TOURISM INDIA OCTOBER 2019

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October 2019, Vol 22, No. 06

CHAMPIONS BOAT LEAGUE ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES PEARL JUBILEE OF KITTS

TOURISM MINISTERS CONCLAVE WORLD TOURISM FORUM LUCERNE Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh Best Maintained & Accessible Travel Friendly Monument in India

NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS

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October 2019 Tourism India

Editor’s Note

Need for Sustainable Tourism

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ourism has a major role to play in the economies of developing countries since it is the fastest growing industry worldwide. It is evident that growth of tourism brings with it rapid economic, environmental and social benefits. The industry creates employment, which brings regional development, and boosts knowledge of different cultures cultivating tolerance. Most governments are aware of this trend and are competing with each other to garner a larger percentage of tourist traffic, which moves on continuous geographical spread with diversification of products.

The Tourism Industry in India is experiencing a boom in the number of tourists and this trend is predicted to grow as a result of the improvement of infrastructure, transportation facilities and connectivity on the one hand, and marketing and promotion campaigns by the Government and the industry players on the other as tourism is promoted as a ‘development paradigm’ and a major engine for growth.

More often than not, developmental debate is broadly categorised under economic, environmental and socio-cultural dimensions. Even as there is an array of advantages, there are several concerns about the adverse impacts of tourism, which depends heavily on natural and human resources and its in-roads into protected areas and untouched zones have often been at high costs.

The development of Tourism as a market-driven model is often detrimental to the lives of local communities, and common resources are often held for the exclusive use of the industry leading to unregulated growth in the sector.

Such short term priorities result in unacceptable impacts on the environment and society leading to questions about the map of real beneficiaries. Here arises the need to a more sensitive form of tourism that would minimise costs and maximise benefits.

It is in this context that the importance of sustainable development, defined by Brundtland Report of the World

Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987, becomes relevant. Sustainable development is applied to all forms of Tourism that maintain the social, cultural and economic harmony on a long term basis. The report sees Sustainable Tourism development as the ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.

Information collection and dissemination hold the key to adopting informed decisions, and the integral part of good governance practices are accountability and participation in decision-making spaces. Information regarding new projects, plans, policies, procedures, legislations and agreements must be disseminated by the tourism industry and government to local stakeholders. Information about positive and negative impacts of tourism could be researched and monitored collectively but must be disseminated to the relevant decision-making bodies at the local, regional, national and international level.

Pre-requisite of sustainable tourism is a model where the main beneficiaries are the local community. For minimising negative economic impacts, hotels and tourism related services should be encouraged to strengthen the local economy.

While ensuring minimum waste generation, environmental management systems need to be put in place to monitor natural resource utilisation; and evaluation activities should be considered to achieve sustainability in Tourism.

The original form of dances, music, rituals and ceremonies often lose authenticity and become commodities as part of Tourism development to accommodate tourist demands.

This leads to clash of culture between local communities and tourists. When local communities respect and protect their social and cultural values, others too learn to respect it. Involving all stakeholders of Tourism who have a role to play in implementing sustainable tourism projects is the only way forward.

Rajani A Editor October 2019 Tourism India

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Contents

Cover: East Gateway of Sanchi Stupa Photo by : Biswarup Ganguly /Wikipedia

Octobeber 2019

VOL 22 NO. 06 MANAGING EDITOR Ravisankar K V EDITOR Rajani A CONSULTING EDITOR Bimal Shivaji EXECUTIVE EDITOR Raadia Mukadam RESIDENT EDITOR- NEW DELHI Anil D Menon ASSOCIATE EDITOR G. Ajithkumar ART EDITOR N Bhattathiri LAYOUT DESIGNER Vijayagopalan ONLINE EXECUTIVE Arshad Sulaiman PHOTOGRAPHERS Vivek R. Nair, Murukesh Iyer

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PONDICHERY Ramasubramanian +91 9894977161 EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD SEKT 52, TOURISM HOUSE, THAMARAKULAM LANE SASTHAMANGALAM P.O., TRIVANDRUM KERALA, INDIA 695010 TEL: +91 471 2315256 MOB: 9947160531 CONTACT US Editorial Enquiries editor@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9847060531 Advertisement Enquiries marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9745598126 Circulation & Subscription Enquiries circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9947160531 Online Edition www.tourismindia.org www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital Edition: https://issue.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD. All rights reserved Copyright @2019 Printed and Published by Ravisankar K V on behalf of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD, SEKT 52, Tourism House, Thamarakulam Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695010 at Orange Offset Printers Pvt. Ltd. Gandhari Ammankovil Road, Statue, Trivandrum- 695001 for Aarsha Offset Graphix, Mettukkada, Thycaud.P.O., Trivandrum- 695014 Editor: Rajani A

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October 2019 Tourism India

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AP, MP & Kerala shines at National Tourism Awards

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Tourism ministers discuss issues facing tourism industry

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Incredible India, Sahapedia and Kerala Receives PATA Gold Awards

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Kerala launches Champions Boat League

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Suman Billa & Amaresh Tiwari will lead ICPB

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India needs ‘innovative approach to tourism’

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GITM 2019 all set to showcase Tourism potential of GOA

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Kerala among Airbnb’s 20 trending destinations for 2020

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Ensure safety, security of tourists, says Kerala Governor

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Bureaucrats, industry players trace Kerala Tourism’s remarkable journey

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Guests Expect experiential approach

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The Goat Village get into finalists WTM World RT Award 2019

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Green Peopole & Goat Village

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TN has hospitals, experts comparable to the best globally

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Diwali Hampers that Don’t Hamper Nature

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Culinary journey from Bengal to Bengaluru @ The Chancery

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Indore Marriott Hotel celebrates Sonar Bangla

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Indore Marriott Hotel celebrates Sonar Bangla

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Chaliyar River Paddle 2019 focuses on plastic menace

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“Ethiopian Airlines is a significant player in connecting India to Africa and beyond”

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Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Continues to Woo India, Its Largest Source Market for MICE and FIT with 3 City Road-Show

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V.R. Costa Brava hosts the Mumbai travel trade industry October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / AWARDS

AP, MP & Kerala shine at National Tourism Awards MP Tourism Bagged ten and Kerala Tourism conferred with seven awards

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Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India handing over the National Tourism Award for ‘Best State for comprehensive development of tourism’ in India to Mr. Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, Minister for Tourism, AP and Mr. Pravin Kumar, CEO of A.P. Tourism Authority

ndhra Pradesh bagged the top honour at the National Tourism Awards 2017-18 for the Best State award for overall growth in tourism category while Goa and Madhya Pradesh were the joint winners in the Adventure Tourism category and Uttarakhand won the award for the Best Film Promotion-Friendly State. Goa has also won the second prize for Best State/Union Territory: Comprehensive Development of Tourism.

Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh has honoured with Hall of Fame Award to Best State for Comprehensive Development of Tourism while Swachhta Award goes

The highly-acclaimed awards are a robust validation of the innovative measures and campaigns launched by Kerala Tourism, and it would help to energise tourism business in the state in a big way. It will spur us to devise innovative measures to further boost tourism potential of the state- Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt of Kerala.

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October 2019 Tourism India

Cholan Tours, ITC and Lalit Hotels once again on cloud 9

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bercrombie & Kent India is the first prize award winner in the Category 1 - Foreign Exchange Earnings of Rs. 100 crore and above for Travel agents and inbound tour operators while Trail Blazer Tours India Pvt.Ltd.has bagged second prize. In Category 2 - Foreign Exchange Earnings of Rs. 50 crore and above but less than Rs.100 crore has bagged by Trans India Holidays Pvt. Ltd. (first prize) and Creative Travels Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi (second prize) in the Category 3 - Foreign Exchange Earnings of Rs. 25 crore and above but less than Rs. 50 crore award goes to Indian Legends Holidays Pvt. Ltd.(first prize) and Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd. (second prize).

