planning and Empowerment through Responsible Tourism) under the Responsible Tourism Mission.

Elaborating further on the initiatives taken by KTDC, Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Co-Operation, Tourism and Devaswom, Government of Kerala highlights, “With the unique concept of Responsible Tourism, Kerala Tourism has been contributing to the development of the social, environmental and economic sphere of tourism industry significantly. We have always been keen on minimising the social effects of the tourism industry with various initiatives. The Government of Kerala has allotted INR 4, 50, 00,000 to Department of Tourism for the financial year 2017-2018 for Responsible Tourism initiative.”

“Additionally, Kerala Tourism has been keen on promoting the products made by local artisans in order to bring the attention of the vacationers towards the traditional heritage of art and cultural forms.

The tourism department encourages the farmers to sell Responsible Tourism initiated products ranging from natural virgin oil to organic soaps and honey sold. Besides, entrepreneurship training is being provided under RT Mission to 50,000 local people at various destinations to enhance the lives of the local community,” he adds.

Chipping in, Goenka further talks about how the Red Apple Group has always believed in being accountable to the country it operates in and has lived up to its promise in widely promoting the Responsible Tourism. “We, at Red Apple Travel, regularly take measures, stepping up our efforts to be thoughtful to the locals while enjoying a memorable vacation.

Furthermore, we consistently create awareness to leave behind a destination ‘the way we found it’ without tampering with its natural beauty and quality of life.”

“We as a leading DMC aim to be partners in Responsible Tourism employing key solutions to decrease the after effects of this grave issue. Towards

WHAT’S TRENDING

TravelScapes

that, we strive to penetrate into the newer areas of a popular destination. We create interest in fresh and new attractions and lesser visited localities. We are in the process of rebooting our marketing strategies to combat this global snag, setting standards for collateral responsible tourism. We are working with our channel partners to form a symbiotic association where our collaborative efforts help to gently spread this awareness among the holidaymakers. Together we ensure that the tours they take leave behind a good impression at every destination they visit.”

Both Chadha and Dinshaw firmly believe that by introducing sustainable tourism and getting the local population involved will not just fill in the potholes but will also work as a thriving factor for the tourism community.

TIME FOR LOCAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES TO WAKE UP: Tourism can and must be better managed, to try to create ‘better places to live in as well as to visit’.

However, these efforts are likely to buckle under the sheer weight of tourists and perhaps this is the issue we will increasingly have to confront. It is eventually the governments’ job to protect global populations and enable healthy environments for both the residents and tourists. But have they woken up to the fact that tourism will end up suffering from its own success if issues like mass tourism are not addressed in time?

Sondhi seems upset about the fact that in spite of seeing the perfect examples like Bhutan, many other destinations lack even the basic understanding of managing tourism numbers. She deliberately puts forth a reasonable point and questions the sleeping authorities. “Bhutan has developed a framework within which the destinations, the development of local guides, the restaurants that can come up and within what time frame, the building of hotels, the numbers of tourists who can enter and more are all detailed with a long-term view. Unfortunately, in many other destinations, the planning is knee jerked and short term and the end goal is always about the numbers. By no means do I want to suggest making tourism an elitist activity. The balance has to

come from the governmental policies and industry conscience. If you look at some of the developments that are taking place in the Himalayan spots, it is awful. There is no thought to waste management, the so-called resorts have no quality and the tourists who come in have no sense of travelling responsibly. Water in such regions tends to get scarce and it is not rocket science to figure out that one cannot and must not build gigantic hotels in fragile regions. Yet there is no control from the authorities.”

She, however, suggests that creating a broader framework for long-term sustainability would work well in the direction which should include the growth of restaurants, hotels, shops, waste management and ensuring that no one flouts these policies. “We have to be concerned about what we are leaving behind for the future generations,” she tips off.

Surendran believes that the joint endeavour of local and state government can work wonders to drive the growth of the tourism industry. “With the prime focus on developing new possibilities to accelerate the growth of the tourism industry, we have been working collectively with various agencies and local bodies to promote state tourism globally. Owing to the joint efforts of the tourism board, local bodies, self-help groups and other agencies have resulted in escalating the number of tourist arrivals to the state.

Significantly, Kerala has contributed to the growth of the Indian tourism industry. Together, we can position India as a tourism hub while leveraging the rich culture and heritage of the country,” he appeals.

Anand asserts that the local stakeholders and state governments are the custodians of their tourism business and they are the ones who can make or break the destination. “Great experiences can only be provided if proper capacity building/ skill development of the stakeholders are done regulating to licensing. Local cultures, hygiene issues, sanitation, cleanliness and more need to be maintained and local architecture to be conserved; all these are the right things that are required to give a great memorable experience to a guest! And none of this is rocket science.”

Chadha seems to be in sync when she says that the

local government and state government both need to be actively involved. She insists on having a proper compliance policy where the basic amenities like clean toilets and hygienic surroundings need to be established urgently.

Goenka, a staunch believer in ‘Travelling with Responsibility’, says that it is our corporate vision for the future. He suggests the corrective measures on how the local authorities and state government must become proactive and execute strict measures to tackle overtourism. “For example, sale or import of chewing gum is prohibited in Singapore. Keeping tourists in mind, they can have an efficient waste management system, spreading ‘green messages’ for a clean and fresh surrounding and fascinating vista.