Category 4 - Foreign Exchange Earnings of Rs.10 crore and above but less than Rs. 25 crore award winners are Catai IndiaPvt. Ltd.(first prize) and India Voyage Travel Pundits (second prize) while International Pilgrimage Revolution Kochi and Special Holidays Travel Pvt.Ltd. bagged first and second prize in the Category 5 - Foreign Exchange Earnings of Rs. 5 crore and above but less than Rs.10 crore Neptune Holidays Pvt. Ltd marked its place in the category of domestic tour operators for Promoting and selling tourism products of the North East Region including Sikkim – with turnover of over Rs. 50 lakh and VCH Corporation Pvt. Ltd. received the recognisation for Promoting and selling tourism products of Jammu & Kashmir.

KTC (India) Pvt. Ltd. and Parveen Travels Pvt. Ltd. Chennai were the winners in Tourist Transport operators Category 1 - Turnover of Rs.50 crore and above, while Cholan Tours Pvt. Ltd. Trichy headed by Mr. Pandian Kumaravel has continous their winning streak in Category 2 - Turnover of Rs.10 crore and above but less than Rs.50 crore with first prize.

Kalypso Adventures Pvt. Ltd. is the top award winner in Best Adventure TourOperator - Inbound and Clubside Tours and Travels is the Best Adventure Tour Operator - Domestic.

Alpcord Network Travel and Conference Management Company once again won the award for Best MICE Operator.

In the hotel segment award ITC Hotels once again proved their mettle in the Best Eco Friendly Hotels for its properties, ITC Maurya, New Delhi and ITC Rajputana, Jaipur as joint winners.

The Lalit, New Delhi was conferred with the Hall of Fame Award in the cateogory of Hotel providing best facilities for the differently abled guests while another another Lalit property, The Lalit, Mumbai has been selected as the joint winner along with ITDC Ashok New Delhi in the category of Best Hotel Based Meeting Venue.

Express Inn, Nashik, Quality Hotel D V Manor, Vijayawada, Maidens Hotel, New Delhi and Rambagh Palace, Jaipur are the winners in the best 3 Star, 4 Star, 5 star and 5 star deluxe awards respectively.

In the niche tourism products award category, Planet Abled Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, founded by Ms. Neha Arora along with Andaman Holidays Pvt. Ltd. for their ‘Sail the Andamans’- Andaman Yacht Carnival won the award for Accessible Travel Solutions for the Differently Abled .

Dhordo Gram Pravasan Vikas Trust, Gujarat is the Most Responsible Tourism Project/Initiative and Culture Aangan, Burransh, Mumbai is the Best Rural/ Agri/ Plantation Tourism Project in the country for 2017-18.

Manaltheeram Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., Trivandrum, Kerala part of last year’s winner Somatheeram Ayurveda group won Best Wellness Centre while Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, bagged Best Medical Tourism Facility award.

In the category of tourism infrstauructure Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai was adjudged as the Best Tourist Friendly Airport Class X Cities and Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Indore for rest of India category while Visakhapatnam Railway Station won for Best Tourist Friendly Railway Station.

The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla has adjudged as joint winner for the Heritage Grand Category award along with Clarkes Hotel Shimla and Mr. RajdeepKapoor, Executive Chef, ITC Hotels is the Best Chef (In 4 star, 5 star, 5 star Deluxe, Heritage Classic & Grand category Hotels).

to Government of Telangana for their commendable work to convert the destinations to clean and green.

Telangana snatched the coveted

award for Best State for the innovative use of information technology from Kerala, the winner for several years in the past.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board

being one of the most active and creative Tourism Board in the country awarded with 10 National Awards in different categories viz.

Best Adventure State, Excellence October 2019 Tourism India

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Goa and Madhya Pradesh were the joint winners in the Adventure Tourism category and Uttarakhand won the award for the Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala and Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism receiving the awards from Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture, Govt. of India, New Delhi and Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) at New Delhi.

Mr. Satpal Maharaj, Minister for Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand receiving the national Tourism award for Best Film Promotion-Friendly State Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India

Mr. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Secretary, Tourism & Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board Uttarakhand receiving the Hall of Fame award from Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India 12

October 2019 Tourism India

Best Film Promotion-Friendly State. in Publishing in Foreign Language– Chinese Brochure, Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Material – Lonely Planet Pocket Guides, Best Maintained & Differently Abled Friendly Monument for Buddhist Monument at Sanchi, Best Wildlife Guide - Mr. Manoj Kumar, Panna, Best Heritage City - Orchha, Best Airport – Indore, Swachhta Award, Indore, Best Tourist Transport Operator - Radient Travel.

Kerala Tourism has won two Awards for the Best Tourism Film ‘Come Out and Play’ and the third prize in the category of ‘Best State/ UT: Comprehensive Development of Tourism - Rest of India’ apart from the five awards for Kerala’s private players, International Pilgrimage Revolution Pvt. Ltd. received the first prize for ‘Best Inbound Tour Operator/Travel Agent (Category V) while Kalypso Adventures Pvt. Ltd. won the award for Best Adventure Tour Operators (Inbound). Rose Gardens Homestay, Karadippara (Munnar) was given the award for ‘Best Incredible India Bread & Breakfast Establishment while Coconut Creek Farm & Homestay, Kumarakom was the proud recipient of the ‘Best Bread &

Breakfast Establishment. Manaltheeram Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., won the award in the category of ‘Best Wellness Centre’.

A total of 76 Awards under various categories were presented by Vice President Mr. Venkaiah Naidu in the presence of Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture (IC) along with Mr. Zurab Pololikash , Secretary-General , United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Speaking at the awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan here, Naidu said doing business in India has become easier and more tourists are visiting the country. Earlier businesses were caught in red tape. Now tourists get a red carpet welcome in India, he said.

“It’s a great matter of pride for us that Madhya Pradesh Tourism has again received 10 National Awards in different categories, Madhya Pradesh Tourism under the Guidance of Honorable Minister of Tourism Department and Narmada Valley Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh Mr. Surendra Singh Baghel Madhya Pradesh Tourism always tries to excel in every fields related to tourism.

Mr. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai- IAS Secretary, Govt of Madhya Pradesh, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.

Mr. V. Srinivas Goud, Minister for Tourism & Culture, Government of Telangana and Mrs. Sunita M.Bhagwat, IFS, Commissioner of Tourism, Telangana Tourism receiving the national Tourism award for Best State for the innovative use of IT from Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India

Mr. Baby Mathew Somatheeram, CMD & Mrs. Sarah Mathew, Director, Manalatheeram Ayurveda Resort receiving the award for Best Wellness Centre in India

Mr. Pandian Kumaravel, MD & Mrs. Mythili Pandian, Director of Cholan Tours Trichy receiving the National Tourism award Best Tourist Transport operators- Category 2 from Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India

October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / AWARDS

Tourism ministers discuss issues facing tourism industry GST rate for hotel rooms reduced after Tourism Ministers’ Conclave resolution and industry’s continuous efforts

M

r. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala has made a strong pitch for

reduction in GST rates on hotel rooms, elimination of disparity in inter-state taxes on tourism vehi-

cles and introduction of affordable airfares to expedite growth of tourism in the country.

Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala presents a memento to Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture at the state Tourism Ministers’ Conclave 2019 at Kovalam.

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October 2019 Tourism India

Mrs.Rani George IAS, Secretary Tourism and Culture, Kerala; Mr. H. Khehovi Yeputhomi, Advisor in Charge of Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, Nagaland; Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala; Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture, Government of India; Mr. Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Minister for Tourism, Odisha; Mr. C.T. Ravi, Minister for Tourism,Karnataka; Mr. Krishnakumar Rishi, Minister for Tourism, Bihar; Mr. P. Sreeramakrishnan, Speaker, Kerala Assembly;Mr. M. Vijaya Kumar, Chairman, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation; Mr. P Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism at Tourism Ministers Conclave at The Leela Raviz Kovalam

Inaugurating state Tourism Ministers’ Conclave 2019 in the presence of Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture at the Leela Raviz Kovalam Beach Resort, Mr. Vijayan said though tourism in the country has high growth potential, removal of impediments like high tax rates is essential to consolidate India’s position as a prime global destination.