The authorities must involve themselves to make and implement active solutions for common good keeping in focus both locals and holidaymakers. It will also go a long way if local authorities encourage and acknowledge tourists who have adhered to the laws of cleanliness. This motivating move will definitely have a positive ripple effect on all tourists and not to mention the residents there.”

“Furthermore, the authorities must levy appropriate taxation on flights and cruise fuels to decrease greenhouse emission. Finally, we at Red Apple Travel are taking action for a better alliance among our destination offices and local authorities to draw up policies to tackle overtourism. Educating for increased cognizance on sustainable tourism is a must. To disburse the crowd, destination tourist offices should advertise unknown attractions, sites and places which will help to thin the crowd at popular tourist sites. Red Apple Travel has a new vertical ‘Hidden Doors’ for such tours. This will help immensely to bring down footfalls at popular places and common interest places thus giving back quality time to a holidaymaker,” he further adds.

Dinshaw couldn’t agree more when he says, “Tourists should be encouraged to visit lesser-known parts of the destinations in order to ease pressure on the busiest areas. There should be long-term planning while erecting any structure or coming up with a tourist spot. Parameters like area, target audience, impact on the local surroundings should be taken care of well in advance. There is a need to identify the early warning signs and curb it at that moment rather than waiting for the situation to get aggravated and out of control.”

IN A NUTSHELL: The issue of overtourism is not going away anytime soon. Globally, tourist numbers are growing at more than six per cent a year, and way faster in the famous tourism hotspots and we can expect this to grow rapidly with Indians going experiential and more Chinese travelling to newer places. However, regulation and cooperation often go hand in hand, so we as the tourists have a duty to travel responsibly and the industry stakeholders including the governments have to find a firm solution to boost the positive outcomes.

As such, it is critical to not let the social impacts morph into political issues, but a smarter idea is to rather to develop and practice strategic and sustainable approaches to shift the demand. As travellers, we can, however be a part of the solution by contributing positively and minimising the negative impact.

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WHAT’S TRENDING

TravelScapes

BOOSTING

A HEALTHY TOURISM With the recent conclusion of International AROGYA 2017, the first international conference and exhibition on Ayush and Wellness organised

by FICCI in collaboration with Ministry of AYUSH and Pharmaexcil in Delhi, the industry may expect an increase in the inbound footfalls, inspiring tourists to embark on more wellness trips to the Indian states

By Sayanti Halder

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arketing Ayurveda as part of the ‘health or wellness tourism’ has brought a new definition to vacationing in India. In the past few years, India has originated as one of the most important hubs for medical tourism. Presently, the country is also emerging as a popular destination for wellness tourism because of its several pull factors including medical and alternative treatment at low cost, easy accessibility and scenic locations for holiday. Ranked 12 among the top 20 wellness tourism markets as per the latest findings, India is gradually positioning itself as a centre of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Wellness Tourism.

Wellness Tourism is estimated to grow nearly 50 per cent faster than global tourism by 2020, states a recent study by SRI International. According to a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - Grant Thornton white paper, the Indian medical tourism industry, which is pegged at USD three billion, is expected to reach USD eight billion by 2020. Wellness Tourism, which continues to grow at a fast pace, is more likely to be the key driver of tourism economy.

According to the government’s Make In India Report, the Wellness (AYUSH) Industry in India is worth INR 490 billion, and wellness services alone comprise 40 per cent of the market.

Due to the establishment of some of the earliest medical schools in the southern states of India, healthcare infrastructure availability here is of high standards. This also resulted in the creation of a pool of clinical schools and entrepreneurial skills, made available to the alternate medical tourism industry to help facilitate growth at a faster pace than the rest of the states. “Interestingly, wellness packages, nowadays, are combined with leisure activities, fun and fitness to make it complete tourism material for the visitors across the southern states. The bulk of wellness tourism is done by domestic tourists, driven by short-haul and weekend trips. We will come out with suggestions to promote Karnataka as a wellness tourism destination in a big way along with the niche medical fields, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) can pay attention to,” informed Kumar Pushkar, Managing Director, KSTDC Ltd.

WHAT’S TRENDING

TravelScapes The Government of Karnataka is also in the process of leveraging the state’s IT prowess to tap business in the healthcare outsourcing services. Pushkar is of the belief that leveraging IT skills would help enhance Karnataka’s position in associated services to the growing tourism sector.

With the state government pumping in huge money, INR 500 crore to be exact, into the improvement of the Andhra Pradesh’s tourism sector; there is expected to be a considerable rise in inbound tourism especially in its wellness sector. “Andhra Pradesh has the potential to emerge as a key tourism destination in the areas of medical and wellness. At present, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is maintaining meticulous operations of hotels and restaurants, and developing infrastructure to position Wellness Tourism as a major product. We intend to plan and implement more progress for this sector for an increased traffic in 2018. Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada-Guntur capital region have bright scope for promotion of wellness industry with the state government’s New Tourism Policy reiterating the

THE INDIAN MEDICAL TOURISM INDUSTRY, WHICH IS PEGGED AT USD THREE BILLION, IS EXPECTED TO REACH USD EIGHT BILLION BY 2020 resolve to develop the areas into tourist hubs. After a strong foundation is built surrounding Wellness Tourism in our state, we look forward for enhanced guidance and education for the travel agents,” shared Himanshu Shukla, Director Tourism, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.