“Tourism industry is faced with some serious challenges. These include high tax rates, lack of sufficient air connectivity and disparity in inter-state taxes. There is also an urgent need to rationalize taxes across all states and establish a mechanism to address the frequent hike in airfares,” he added.

There is an imperative need to

reduce 28 per cent and 18 per cent taxes on hotels levying rent of Rs 7,500 and above, and Rs 2,500 and above, respectively, the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Vijayan also emphasized the need to introduce affordable airfares to cushion stiff international competition and standardization of service parameters to ensure high quality of services in the hospitality sector.

Noting that India with its immense diversity has tremendous tourism potential, he said it is important to have periodic exchange of ideas and interactions among states to address challenges impeding the growth of tourism in the country.

“Development of tourism in any part of the country helps the en-

tire country. Therefore, we need to work together. We need to improve best practices,” the Chief Minister added.

In his address as the Chief Guest, Mr. Patel, however, said while the Centre would extend its support to development of tourism in all states, it is necessary to think about ‘one nation one tax’ regime.

“We should revisit our perception about GST. Tourists come not only to stay in hotels. We have to also think about one nation one tax. There is also the issue of transport tax. All states should evolve a consensus to streamline it,” he observed.

Patting Kerala for taking an initiative like this, Mr. Patel said such a conclave would help in learning and understanding from one another’s October 2019 Tourism India

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Mr. Krishnakumar Rishi, Minister for Tourism, Bihar preseting a memento from Bihar to Mr. Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture, Government of India

in Jammu and Kashmir within six months to deliberate on that state’s tourism scenario.

S t r e s s ing upon the uniqueness of each state, he said the Centre’s approach is that tourism should develop in all parts of the country whether it’s Ladakh, Goa, Kerala or North-East. “I want to emphasise that one particular paradigm can’t be applicable for all the states. The uniqueness of each and every state has to be leveraged to promote tourism,” he added.

Describing e-Visa as a revolutionary step, he said the Centre has

experiences. “The state is known change our perception is greater for its beauty and also for its famed than money,” he added. hospitality. We need to learn it from Mr. Patel said that during a reKerala. I don’t envision Centre and cent meeting of Tourism Ministers states as separate entities. Also, all in New Delhi, he had suggested the stakeholders should sit collec- that such a conclave should be held tively to establish communication, be it a tour operator or a hotel owner or a driver,” he said.

“We must think that we are not in competition with each other; our competition is outside. If we sit together frequently, we will able to learn from each other as tourism is a catalyst for all industries. Mr. H. Khehovi Yeputhomi, Advisor in Charge of Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, Nagaland and Mr. Veyielo Doulo, Deputy The need to Director, Nagaland Tourism wearing a traditional coat to Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala 16

October 2019 Tourism India

Mr. H. Khehovi Yeputhomi, Advisor in Charge of Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, Nagaland with Mr. C.T. Ravi, Minister for Tourism, Karnataka. Mr. Inato K Yeptho (L) and Mr. Veyielo Doulo (R), Deputy Director, Nagaland Tourism are also seen

Mr. Ramdas Khedkar, Director, Maharashtra Tourism and Ms. Deepika KUmarti Sharma, Director, J&K Tourism

Mr. P.C. Cyriac ISS, Addl.D.G(MR), Ministry of Tourism, India and Mr. Ajay Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director, Rajasthan Tourism

taken some steps to streamline it and make it more tourist-friendly.

Noting that this is for the first time a conference like this is organized by a state government, Kerala Tourism Minister Shri Kadakampally Surendran said collective efforts are required to overcome challenges impeding the growth of revenue- and job-generating tourism sector.

“Apart from reducing taxes, improving air connectivity and introducing competitive airfares, creating extensive connective between two-tier and three-tier cities should be seriously taken up,” he added.

The deliberations at the meet focused on three major topics: ‘Best practices in Sustainable Tourism’; ‘Challenges faced by Tourism Industry’; and ‘Branding and Promotion of State Tourism Boards’.

Bihar Tourism Minister Mr. Krishnakumar Rishi; Karnataka Tourism Minister Mr. C.T. Ravi; Mr. H. Khehovi Yeputhomi, Advisor in Charge of Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, Nagaland; and Mr. Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Odisha Tourism Minister, were present in the conclave.

Mr. P. Sreeramakrishnan, Speaker, Kerala Assembly; Mr. M. Vijaya Kumar, Chairman, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation; Mrs. Rani George IAS, Secretary Tourism and Culture; and Mr. P Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Tourism, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, Senior Vice President, Indian Assoaciation of Tour Operators and Mr. Baby Mathw Somatheeram, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society were attended the event, which also saw the presence of office bearers of various industry organisations.

October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / AWARDS

Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala and Mr. P Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism with Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macao Government Tourism Office and Dr. Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, PATA

Incredible India, Sahapedia and Kerala Receive

PATA Gold Awards Awards presented at Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan 18

October 2019 Tourism India

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ahapedia India, an open online multimedia knowledge resource on the arts, cultures and histories of India has won the 2019 PATA Grand Award for Heritage and Culture Award for its ‘India Heritage Walks’ while Ministry of Government of India, Kerala Tourism department and Cox & Kings India has bagged PATA Gold awards in Marketing categories.

Kerala Tourism was bestowed three Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards, including the one for an ethnic food restaurant run by women at Kumarakom under its Responsible Tourism Mission, at a glittering function at Nur-Sultan (Astana) in Kazakhstan on September 19.

The awards were received by Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism and Mr. P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Tourism, from Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macau Government Tourism office, and Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, during the PATA Travel Mart 2019.

The two other gold awards were for an advertisement campaign of Kerala Tourism — Come Out and Play — and for its website (www.keralatourism.org), respectively.

While the advertisement campaign was run by the Stark Communication, the Kerala Tourism website has been designed and maintained by Invis Multimedia.

“It is a big honour for Kerala Tourism and also a strong validation of the state’s image as an alluring tourist destination. I am sure these awards will give a huge traction in showcasing the touristy charms of the state to a wider international audience,” Mr. Surendran said.

“I am particularly happy for receiving the gold award for the women-run ethnic food restaurant at Kumarakom under the Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM), which has become the mainstay of our tourism policy and initiatives.

Out of the 15,500 RTM initiatives, 13,500 units are led by women,” the minister added.

Mr. Bala Kiran said that over the years PATA awards have emerged as a prestigious recognition of achievements in the travel and tourism sector. “Kerala Tourism has won the highest number of PATA awards in South Asia this year.

India Tourism has won one award. The three gold awards are yet another acknowledgement of our commendable success. It will give a fillip to the destination pull of Kerala and elevate the state into a coveted destination for the inbound tourism market,” he said.

Mr. Saminda Perera, Senior Manager Marketing , Ms. Dimuthu Ranasinghe, Creative Manager and Mr. Gayan Peiris Manager Corporate Events and Promotions of SriLankan Airlines with PATA Gold award

October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / AWARDS

Kerala launches Champions Boat League

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Event to culminate in President’s Trophy Finals at Kollam

he Champions Boat League was inaugurated by Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, in Alleppey on August 31 in the presence of Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, cricket legend.

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October 2019 Tourism India

Addressing the crowd of enthusiasts at Punnamada Kayal, Mr. Tendulkar said, Kerala and its people showed rare resilience, especially after back to back disasters in the form of floods and landslides.

“To overcome the past challenges would not have been possible without the spirit and resilience of Keralites. My prayers and thoughts go out to all the families who lost their near and dear ones. I would also like to applaud the organisers for putting up such an event in a span of just 20 days,” the master blaster said.

Mr. Tendulkar also stressed that while Cricket involved up to 16 people in a team, a snake boat race involves over 100 people. “That requires tremendous understanding between the members and the skills of coordination from the captain,” he said.

Mr. Vijayan said that the boat league reinforces the spirit of unity among the people. “True, you compete with each other with your boats. But at the end of the day, it is all about the harmonious ties between human beings,” he said.

The CBL got off to a start with the prestigious Nehru Trophy boat race.

The race, which formally began in the early 1950s, was named after India’s

first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru after he witnessed the race once during his visit to Alleppey. The rolling trophy given to the winners of the race each year was donated by Nehru himself.

Snake boats or “chundam vallam” are essentially long canoes that can seat 100-160 rowers and can have a length between 100 and 138 feet.

While the front portion of the boat tapers with a pointy end, the rear end can rise up to a height of 20 feet — the entire wooden structure resembling a snake with its raised hood, giving its famous name. The rhythmic swaying of the male rowers as they paddle in impeccable unison, the thrusting of the oars hard into the water accompanied by traditional ‘vanchipattu’ or boat songs – all of which collectively define snake boat races in Kerala are a delight to watch. The races, that traditionally take place close to the harvest festival of Onam, attract a lot of tourists who make their way to the state.

The CBL is expected to help Kerala revive its snake boat clubs that face acute financial crunch as well as attract more tourists during the four month offseason beginning with the monsoon in June.

Touted as a game-changing initiative, the CBL (www.championsboatleague.in) is meant to professionalise Kerala’s largely scattered snake-boat races. “The boat league commercialises them in a positive way. For, the conventional spirit is kept intact,” Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister

for Tourism, said.

According to Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Tourism, “The Champions’ Boat League has been conceptualised with a vision to transform our traditional boat races into a world-class sporting event. CBL aims to bring in long-term benefits to the athletes and boat clubs and usher in a new era in the sport. The

In what’s widely perceived as a path-breaking move by the tourism industry in the state, Kerala Tourism has launched the Champions Boat League as its latest offering for the discerning global tourist. CBL would surely find the pride of place in the world tourism map and draw the attention of the sport enthusiast from all corners of the world.

The move would elevate the traditional snake-boat races, boat clubs and professional oarsmen to world-class levels.

introduction of the league will add a new facet to our tourism offering and further strengthen the brand perception of Kerala as a land of diverse and authentic experiences.”

The CBL, whose Rs 5.9-crore prize money makes it the fourth highest in all sports in India, will mark a paradigm shift in the state’s age-old culture of boat races, the Minister said.

While the first three winners of each CBL match will get Rs.5 lakh, Rs.3 lakh and Rs.1 lakh respectively, all participants are entitled to a bonus prize of Rs.4 lakh for each race.

“It is not just about the prizes or the cash. Our streamlining the regional boat races by making them part of a series that attracts worldwide attention will enrich the traditional event in tune with the times.

It is anyway meant to benefit local communities, given its focus on social aspects,” Mr. Surendran said.

The races, being held from 2 pm to 5 pm, was being broadcast live.

Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Asianet Worldwide, Asianet Plus, Hotstar, ETV Andhra Pradesh and ETV Telangana will beam the event for an hour from 4 pm.

According to Mr. P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Tourism, “Champions’Boat League is designed to elevate the legacy of our traditional backwater boat races. Visitors can experience the vigour and glory of the backwaters from a whole new perspective this year.”

October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS

SUMAN BILLA & AMARESH TIWARI WILL LEAD ICPB

I Mr. Suman Billa IAS

Mr. Amaresh Tiwari 22

October 2019 Tourism India

ndia Convention Promotion Bureau ( ICPB), has been elected its Board members and governing body for the year 20192021 with Mr Suman Billa IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as the Chairman and Mr Amaresh Tiwari, Director, A T & Seasons Vacations Travel New Delhi as the Vice-Chairman. Mr Girish Kwatra, Chief Executive Officer of Meetings & More is the new Hony. Secretary while Mr Anuj Wadhwa, CEO, Plan It! Meeting and Conferences India elected as the new Hony. Treasurer.

Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the ICPB which was held in New Delhi has also elected the Governing body for the next two years includes, Mr. Riyaz UC, MD Spiceland Holidays Kochi, Mr. Mausam Bhattacharya, Director of Sales and Marketing, Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, Mr. Sudeep Sarkar, CEO, India Exposition Mart, Mr. Abinash Manghani, Area Manager & Head Travel Industry Sales, ITC Hotels, Mr. Shampa Dhali, Area Director, National Sales India, Marriot International, Mr. Madan Kak, CEO, Minar Travels, Mr. Amit Saroj, Director, Attitude Events, Mr. Lalitha Rai, Partner, ‎Marundeshwara Enterprises, Mr. Neeraj Dhawan, Director, Falcon Exhibitions, Mr. Ripudaman Singh Chauhan, GM, Translink Express India and Mr. Avinash Browne, Director, Sun Business Machines.

Mr Chander Mansharamani, Alpcord Network Travel & Conference Management was the outgoing Vice Chairman and Girish Kwatra serving as the Hon. Treasurer.

ICPB is the only travel industry body with participation from the entire MICE industry, with members from state governments, hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, professional conference organisers, event managers, educational institutions and more.

INTERNATIONAL CHEFS DAY OCTOBER 20TH

T

he chefs around the globe has committed to celebrate their noble profession on October 20th as International Chefs Day. Since 2004 . as the creator of INTERNATIONAL CHEFS DAY, esteemed chef Dr. Bill Galla-

gher remembers the world chefs about their duty to pass on the knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation of chefs with a sense of pride and commitment to the future.

This year’s campaign theme is How

Healthy Food Works. Over the past years, Worldchefs has partnered with NestlĂŠ Professional to teach kids around the globe about the importance of healthy eating by hosting fun-filled workshops worldwide.

October 2019 Tourism India

23

GLOBAL TRENDS

India needs ‘innovative approach to tourism’ Interview with Reto Wittwer, Chairman World Tourism Forum Lucerne and Aradhana Khowala, Board Member of World Tourism Forum Lucerne.

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global hotelier with 40+ years’ experience, Reto Wittwer is a pre-eminent leader in the hospitality industry. Before founding Smart Hospitality Solutions, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kempinski hotel group, for 20 years between 1995 and 2014.

Wittwer previously held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Ciga S.p.A. between 1992 and 1995. Earlier, he was with Swissôtel for five years during when he was promoted to Senior VP Operations and then appointed President & CEO. Reto Wittwer is a Swiss national and a graduate of Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne. He is also Chairman of the Board of World Tourism Forum Lucerne, a highly focused strategic body that brings together selected leaders around the world to reflect on the big challenges facing the industry.

Aradhana Khowala is globally identified as an authority on the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and has two decades of experience across more than 70 countries in four continents. She is currently CEO and Founder of Aptamind Partners and previously was the CEO of Tourism 24

October 2019 Tourism India

Sector at NEOM in Saudi Arabia. She also serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Red Sea Project and a Board Member of World Tourism Forum Lucerne. A British national of Indian origin, Aradhana has won multiple awards including the 21st Century Icon Awards in 2017 in association with CNBC and London School of Economics as an Inspirational Game Changer.

As leaders in the world hospitality industry how do you view the growth of the tourism sector in India?

Reto Wittwer: As the Chairman of World Tourism Forum Lucerne in Switzerland as well as former President and CEO of Kempinski Hotels when I have had the privilege of visiting India hundreds of times in the last 30 years, we have closely followed the transformation in the tourism sector in India, especially under the stewardship of Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi where the numbers have changed drastically. A good example is growth in foreign arrivals, which was 9.5% in India last year, more than double that of the global average at 4%. Notwithstanding the

peak increase, the fact is the number of tourist arrivals (both domestic and international) are still a small fraction of what a country like India with its vibrant culture, art and architecture, rich civilisation, beautiful landscapes and above all the incomparable traditional Indian hospitality of “Atithi Devo Bhava” ought to attract.