“Wellness tourism is one of the leading and fastest growing tourism sectors. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is planning to develop a wellness hub in Igatpuri.

We are creating wellness zones providing a range of treatments including yoga, Ayurveda, reiki and physiotherapy. MTDC is also trying to secure 100 acre of government land in the locality in Igatpuri to develop world class infrastructure and also preparing

Why is India a fast-growing

to enter into partnerships with private entities. This project will certainly allure a huge number of tourists and will be a popular tourist destination similar to Lonavla-Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Matheran,” added Aashutosh Rathod, Joint Managing Director, MTDC. In order to give a thrust to the tourism sector, the government has proposed to set up more trade exhibitions and seminars, allocate more budget and engage tour operators, in the coming years, to tempt more commerce and visitors in India and provide an impetus to the growing economy of the tourism industry. Looking at the current rising lines on the tourism graph, Wellness Tourism is certainly here to stay.

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Wellness Tourism Destination

E.M. Najeeb, Managing Director, Air Travel Enterprises Group of companies, talks about wellness segment in India, the growth and opportunities

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ellness was a motivating factor for travel among the ancient civilisations. From the ancient times, the Romans, Greeks and other cultures had the quest for wellness. Locations of mineral water springs and sea-side spas were the just the beginning of wellness travel.

India is known for its holistic medicine systems, Ayurvedic spa, Naturopathy, and other wellness therapies.

Comprehensive health management has been accepted widely as a wellness and lifestyle choice. The global wellness sector contributes USD 3.7 trillion to the economy and continues to grow by 10.6 per cent. Nowadays, Medical Value Travel has established as a major segment in the wellness tourism sector in India.

My journey in the wellness tourism started with our tour operating organisation ‘The Great India Tour Company’ (GITC), marketing Wellness Tourism packages in the 90’s itself. In 2002, our 500 bed tertiary-care, multispecialty hospital ‘Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences’ (KIMS) in Trivandrum was established. An NABH accredited hospital of international standards, KIMS equipped us to foray into Medical Tourism. With around four hospitals in Kerala, at present, KIMS was the first

hospital that dedicated a floor for KIMS Ayurveda division for wellness therapies.

Each year, the number of Medical Value Travel visitors is increasing. Presently, I am holding position as the President of Kerala Medical Value Travel Society, an organisation of accredited hospitals in Kerala providing Medical Tourism services. We are also trying to join hands with the government to broaden the activities of MVT on a larger platform for better promotions and quality control.

In India, 34 per cent of the total Medical Value Travel is from Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Africa, GCC and CIS regions represent 30 per cent of current share to create maximum opportunity for the Indian Healthcare sector. Medical tourists from these countries favour the South-East Asian Medical Corridors. For Kerala, the GCC countries and Maldives are major sources. The Medical Value Travellers seek treatments and procedures for dental treatments, cosmetic surgeries, Orthopaedics, Bariatric/Obesity treatment, Ophthalmology/Eye Care, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and so forth. Patients arrive for cardiac and renal treatments too.

The CII White Paper suggests that to attract the African, Asian and Middle East patients and also

the domestic Medical Tourists, from other regions of the country, effective marketing campaigns supported by the government is required. In India with excellent hospitals, world-class doctors and experienced paramedics, both medical and wellness tourism has a vast opportunity. Knowing its importance, the tourism industry and the Government of India are keen in promoting medical tourism in the country. Agents in India can have tieups, associations, and packages from leading medical tourism sectors and get on to their own marketing endeavours.

The ‘e-Visa-on-Arrival’ Scheme for tourists from selective countries facilitate foreign nationals’ stay in India for 30 days for medical reasons.

In 2016, citizens of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Republic of Korea and Nigeria availed a maximum number of medical visas. The union government and most of the state governments are supporting Medical Tourism and are carrying out campaigns.

I suggest that hospitals should be given industry status for power, import of machinery and equipments to make it cost-effective. Public Private Participation (PPP) Model should be followed in promoting Medical Tourism

E.M. Najeeb

in India. Central government should help popularise medical tourism through Embassies, and Health Ministries in various foreign countries. Special efforts should be targeted at SAARC countries.

To route travellers from across the globe, we have to do the needful to develop reliable referral contacts and top priority should be given to the safety and security of the tourists. India offers great possibilities for both treatment and recuperative holidays. The country has leading accredited hospitals with global standards who can offer advanced treatment procedures to the visitors seeking medical treatment. The state of Kerala, for example, concentrates on ‘Medical Value Travel’ as a niche segment. As healthcare turns costlier in developed countries, India’s Medical Tourism market is expected to grow more than double in size from USD three billion at present to around USD eight billion by 2020, according to studies.