India’s rapidly growing tourism sector now plays a huge role in the nation’s economy, supporting tens of millions of jobs and generating billions of dollars each year. This, we believe, is just the beginning as in the next 10 years, India is all set to become the third largest tourism economy by 2028 not only adding nearly 10 million jobs in the tourism sector but also capable of hosting all major international events - Olympics, World Expo, FIFA Championships among many others.

However, there are many challenges ahead of us, including the need to improve infrastructure and manage the reputation of being a safe, clean, shining India - to make Swacch Bharat a reality. Promotion of tourism industry should, therefore, be encouraged on a priority basis by

Reto Wittwer the Government of India through an aggressive tourism strategy. India needs an innovative and imaginative approach to tourism and also a blueprint to highlight India’s rich heritage including yoga, ayurveda, the core of Hindu philosophy and spirituality.

This requires an integrated approach and uniform policy implementation.

Aradhana Khowala: As an Indian origin global expert on tourism, I was proud to see India move up six places on World Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, from 40th rank in 2017 to 34th in 2019, as per World Economic Forum report. In fact, among the top 25% of all countries ranked in the WEF report, India witnessed the greatest improvement since 2017. I also know that India has the architecture, natural landscapes, culture, history, heritage and authenticity to be in Top 10 destinations globally. And I am not even talking about the strength of the domestic market which is huge.

The new Central Government policies have been very promising. With

Ladakh having become a Union Territory, we estimate tourist inflow to increase substantially in the region.

What we need now is a focus on tourism related infrastructure and promotions. And what we need to be careful about is sustainable development of tourism in India so that local communities benefit from the opportunities, breaking the cycle of poverty.

India is big on our agenda.

Can you tell us a little more about the World Tourism Forum Lucerne Start-Up Innovation Camp in India?

Reto Wittwer: World Tourism Forum Lucerne is widely recognised as the Davos of the travel, tourism and hospitality sector. World Tourism Forum Lucerne is the leading platform, where investors, CEOs, governments, academia, finance, start-ups and next generation of leaders forge a strong community bond to address future challenges of the industry.

We at World Tourism Forum Lucerne regularly organise international and national Start-Up Innovation Camps to give visibility to the best new business models, foster inspiring StartUps and match them with interested investors. Our StartUp Camp brings together entrepreneurs from around the world for structured, immersive workshops and intensive feedback in multiple locations around the globe, as well as continued access to support and resources via our connectivity platform. The next StartUp Innovation Camp for the Indian subcontinent will take place on December 17 and 18, 2019 in Bangalore.

Aradhana Khowala Aradhana Khowala: For this Camp our two Indian partners are Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) and TATA Trusts, both of whom are enabling massive social impact and positive change in India and the world. Tata Trusts are amongst India’s oldest philanthropic organisations that, since its inception, have played a pioneering role in transforming traditional ideas to make a real difference to communities by driving innovation, furthering social inclusion and affirmative action. Indian Hotels Company Ltd is not just a hotel brand that represents the pride and culture of India. Its benevolent and inclusive way of doing business as well as its embracing of its social and environmental responsibility as a part of the way they do business and using that integration to drive economic value has been a role model for the tourism sector in India. Like our two partners we are hoping to engage even more in India to nurture a self sustaining ecosystem of innovation in India travel and tourism.

October 2019 Tourism India

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Swiss institutes have historically been the last word on hospitality industry and many Indian students have been joining Swiss hotel management institutes. What advice would you have for aspirants in the hospitality industry?

Aradhana Khowala: I am an alumnus of École hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland. Just last week it took the top position in the 2019 World University ranking for Hospitality & Leisure Management Universities, after celebrating its 125th anniversary and earning a highly coveted Michelin star. Two other Swiss institutions, Les Roches Global Hospitality Education and Glion Institute of Higher Education, took the third and fourth position respectively. This indicates that the Swiss Institutions are doing some things the right way. Having said that as with everything, prospective applicants need to be sure what they are buying into. Do your research, speak to past participants, alumni and know why you want a career in this sector.

With a recession slated to hit US as well as global markets next year how do you see its impact on the hospitality industry? Will the demand fall? Will some of the big brands hit a plateau and will there be closures?

Reto Wittwer: If we look at the industry fundamentals in US, which 26

October 2019 Tourism India

are often a good reflection of global markets, we see that US occupancy has peaked and is at historical highs due to a long and uninterrupted expansion over last 10 years. GDP slowdown means it is harder for it to expand and yes demand will fall if US goes into recession. Not that it will indeed be the case.

What about an impact on India of such a slowdown in US and elsewhere?

Reto Wittwer: Capacity growth in South East Asia and China has been strong but there might be demand weakness due to slowdown. We should see capacity growth slowdown in those geographies. If we look at India, there was huge capacity growth from 2008-2015 (15% pa) which led to prices crashing from the peak of 2007. Since then demand has outstripped supply significantly but the ADRs have not recovered as much. We are still 10-25% from peak.

Aradhana Khowala: The fundamentals of Indian hospitality sector over the next few years look very robust after a difficult period of supply absorption. Occupancy is starting to reach the magic number of 70% which should mean ADRs improve and profitability of the sector improves significantly. Supply has been weak so far and as profitability improves, we should see new construction re-

spond. We also need government policy help here in terms of approvals and land acquisition to ensure we don’t lose the momentum.

What inspired you to found Smart Hospitality Solutions/ SHS? Reo Wittwer: Throughout my life, my biggest passions have always been travel, luxury hospitality and the impact travel can make on the world and hence I’ve always operated in the nexus of this space. In my long career, I have travelled to 180+ countries and also have been fortunate to experience some of the best and the most unique experiences. And in all my working with high- and ultra-high net worth individuals I have learnt how travel and hospitality presents many pain-points for the “cash-rich, timepoor” travellers. This was something I wanted to address and we have done successfully through SHS with technology.

Brands and organisations that are slow, inefficient and deliver sub optimal customer experiences are prime targets for reinvention and disruption. Though most people don’t seek change for the sake of change, they will readily adopt better, faster, cheaper, less frustrating solutions.

We wanted a brand that is prepared to disrupt itself by offering innovative alternatives.

TRAVEL EVENTS

GITM 2019 all set to showcase Tourism potential of GOA

T

he third edition of Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) will be held from October 23 to 25, 2019, at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukerjee Stadium at Taleigao in GOA to showcase the tourism investment potential in the state.

GITM 2019 aims to serve as a common platform for networking among travel trade, hoteliers and other stakeholders of Tourism Industry from Goa with leading travel agents and operators from around the globe. The B2B event at GITM promises to bring together the travel companies, hoteliers, Eco Tourism, Adventure, Wildlife, Nightlife, Event Managers, Wedding Planners Wellness and other leisure enterprises under one roof.

Over 125 international buyers from UK, USA, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Austria, Hungary, , Czech Republic, Scandinavian, Baltic’s, Russia, CIS, New Zealand, Israel, Croatia, Bulgaria, Jordan, Poland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, UAE, Middle East, Malaysia; will take part in the event.

Apart from travel industry professionals there will also be representation of Domestic and International Media, travel writers, bloggers and columnists.

October 2019 Tourism India

27

NEWS

Kerala among Airbnb’s 20 trending destinations for

2020

List reveals a growing interest in eco-conscious cities, nations

K

erala has found a place among Airbnb’s top 20 trending destinations for 2020 based on year-over-year growth in bookings, according to a research data revealed by the company. The list reveals a growing interest in lesser known and eco-conscious cities and countries across the world based on Airbnb booking data.

Ranging from post-industrial culture hubs such as Milwaukee and 28

October 2019 Tourism India

Guadalajara to emerging destinations that are benefiting from an increase in sustainable tourism, this year’s list is full of surprises and hidden gems. The research also shows that some of the top trending locales are cities and regions that are preparing for big events like the 2020 Mars Exploration Program launching from Cape Canaveral and the many surf competitions happening in Ubatuba,

Brazil.

While Milwaukee in the United States topped the list with a 729 per cent YoY increase, Kerala with a 95 per cent YOY increase is ranked 18. Airbnb, in its report, says, “For many travelers, Kerala is South India’s most enchanting state. With its palm-lined coast, rolling coffee plantations and stunning Arabian Sea views, Kerala is an oasis of calm in a country that moves at a

“

The research was based on internal Airbnb data for bookings made for 2020 as of September 2019 vs. bookings made for 2019 as of September 2018.

busy pace. And with an impressive array of beaches, lakes, mountains and waterfalls, Kerala is home to some of the best eco-friendly destinations on the subcontinent.

The state runs a Responsible Tourism programme encouraging residents and visitors alike to enjoy the culture of the place while also conserving it.”

The other places across the globe that find a place in the list are the Spanish city of Bilbao that won the European City of the Year in 2018 with 402 per cent YoY increase; Buriram in Thailand with most treasured Khmer relics (383% YoY increase); Sunbury, Victoria, Australia that was the birthplace of cricket’s most sought-after trophy — The Ashes and host to ICC T20 World Cup (356% YoY increase); Romania with its pristine hills and ancient rural villages (298% YoY

increase); Xi’an, China, the home of the terracotta warriors (255% YoY increase); Eugene, the culinary hub in Oregon, United States (213% YoY increase); the city of Luxembourg that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 thanks to its enchanting historic core, perched on a cliff top (167% YoY increase); Guadalajara, Mexico with its colonial architecture in the hipster Chapultepec neighbourhood to an impressive selection of festivals and museums (158% YoY increase); and Vanuatu, the picturesque archipelago nation that is home to rugged islands, deserted beaches and stunning Pacific wildlife (140% YoY increase).

Also in the list are Cali in Colombia, which is the world’s salsa capital (137% YoY increase); Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, the launch site of NASA’s Mars 2020 Exploration Program (136% YoY increase); Aberdeen, Scotland (119% YoY increase); Courtenay, Canada (114% YoY increase); Ubatuba, the undisputed surfing capital of São Paulo of Brazil (108% YoY increase); Les Contamines-Montjoie, France (108% YoY increase); Tokyo, Japan set to host the upcoming Summer Olympics (103% YoY increase); Malindi, Kenya, a bustling coastal village that is home to a multicultural melting pot of African, Arab and European residents (88% YoY increase); and Maastricht, Netherlands that in March 2020 will play host to one of the world’s largest art fairs — TEFAF Maastricht.

October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / EVENTS

Ensure safety, security of tourists, says

Kerala Governor

KITTS to be a centre of research, world class training centre

Tourism India was the knowledge partner for the International Conference on Global Trends in Tourism Studies, organised by KITTS.

M

r. Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala, stressed the need to utilise the advanced global trends in safety and security to reassure tourists visiting the state.

“We have to take extra care to see that crimes, including drug trafficking and terrorism, do not hamper our efforts to ensure safe destinations for tourists,” he said.

The inaugurated a two-day International Conference on Global Trends in Tourism Studies – ‘Tourism: A Better Future for All’ at Ker-

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October 2019 Tourism India

ala Institute of Travel & Tourism Studies to commemorate the Pearl Jubilee of the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), an autonomous institution under the state government in Trivandrum on September 28.

He also called for a ‘customer monitoring system’ devise rooted in their safety concerns.

Pointing out that niche tourism products like pilgrim circuits, eco and adventure were promoted in the last one decade, Khan said the success of any venture in tourism

depends on how well the advanced global trends in safety and security are utilised.

Referring to the floods in the last two years, the Governor said rebuilding of tourist destinations has to start by revitalising the areas in the Western Ghats as it is a major determinant of tourism in the state.

He suggested that Kerala should follow the global trend of rebuilding of destinations through Destination Management Organisations, which would be active throughout the year.The Governor said this re-

Mr. Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala inaugurating the International Conference on Global Trends in Tourism Studies, organised by KITTS. Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala, Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, Mr. V S Sivakumar MLA, Mr. M Vijayakumar Chairman, KTDC, Dr Rajashree Ajith, Director, KITTS, Mr. Baby Mathew, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society and Mr. E M Najeeb, Senior Vice President IATO are also seen.

building has to be done through the idents,” he said. the government to the community,” use of state-of-the-art technology.

Mr. Guk Hwang, UNWTO Deputy she observed.

Kerala’s success in tourism was Director, praised Kerala’s tourism Dr. Rajashree Ajith, Director, scripted by a combination of na- initiatives, especially the Respon- KITTS presented the report, in ture’s bounty, cultural wealth and sible Tourism activities carried out which she recalled the milestones the people’s readiness to share by KITTS as the nodal agency when achieved during the last 30 years. with the world the beauty of the it won the UNWTO Ulysses award KITTS is an autonomous institute land’s heritage. and said the state is one of the under the Department of Tourism, Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, most sought after tourism destina- Government of Kerala, established Minister for Tourism, said the gov- tions on the planet. in 1988, to cater to the needs of ernment would take steps to make Ms. Rani George, Secretary, Tour- the global tourism industry. This KITTS a centre of research, besides ism, traced the evolution of tour- ISO certified (9001: 2008) insticreating world-class trained man- ism in Kerala since it was declared tute conducts various courses power. He said that the tourism an industry in 1986.”The launch of and training programmes for both sector was a major generator of Responsible Tourism in 2008 has students and professionals in the jobs and that more employment helped connect the travel trade and tourism industry. opportunities could be generated by encouraging private participation.

The Responsible Tourism (RT) movement in Kerala has contributed jobs to unemployed youth as well as farmers and h o u s e w i v e s .” T h e philosophy behind Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary Kerala Tourism handing over a memento to Mr. Ravisankar.K.V., Managing RT is to generate Editor of Tourism India Media group for the outstanding support as a Knowledge Partner of KITSS global tourism benefits to local resconference. Mr. Rahul R IRS, Managing Director, KTDC, Dr Rajashree Ajith, Mr. Baby Mathew and Mr. D. Chandrasenan Nair, General Convenor, South Kerala Hoteliers Forum are also seen.

October 2019 Tourism India

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NEWS / EVENTS

BUREAUCRATS, INDUSTRY PLAYERS TRACE KERALA TOURISM’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY

“A retrospective journey on 30 years of Kerala Tourism” - Mr. E M Najeeb, Senior Vice president IATO, Mr. T Balakrishnan IAS (rtd), Dr Venu V IAS, Principal Secretary (Revenue), Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary Tourism, Mr. K C Chandrahasan, Vice chairman, Kerala Travels Interserve Ltd, Mr. Guk Hwang, Deputy Regional Director UNWTO and Dr Rajashree Ajith, Director, KITTS.

A

Government-industry partnership helped brand to expand beyond borders

marketing strategy reinforced by strong content and infusion of new technology since the 1990s helped Kerala to be effectively projected as an attractive global destination, Dr. Venu IAS Kerala Tourism has come a long way in the last three decades from being just a facilitator of hotels and guest houses to one of world’s prime destinations, thanks to the game-changing policy initiatives and healthy industry-government partnership backed by political 32

October 2019 Tourism India

leadership that identified and marketed the niche products, according to top bureaucrats and leaders of tourism and travel trade.

Participating in a plenary session on “A retrospective journey on 30 years of Kerala Tourism” at the International Conference on Global Tourism, organised by KITTS in Trivandrum, they said though it was an amazing and eventful journey the state cannot rest on the laurels as challenges and competitions ahead are stiff.