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OUTBOUND

Wonderful Indonesia soars high in 2017 T

Jordan Tourism Board conducts B2B roadshow in New Delhi

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ordan Tourism Board recently conducted a roadshow in New Delhi with eight partners -- Air Arabia, United Travel Agency, Travco Tours, Dakkak Tours, Emirates, Friends Tours, Jordan Tours, Karma House Travel, La Beduina Tours and Oman Air. The aim of the roadshow was to meet the city’s premium travel agents and tour operators to discuss hotels, transportation, flights and much more to Jordan — to enable the agents to plan the perfect MICE, wedding, honeymoon or holiday to Jordan!

The roadshows were conducted keeping in mind to associate air, land, hotels, excursions and all other arrangements on one platform, and to make Jordan a strong contender in their itineraries for the coming season.

The event was attended by Majd Abuarqub, the India market in-charge from Jordan Tourism Board in Amman, and Ashit Taneja, Country Manager, Jordan Tourism Board’s Representative Office in India along with Think Strawberries team, which handles the Sales, Marketing and PR and Media for Jordan Tourism Board in India. Abuarqub spoke about his excitement to be in India; and meet the agents and have one on one interaction with them on such an active platform. He concluded that the roadshows were very fruitful as it helped them develop and foster healthy relationships.

“With a 50 per cent growth in visitors from India (figures till October 2017), we are confident that India will remain one of our top source market in the years to come. The Jordan Touism Board is committed in its endeavour to invest in India and from 2018 to 2020, and the growth trajectory for all activities and initiatives in the Indian market will continue to expand,” said Abuarqub.

Ashit Taneja commented, “These roadshows offer a fantastic opportunity for the travel agent and tour operator community to connect with B2B segement and directly with JTB to help them drive more business and numbers towards the destination. We are very pleased with the outcome of the roadshow and are planning to conduct the same in other cities as well shortly.”

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he Ministry directly led by Minister of Tourism, Indonesia, Arief Yahya, rolled out the Sales Mission and Consumer Selling targeting three main cities in Asia Pacific: Taipei, Guangzhou and New Delhi, from December 13 to 21, 2017. Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia conducted Sales Mission in New Delhi as it is one of the most potential markets.

“There is a close cultural connect between the two countries that works as a magnet of tourism from. We are continuously working on this particular market,” the minister said.

H.E. Sidharto Suryodipuro, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia briefed the media about Indonesia’s progress graph in the year 2017 at New Delhi recently. He told that in spite of natural calamities recently hitting Bali, the place is safe to visit and the tourism in the area is not much affected. He ensured a positive growth in numbers for Indonesia in 2018 and invited the travel fraternity to visit and relish the marvels of wonderful Indonesia. In the last three years, Indian tourists visiting Indonesia have significantly increased. 2015 registered 271,252 visitors, and in the following year the numbers steeply increased to 376,802 travellers.

According to Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya, to target the market of Asia Pacific (China, Australia, Japan, Korea, India and other markets) we have to carry out hard selling activities like exhibition and sales mission. From January to December 2017, there have been 54 hard selling activities like 30 exhibitions and 24 sales mission, while for promotion involving 30 festivals and 51 familiarisation trips.

“Sales Mission and Consumer Selling at this stage is totally hard sales, we are selling tour packages. Not branding or soft marketing anymore. We hope the target of international tourist visiting Indonesia could be effectively achieved this way,” said Yahya.

GNTO India launches Germany Specialist Program

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he German National Tourist Office, India launched its online destination training program in India on December 14, via an online webinar, the webinar which was attended by over 450 operators, was extremely well received by the Travel Trade across India. The step comes in the light of the increasing number of Indian visitors to Germany and the request from the travel fraternity for a training module on the destination. In the Romit Theophilus first nine months of this year, destination Germany witnessed more than 6,38,000 visitor overnights, representing an 11.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

The launch comes as GNTO forges ahead with its strategy to spread more widespread awareness on the destination amongst the tour operators across India. The online destination training programme would provide Indian tour operators and travel agents with the in-depth knowledge needed to market the destination authoritatively and persuasively to their clients.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Romit Theophilus, Director Sales and Marketing, The German National Tourist Office, India said, “Over the years we have repeatedly received requests from our trade partners to start an online Training program, which could be referred to by them whilst planning itineraries and travel programs for their clients. Hence the launch of www.germanyspecialist.com, we hope this platform would ensure that the operators have all the information they need to easily sell the destination.

The program consists of four informative modules: Module 1 - Introduction to Germany, Module 2 - Discover the German Federal States/ Regions; Module 3 - Theme Based Travel and Module 4 - Special Scenic Routes. We expect this module to serve as a one stop shop for all the operators’ queries on destination Germany.”

TravelScapes

OUTBOUND

Bahrain eyes the India market; launches first roadshow in India B ahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) recently organised their first ever roadshow in India (Mumbai and Delhi) on December 6 and 8, 2017 respectively.

The roadshow saw the presence of a delegation from Bahrain Tourism, leading hotels in Bahrain and the destination management companies.

Talking about India as a key market for Bahrain, Yousef Alkhan, Director of Marketing & Promotion, BTEA said, “I see a huge potential in the India market. The Bahraini people and the

Indians are very close and have been dealing for thousands of years. Be it in terms of trading in pearls and spices or in terms of a short travelling distance between India and Bahrain. This year, we observed around 2000 tourists from India and we are now very positive that it’s not difficult for Bahrain to attract more Indian tourists in the coming years.”