The session started with a trip down the memory lane by Mr. T. Balakrishnan IAS (Rtd), who was at the helm of Kerala Tourism in the transitional phase through the 1980s, when tourism was recognised as an ‘economic activity’ benefiting all, a radical shift from the way it was looked at a “luxury” segment.

“It was in mid-1980s that tourism was identified as an economic activity, which was till then seen as a luxury activity. Though the state

Dr. Venu, who also served as the DirecGovernment-industry partnertor and Secretary of Kerala Tourism, said ship helped the brand to exthe industry leadership is to be patted pand beyond borders on building a good partnership model. has been ruled alternately by two A marketing stratcoalitions led by the CPI(M) and the egy reinforced by strong content Congress, the political leadership and infusion of new technology was never wanting in backing all since the 1990s helped Kerala to the good initiatives”, he said. be effectively projected as an atLargely a state-driven activity for tractive global destination, Dr. Venu long, the Government started trust- said. ing the private sector and the state However, the state cannot esmade serious efforts to market its cape the responsibility of adherdestinations on its own within and ing to high quality of products and outside the country, which yielded services. “For instance, we cannot good results, Mr. Balakrishnan said. afford a remarkable product like “We knew that we needed to create houseboats to be sullied and conan image of our own as a clean and taminated,” Dr Venu said. green destination. We knew that Making an overview of the curwe could, like Bali, create an image rent scenario, Ms. Rani George of our own. And, we did that,” he IAS, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said said. though Kerala is firmly positioned Mr. Balakrishnan, who had held on the world tourism map it is also senior positions in Tourism De- faced with stiff competition from partment for long years, however, other states. “It is true that other said there had been moments of states are emulating Kerala. We are misgivings in some quarters over also facing aggressive competition certain bold decisions but they had from them,” she said, exhorting inbeen resolved with the support of dustry to live up to the challenge. the leadership and timely intervenNoting that tourist preferences tions by senior bureaucrats. are shifting and people are increasDr. Venu V IAS, Principal Secre- ingly looking forward to travelling tary (Revenue), and CEO Rebuild as an experience, Ms. George said Kerala Initiative, said a sound gov- Kerala has proved to be a trendseternment-industry partnership that ter in experiential tourism by pronurtured over the years has greatly moting Responsible and Sustainhelped Kerala Tourism to expand able Tourism models. and develop beyond the borders.

Listing out some of the new

products on the line like MICE tourism, Champions Boat League, eco and adventure tourism, heritage projects centered round Alappuzha and Thalassery, she said a new waste-management model has been pushed into nine destinations to keep them clean and green.

Sharing the industry perspective, Mr. K.C. Chandrahasan, Vice-Chairman, Kerala Travels Interserve Ltd, said it is important to promote young entrepreneurship in tourism sector, for which institutes like KITTS can play a key role. “The future lies in students. What is important is not training them to be employable youths but as entrepreneurs”, said Mr. Chandrahasan, a pioneer in travel and tourism trade in the state.

Mr. Guk Hwang, Deputy Regional Director UNWTO, said Kerala has tremendous scope in domestic tourism, which can be promoted in a big way by increasing connectivity with other parts of the country.

Moderating the session, Mr. E.M. Najeeb, Senior Vice-President, IATO, noted that the success of Kerala tourism was largely due to the firm support of the political and bureaucratic leadership. “It is an amazing journey, for the success of which all stake-holders had come together. There were efforts to malign tourism when it started changing. The political and bureaucratic leadership, irrespective of the government in power, has stood firmly to thwart such moves,” Mr. Najeeb said.

October 2019 Tourism India

33

NEWS

Mr. P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Tourism, speaking at a panel session on the concluding day of the two-day International Conference on ‘Global Trends in Tourism Studies’, Mr. Pradeep Murthy, MD, Muddy Boots; Mr. Akshay Kumar, CEO, Mercury Himalayan Expeditions, New Delhi; Commander Sam. T. Samuel, MD, Kalypso Adventures; and Mr. Manesh Bhaskar, CEO, Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS), are also seen.

Mr. Dileep Kumar P.I., General Manager, The Leela Raviz, Kovalam, who was the moderator of the session, said that the biggest challenge the luxury segment was facing was how to deliver the transformational experience to the customer. Mr. Dinesh Bhaskar, who was the former Group Director, Sales and Marketing of Atmosphere Hotels and Resort in the Maldives, Kerala was ready to host luxury travellers. Mr. Baby Mathew Somatheeram, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society and Chairman and managing director Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, spoke about the growth of wellness travel in Kerala, while Mr. Sajeev Kurup V. President, Ayurveda Promotion Society, laid out the plans for promotion of Ayurveda across the world.

Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Tourism, presenting a memento to Mr. Dinesh Bhaskar, former Group Director of Marketing at Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, the Maldives during the International Conference on ‘Global Trends in Tourism Studies’. Mr. Dileep Kumar P.I., General Manager, The Leela/Raviz, Kovalam, Mr. Baby Mathew, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society, Mr. Sajeev Kurup V, President, Ayurveda Promotion Society, and Ms. Rajashree Ajith, Director, KITTS, are also seen.

Mr. U.V, Jose IAS, Director, Life Mission, speaking at a panel session of the two-day International Conference on ‘Global Trends in Tourism Studies’. Ms. Rima Hooja, author and conservationist, Mr. Benny Kuriakos, Architect and Consultant, Muziris Heritage Project, and Dr. Hemachandran S, Former Director, Kerala Archaelogical Department, are also seen.

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October 2019 Tourism India

Mr. Pradeep Murthy. Managing Director, Muddy Boots Vacations, spelt out the ground realities in adventure tourism.

Mr. Bal Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism, talked about how the government was actively supporting the adventure tour operators in coming up with regulations, frameworks and rules. Mr. Akshay Kumar, CEO, Mercury Himalayan Expeditions, based in New Delhi, stressed that rules and regulations were the need of the day in the adventure tourism sector.

Commander Sam T Samuel, Managing Director, Kalypso Adventure, said that rules, standardisation and training are part of his life.

Mr. U.V. Jose IAS, Director, Life Mission, Kerala, who was earlier Director of Kerala Tourism, said that the Kerala Tourism has today become successful in initiating path-breaking heritage products.

Ms. Rima Hooja, author and conservationist, explained how Rajasthan was able to successfully introduce heritage tourism very early. Mr. Benny Kuriakose, Architect and Consultant Muziris Heritage Project, took the audience through the various stages of the Muziris project and spice routes in Alleppey and Kannur.

Dr. Hemachandran S, Former Director, Kerala Archaelogical Department, talked about the various archaeological sites in Kerala that are potential tourism draw.

Mr. Prasad Manjali, Managing Director, Citrine Hospitality Ventures, speaking at a technical session during the two-day International Conference on ‘Global Trends in Tourism Studies’. Mr. Sejoe Jose, Chairman, IATO, Kerala Chapter, Mr. Manish Poddar, Vice-President, Orient Express, New Delhi, Mr. Michael Haider Ali, Managing Director, Micato Safaris, India, and Mr. Varun Uday, MD, Shaadi Events, are also seen.

Moderated by Mr. Anand Parthasarathy, Editor, IndiaTechOnline, the technical session on Tourism and Technology explored how technology has impacted the tourism industry and how well technology can be leveraged for faster customer service at all contact points.

Mr. Balu Ramachandran, Senior Vice President, Cleartrip.com. explained about his experience in enabling technology to market tourism products.

Mr. Neelakanth Pararrath, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, CRS Technologies Ltd, explained about the various technological advances in the tourism industry. Mr. Sejoe Jose, Chairman, IATO, Kerala Chapter, spoke about his experience in adopting technology in the field.