“2018 is a very important year for us. We have opened seven offices worldwide at the end of 2016. It’s been a year now that the offices have been

Yousef Alkhan

UPDATE

established and for 2018, we need to start seeing more results and aggressive promotions. We are planning to open offices in other cities to promote Bahrain more often. We are already doing a lot of B2C campaigns with different tour operators, revamping our marketing strategies and increasing a lot of FAM trips,” he further informed.

Asked upon the key attractions in the region, Alkhan said that it has two UNESCO World Heritage sites- Bahrain Fort and Bahrain Pearling Trail. For adrenaline junkies, Formula 1 circuit is the best place to go. For family segments, Bahrain has several water parks and theme parks. The unique experience that Bahrain is planning to promote this year is the pearl diving.

Sharing further on the experience, Alkhan said, “For more than 2000 years, Bahrain’s pearls have been prized as some of the best natural pearls in the world. Now, we offer you the opportunity to do the pearl diving right here in the seawaters of the Gulf where you can dive and find the pearls and keep them for yourself as the souvenirs.”

BTEA has a major focus on attracting those Indian cities which have direct flight connectivity to Bahrain. Delhi and Mumbai top the priority list.

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GLOBETROTTER

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ESCAPE HERE

Let your mind drift off the snow to a part of the world where the weather is perfect — dry, warm and sunny. Here are our top five picks of the best places to go on a holiday to escape the powdery snow

By Ankita Jain

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GLOBETROTTER

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Costa Rica, Central America A place to be bookmarked for an unforgettable adventure; such is the charm of Costa Rica.

With sun-kissed coasts, forest trails and sparkling waterfalls, the only limit here is your return date. One of the happiest places to live in, one would not give a second thought here towards centering oneself on a surfboard or a yoga mat, biking or a zip lining. This luxuriant rainforest destination of Central America is peaceful, serene and is the home to almost half a million species.

Cape Town, South Africa Known as the Mother City, Cape Town in toto, is an amalgamation of cultures, cuisines and landscapes.

From jaw-dropping scenery to magnificently crowned Table Mountain National Park, this scenic South African beauty encompasses it all. Famous for its seal population and great white sharks, the city is set against the backdrop of sapphire blue Table Bay. Beyond the city, one can exchange urban landscapes for the charming towns, villages and rustic estates of Winelands destinations, such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

Gold coast, Australia Stretching along the southeast Queensland coast, from Coolangatta to Southport, the Gold Coast is one of Australia’s most famous holiday destinations. Surfers Paradise, one of the tourist hubs of this glamorous coastal strip, is an Aussie version of Las Vegas. Besides, a clutch of theme parks and beachside entertainment, Gold Coast also boasts a bevy of natural assets with blond beaches and an emerald hinterland. Here good times just keep rolling especially in January when the mood is just right and so is the weather.

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GLOBETROTTER

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Morocco, North Africa Rainbows of colour, spice-market smells, and an urban orchestra of sounds- Morocco can be overwhelming at first. From Saharan dunes to the peaks of the High Atlas, Morocco is purely a gateway to Africa. A tailor-made destination for travellers, the country is known for its vibrant cities. One can join the centuries-old trail of nomads and traders while enjoying their national pastime- people- watching in a street cafe with a coffee or a mint tea.

Phuket, Thailand The largest Thai island, Phuket is soaked in excitement. From pearly beaches, dramatic coastlines, monolithic limestone karsts to the national parks, Phuket has a fair bounty when it comes to natural attraction. Kayaking through limestone caves, tucked away boutiques or a hole-in-the-wall bakery, well the not-to-be-missed list seems to be endless.

Further, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, kiteboarding, is also among Phuket’s latest addictions.

Be careful, with so many options, one may just forget to leave.

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TravelScapes

AVIATION

Indians to benefit from fast track immigration by marhaba

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n line with the visa on arrival offered

by UAE to Indian citizens, marhaba has launched a fast track immigration process through Dubai Airports. This new product of the company will allow Indian travellers with a valid US visit visa or Green Card with six month passport validity to travel to Dubai easily. The tourists can apply for a 14 days UAE on-arrival visas from India. marhaba offers a round the clock preapproval facility, flexibility to change travel plans and approval within four working hours. The maximum length of stay in Dubai is 14 days on arrival and the UAE visa can be extended for an additional 14 days.

In addition to handling paperwork and helping with transfers and baggage, marhaba will ensure an easy passage through the airport while offering an oasis of calm within its exclusive lounges. With Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Family services, marhaba can cater to every segment of traveller from India to the UAE.

Vizag airport gets e-visa on arrival facility

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he Centre has finally given its nod for the introduction of e-Tourist Visa on Arrival (e-TVOA) at the Visakhapatnam International Airport.

The e-Tourist Visa facilitates arrival of tourists from 147 countries at 16 airports in India —Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchi and Varanasi.

The facility, now extended to the Visakhapatnam airport, will facilitate foreign tourists to fly into Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh. The Vizag airport will become the first in A.P. to get the facility.

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IndiGo expands international operations with Colombo as its 49th destination I ndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing airline is proud to announce Colombo as its 8th international and 49th overall destination on its 6E network. The new schedule will see non-stop connections between Colombo to Chennai and Bengaluru, effective January 20, 2018. Booking has been on open with attractive starting fare of INR 3599 (ex-Chennai) and INR 5999 (ex-Bengaluru).

With this addition, both corporate and leisure passengers travelling to and from Colombo will get the opportunity to experience the on-time, affordable and a hassle-free travel experience that IndiGo is synonymous with. These new flights will further consolidate IndiGo’s position as the fastest

growing airline in India with 149 Airbus A320 and three ATR aircraft strong fleet, operating over 1000 daily flights, connecting 49 destinations w.e.f January 20, 2018.

Speaking on the launch, Aditya Ghosh, President and Whole Time Director, IndiGo said, “As one of the most sought after destinations in South Asia, Colombo draws visitors from across the globe for its fine blend of tradition and culture. It gives us immense pleasure to add Colombo as our 49th destination and cater to the needs of both business as well as leisure travellers. We aspire to continue providing affordable and hassle-free travel experience to our passengers within and beyond India.”

SIA, SilkAir to codeshare on Scoot flights

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ingapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir have entered into a new code-share agreement with the group’s low-cost subsidiary Scoot.

With this development, customers can enjoy the choice and convenience of flying to more than 130 destinations across the SIA Group network. The code-share flights are subject to regulatory approvals.

Under the agreement, SIA will progressively add its ‘SQ’ designator code while SilkAir will add its ‘MI’ code to Scootoperated flights between Singapore and more than 30 destinations served only by Scoot within the SIA Group. The codeshare arrangements will begin with Scoot flights serving Athens, Clark, Gold Coast, Hat Yai, Ipoh, Krabi, Kuching and Palembang. The new agreement will enable SIA and SilkAir customers to travel on

single-ticket itineraries to these codeshare destinations, which means that their boarding passes and baggage tags will be issued up to their final destination at the first point of check-in.

In addition to through checkin service, SIA and SilkAir customers will be offered Scoot’s FlyBagEat privileges which include checked baggage allowance, complimentary meal and beverage

as well as blanket for flights above four hours. SIA and SilkAir customers will also be offered the flexibility to select seats on Scoot flights online through the SIA and SilkAir websites when booking their tickets, for a fee, in accordance with Scoot’s terms and conditions.

Tickets will be progressively made available through the various booking channels.

UPDATE

TravelScapes

AVIATION

SpiceJet rated India’s favourite low-cost airline N igel Duncan, CEO of pioneering aircraft cabin lighting specialists, STG Aerospace, joined Arun Kashyap, Executive Vice President (Engineering) of Indian lowcost carrier, SpiceJet, to collect the Inflight Asia-Pacific Award in the Interior Retrofit Project category.

This award is designed to recognise the most exceptional supplier-airline collaboration in the field of cabin interiors on aircraft serving the Asia-Pacific region.

Focused on delivering an enhanced flying

experience, SpiceJet partnered with STG Aerospace to retrofit its fluorescent lighting systems on the airline’s fleet of 737-700, -800 and -900 aircraft with the STG Aerospace LED aftermarket lighting system, liTeMood.

“We’re delighted to add this prestigious accolade to our growing list of awards and very proud to be rated as India’s favourite, affordable airline. Thanks to our recent partnership with STG Aerospace we can now deliver a premium flying experience to everyone on-board,” said Arun Kashyap, Executive Vice President (Engineering).

Duncan commented, “We’re proud of our long-standing relationship with SpiceJet and equally delighted to have won this award with them. The contract is our first major retrofit win for liTeMood® in the Asia-Pacific region and, as an existing saf-Tglo® customer, SpiceJet have enabled us to demonstrate our total cabin lighting solution in this hugely important market.”

Air passenger traffic registers all round growth: ICRA T he air passenger traffic in the country stood at 24.0 million in September 2017, exhibiting a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 15 per cent over September 2016. According to an ICRA note, the Y-O-Y growth rate for aircraft traffic was 14 per cent in September 2017, while it was 19 per cent for cargo traffic.

Commenting on the development, Harsh Jagnani, Vice President and Sector Head for Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited, said, “The Y-O-Y air passenger growth has remained robust at 15 per cent in September 2017, witnessing a slight increase from 14 per cent Y-O-Y growth reported in August 2017.

The growth has been driven primarily by

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increase in domestic passenger traffic, which constitutes around 79 per cent of the total passenger traffic in the country and reported a 16.3 per cent Y-O-Y growth in September 2017 as against 15.8 per cent growth in August 2017. Overall, for Q2 FY2018, the YoY passenger traffic growth has remained robust at 14 per cent, which augurs well for the industry given that July-September is traditionally considered to be a lean period.”

In line with the growth in passenger traffic, the aircraft traffic has also witnessed healthy increase, reporting Y-O-Y growth of 14 per cent for September 2017 and 13 per cent for Q2FY2018.

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AAI signs MoU with Government of Haryana

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AI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Haryana for development of civil aviation infrastructure in the state especially for the creation of a world class international aviation hub in Hisar.

The MoU was jointly signed by Ashok Sangwan, Advisor Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Department (DCA), Government of Haryana and Anil Gupta, General Manager (Business Development) AAI in presence of other officials on December 11, 2017.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Sangwan appreciated the role of AAI in creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure and airspace in the country. Anil Gupta, GM (Business Development) AAI, reiterated AAI’s commitment in assisting Govt. of Haryana for creating and developing world class civil aviation infrastructure in the state.

Air India commences Bhubaneswar-Bangkok direct flight

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ir India operated its inaugural flight linking Bhubaneswar and Bangkok from the Biju Patnaik International Airport on December 10, 2017.

Flagging off the first flight to Bangkok, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said it would further strengthen the State’s ties with Southeast Asian countries. Patnaik said that this service will boost trade and tourism by attracting more international visitors to the Buddhist tourism centres in Bhubaneswar.

Flight A1338, which will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, will depart at 3.45 pm and reach Suvarnabhumi International Airport at Bangkok at 8.15 p.m. Similarly, flight A1339 will depart Bangkok at 5.40 a.m. and reach Bhubaneswar at 7 a.m. It will leave for Bengaluru as A1739 at 8.45 a.m. and reach the Garden City at 11 a.m.

From Bengaluru, the flight A1738 will depart at 11.40 p.m. and reach Bhubaneswar at 1.50 p.m. before flying to Bangkok as A1338. This is second direct international air connectivity for Odisha after Air Asia linked Bhubaneswar with Kuala Lumpur.

UPDATE

TravelScapes

AVIATION

Some travel is the best-kept secret Ez Charters cuts the hassle of business and leisure travel There’s no queuing or waiting for baggage, no juggling flight times with your schedule and by flying between local airports and of course, fewer tedious connections. Well, charter an entire plane and decide where and when to fly. Launched on October 12, 2017, Ez Charters has actually made the air chartering much easier than you might think

By Gagneet Kaur & Ankita Jain

E

z Charters is a new venture promoted by Air One Aviation Group. During the last ten years of its journey, the Group has been involved in several diversified aviation activities.

The Group was dealing with anything and everything a charter requires and this led to the existence of Ez Charters.

“It aims to pioneer many new Air Charter travel concepts in all threekey charter travel needs of Business, Leisure and Emergency with an aim of ‘Luxury made Simple’. It deals in aircraft right from five to 300 seats. To give a glimpse of the charter services to the commoners as well, we are giving it at a throwaway price of 1, 25,000 plus taxes,” asserts Ajay Wadhawan, Executive Director- Commercial, Ezee Charters Pvt. Ltd. Opting to spread the word, the brand is leaving no stones unturned.

Going through B2B, it is approaching every travel agent whether inbound

tour operators, Travel Management Company, MICE operators, wedding planners and more. “We are approaching them with a different concept altogether. We are trying to educate them, rather than consulting over how to grow the size of the market. Overall, we want to convince them that charter is like selling any other air tickets,” Wadhawan explains.

Simplifying the charter service in a layman language, he sums up an example. “When it comes to Hyderabad or Bengaluru, people generally travel to its respective national or international airport which is indeed two or more hours away from the city. This results in scheduling meetings in nearby hotels.

Hence causing inconvenience to the attendees of the meeting. Cutting short the time period, adding flexibility and convenience factor to the list, charter services provide an additional woo.

Because when it comes to air charter,

Ajay Wadhawan

it hardly takes 8 to 12 minutes for a passenger to reach the airport and be on board.”

Ez Charters aims at pampering its clients to the most with its packages like ‘Celebrate@25,000 ft at 1,25,000 plus taxes’, ‘Propose in the Air’, ‘Gift a Charter to your parents’ and many more. Besides, it also has a frequent flyer programme. “We are giving away free flights to our frequent flyers under

Indian carriers to induct over 900 planes in coming years A s per the recent report, Indian airlines are likely to induct more than 900 aircraft in the coming years, with IndiGo alone expected to add 448 planes, according to official data. India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world and most airlines have ambitious expansion plans, especially to tap the potential on regional routes. As per the data available with the civil aviation ministry, budget airlines IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and AirAsia are set to significantly expand their respective fleet sizes. Along with other carriers, the total number of aircraft to be inducted by the domestic players would be more than 900. With an existing fleet of 150 planes, IndiGo is readying to add another 448 aircraft; 399 A320s and 49 ATRs, in the next seven to eight years.

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Competitor SpiceJet too, is in the process of expanding its current fleet of 57 aircraft. The no-frills airline would be adding 107 B737-800s and 50 Bombardier Q400s during the 2018-2023 period. Another budget carrier GoAir, which is yet to take off on overseas routes, would induct 119 A320 planes during the period from 2018-2022. At present, its fleet size is 34. According to the data, which was recently submitted to Parliament as part of a Lok Sabha written reply, AirAsia India would induct 60 planes

JANUARY 2018

in the next five years. Currently, the budget carrier has 14 aircraft. Legacy carrier Jet Airways – which has 107 aircraft – would take 81 B737-8 MAX planes during 2018-2024 period. It would also add five B737- 800s this fiscal ending March 2018, as per the data. Air India would induct three B777- 300ER and 16 A320 planes between December this year and March 2019. The national carrier has 155 aircraft at present. Among others, full service carrier Vistara would induct five aircraft next year that would expand its current fleet of 17 planes. TruJet, which now has four planes, would add six aircraft each year from 2018-2022. These would be ATR72-500/600, the ministry data showed. After starting services this year, Zoom Air has placed orders for five CRJ- 200 and 14 CRJ-900 planes.

corporate frequent flyer package. At the same time, we are already on the verge of completing our detailed programme which will be launched by early 2018,” he avers.

Earlier, for instance, if anybody wanted to hire a charter plane in India, then the one had to get in touch with operators who function from Mumbai or Delhi. The empty aircraft would come to pick you and drop you at your destination. Wadhawan further summarises the state of charter services in India with a pinch of history on Indian charters. “It has not been that great off-late with the simple reason that fuel prices though are very consistent but at the same time, there has been a little increase in the fuel price. Also, there have been a few scheduled air operators who have actually not been into existence. And most importantly, India has yet to develop itself to grow into full-fledged size.”

Star Alliance, Air China, BCIA agree joint cooperation

A

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) meeting in Beijing. Star Alliance, member carrier Air China and Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) have agreed to closely cooperate to further establish Beijing Capital International Airport as a leading hub and transfer airport as well as to significantly enhance the future customer experience.“This agreement now sets the foundation to provide a superior customer experience and achieve future growth at the Beijing hub,” said Christian Draeger, VP- Customer Experience, Star Alliance.

ON THE MOVE

SUNJAE SHARMA

TravelScapes

PREETHAM KIRON

SHARAD DATTA

PROMOTED AT: Hyatt hotels TO: Vice President of Operations for India

PROMOTED AT: dnata Travel India TO: Managing Director

PROMOTED AT: The Westin Mumbai TO: General Manager

Hyatt hotels in India announced the appointment of Sunjae Sharma as Vice President of Operations for India. A seasoned hospitality professional, Sharma will lead Hyatt’s India operations and will be responsible for executing the company’s operational and growth strategy in his new role.

dnata Travel India has appointed Preetham Kiron as Managing Director, based at the company’s headquarters in Delhi. Kiron will join the company early in 2018 from his current role as General Manager of Dunya Travel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which is a dnata joint venture business.

Sharad Datta has been appointed as General Manager of The Westin Mumbai Garden City. Sharad brings over two decades of rich experience in Hotel Management with brands like Marriott International, Hyatt International and Oberoi Hotels & Resorts. He commenced his career with F&B operations before his first assignment as General Manager with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts.

MANU VASHISHTH

PUNEET SINGH

PROMOTED AT: Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Kota TO: General Manager Manu Vashishth has been appointed as the General Manager of Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Kota, India. He was most recently, General Manager at Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Jammu. Vashishth brings with him over 16 years of hospitality experience. He previously worked at with Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Bhiwadi.

ROSHAN RAJPAL

PROMOTED AT: Grand Hyatt Mumbai TO: General Manager

PROMOTED AT: Renaissance Mumbai TO: Hotel Manager

Puneet Singh has joined Grand Hyatt Mumbai as General Manager. With over 25 years of experience across International Luxury Hotels spanning four continents and 10 countries including China, Germany, Turkey, Russia, Tanzania, UAE and Egypt, to name a few, Puneet is a veteran hotelier known to be the game changer in each of his distinct assignments.

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel & Lakeside Chalet- Marriott Executive Apartments has announced the appointment of Amit Sachdeva as the Hotel Manager for both the hotels. In this designation, Sachdeva will be responsible for leading the overall operations and management of both the hotels.

ROHIT JHINGAN

SHAKTI SINGH GOHIL

PROMOTED AT: Grand Hyatt Mumbai TO: Hotel Manager

PROMOTED AT: The Pllazio Hotel TO: Director of Sales & Marketing

Roshan Rajpal has joined Grand Hyatt Mumbai as Hotel Manager. Roshan, a graduate in Humanities has over 20 years of experience across global hospitality brands like Crowne Plaza, Carlson Rezidor and Accor in various challenging roles and responsibilities. Her last assignment was as Hotel Manager at Ibis Bengaluru before joining Grand Hyatt Mumbai.

The Pllazio Hotel, Gurgaon has announced the appointment of Rohit Jhingan as Director of Sales & Marketing. Jhingan will be responsible for managing the hotel’s sales and marketing and directly reporting to Varinder Sahni, MD, The Pllazio Hotel, Gurgaon. Jhingan comes with a strong experience in the hospitality industry spanning over 13 years.

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JANUARY 2018

AMIT SACHDEVA

PROMOTED AT: Courtyard Marriott, Ahmedabad TO: Manager, Food and Beverage Shakti Singh Gohil has joined Courtyard Marriott, Ahmedabad as the Manager, Food and Beverage. He brings with him over 13 years of experience in some of the top hospitality properties of the country. In his latest stint, he will be in-charge of managing all F&B outlets within the budget ambit with stellar assurance of internal and external customer service.

RNI No. - DELENG/2013/48401 • Licence No. : F.2(T-3) 2013 • Posting Dt. 9-10/01/2018 Place of Posting: NIEHOND 110028 • Reg. No. - DL(W)10/2208/2016-2018 • Date of publication 3-4/01/2018

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