Mr. Sejoe Jose, Chairman, IATO, Kerala Chapter, anchoring the session on Mice and Cruise Tourism spoke about his experiences in arranging Mice tourists and how challenging it was to think out of the box ideas for the incentive seekers. Mr. Manish Poddar, Vice-President, Orient Express, New Delhi, talked about his rich experience in the field and how Kerala can leverage its location to create ideals Mice experiences. Mr. Michael Haider Ali, Managing Director, Micato Safaris, India, spoke about his experience in handling cruise travellers. Mr. Prasad Manjali, Managing Director, Citrine Hospitality Ventures spoke about his experience in hosting MICE meetings in the state.

Mr. Sejoe Jose, Chairman, IATO, Kerala Chapter, speaking at a panel session of the two-day International Conference on ‘Global Trends in Tourism Studies’, Mr. Anand Prathasarathy, Editor, IndiaTechOnline, Mr. Balu Ramachandran, Senior Vice President, Cleartrip.com., and Mr. Neelakanth Pararrath, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, CRS Technologies Ltd, are also seen.

Mr. Ravishankar K V. Managing Editor, Tourism India, Mr. Raj Gopal Iyer, CEO, Udaya Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel, Mr. Soju Philip, Chef, Radison Group, Mr. Suresh Pillai, Executive Chef, The Raviz, Ashtamudi, Mr. Jose Varkey, corporate mentor chef, CGH Earth Hotels, Kochi, and Ms. Rajashree Ajith, Director, KITTS, after a technical session of the two-day International Conference on ‘Global Trends in Tourism Studies’.

Mr. Raj Gopal Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, Udaya Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel, moderated the session on Gastronomy Tourism. Mr. Jose Varkey, corporate mentor chef, CGH Earth Hotels, Kochi, explored the possibilities of Kerala becoming a culinary tourism destination. Mr. Suresh Pillai,Corporate Head Speciality Cuisine and Executive Chef at The Raviz Ashtamudi, opined that Kerala can promote vegan cuisine as all it needed was tweaking the traditional Kerala sadya. Mr. Soju Philip, Chef, Radison Group, said that Kerala should take steps to preserve its cuisine for the future generation.

October 2019 Tourism India

35

HOSPITALITY

GUESTS EXPECT EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH Upgrading technology is the key to enhancing customer experience in the hotel industry in the years to come

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October 2019 Tourism India

By Raadia Mukadam

W

ith guests becoming global citizens, customers are increasingly looking for a more bespoke experience from accommodation providers.

Replacing legacy technology with cloud-based customer reservation system will enable the hotel sector to transition from a transactional to an experiential relationship with its customers offering a more personalised experience. This technology is expected to enhance the way hoteliers interact with guests. In conversation with Mr. Sujit Kumar, General Manager, Sheraton Grand Bangalore, Lakshmanan Ramanathan, General Manager, The Westin Chennai Velachery, Srijan Vadhera,

General Manager, Conrad Bengaluru and Saagar Panchal, Founder & CEO, Hireavilla Hospitality Pvt. Ltd, Tourism India endeavours to find out why and how these hospitality front-runners are preparing to welcome an experiential approach instead of a transactional one in their hotels. Excerpts.

Everyone is talking about the hospitality industry opting for an experiential approach in comparison to a transactional one. How important do you think this is?

Sujit Kumar: The hospitality industry has evolved over the years.

Earlier, staying at hotels was very typical like checking into a grand property at the reception, enjoying a well-appointed room and rejuvenating self in the pool or spa accompanied by good food and drinks. With the introduction of technology and access to tourism, hoteliers have been making every stay for their guests an experiential one by offering services like self-check-in, city tour, customised stay packages, discounts/offers, loyalty programmes and the like.

In today’s competitive market, with various options available for every kind of travellers shows that there is a shift from a transactional approach to an experiential one which is very important. There is demand for unique experiences.

Lakshmanan Ramanathan: Experiential approach is quite important as that is what sets you apart from the competition. Moreover, the new age travellers do their homework well before zeroing in on a ho-

tel and need value for money spent.

They also travel for engaging experiences and that’s where we need to be unique to attract them.

Srijan Vadhera: For hotels in the luxury segment, this is extremely important. The personality of our guests is those who are well-travelled, who travel with purpose and expect intuitive service and seamless experiences. Another growing trend is that global travellers prefer for hotel rooms to be priced in ways that allows them to customise or add on bespoke services that enhance their stay. These factors lead me to think that choosing to stay at a hotel inclines more towards being an emotional mind-set than a transactional one.

Saagar Panchal: I think the experiential approach is much better because the popularity of experiential travel destinations is increasing in comparison to traditional vacation destinations. The youth is travelling to exotic destinations and are ensuring that they stay an extra few days to immerse themselves in the local culture and experience something new. Furthermore, for the millennials seeking a life of adventure and spontaneity, quality experience is everything and they are always on the lookout for experiences that keep them happy and satisfied.

How is your hotel embracing this new approach?

Sujit Kumar: We have embraced the new approach but have also maintained some traditions like we do have a reception where the

guests come and take their keys; a human touch is still maintained.

We have our staff taking orders for the guests. But at the same time our hotel curates special and unique promotions as well as packages for the guests to give them a WOW factor at every step. With the new Loyalty program called Marriott Bonvoy, the guests can now redeem the points earned and buy items online, get a free ticket for an upcoming concert or meet and greet with a celebrity. This adds in making a guest’s experience peculiar.

Lakshmanan Ramanathan: We are actively promoting experiences.

In fact, we have recently launched Weekends by Marriott, a unique weekend staycation package for guests to spend their weekends with us and engage in activities such as cocktail mixing and cooking a barbecue for the family in our outdoor poolside grill restaurant.

Westin being a wellness brand of Marriott we lay a lot of emphasis on wellbeing hence yoga and a 30 minutes spa therapy are part of this deal. Guests are also welcome to use the gym and pool. The idea is to encourage local families / couples to spend their weekend at the hotel and learn something rather than being at home.

Srijan Vadhera: At Conrad Bengaluru, our team of experts exude passion in delivering exceptional experiences. Right from the arrival experience and express check ins to locally inspired amenities, the customer journey is plugged with October 2019 Tourism India

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Sujit Kumar General Manager Sheraton Grand, Bangalore

subtle appointed touch points that subconsciously influence the experience of a guest’s stay in a positive way. The key to success is to understand each individual guest in terms of the context they are travelling for. For example, a corporate guest’s expectations vis-à-vis a family’s stay during the weekend would be entirely different.

Saagar Panchal: We have carved a niche for ourselves by delivering experiential stays to our guests since the beginning. The rental villas we offer are a full staff equipped ones with experienced caretakers present 24x7 at the villa catering to the guests, including a concierge service which will cook on call, travel desk support, car on rent, butler’s or bartender’s on call, customised possible theme-based decors inside our villa on request, etc. Gradually we also came up with our own bathroom essentials that are crafted with perfection and are also Paraben-free for additional care.

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What in your opinion is more critical to ensure repeat clientele, is it price, loyalty or experience?

Sujit Kumar: According to me it is the experience that matters in the end. Like they say “first impression is the last impression”, it is that which stays with the guests even after checking out from the hotel.

A client will be loyal to a particular brand or a property only if he/she gets a special experience because of which he/she will be willing to spend more.

Lakshmanan Ramanathan: Most definitely experience which turns into loyalty over a period of time takes precedence over all else. An engaged guest drives revenue over a period of time and therefore hotels need to do more to remain engaged thereby driving loyalty.

Srijan Vadhera: In the light of the market segment we operate in, repeat clientele is a factor of the experiences which are intuitive, seamless and memorable. Experiences create a desirable feeling that encourages repeat consumer behaviour. By forming connections with guests that are emotional and not merely transactional, you open yourself to a potential for great brand-building successes.

Saagar Panchal: As a vacation rental company owner, I have dealt with a number of clients and from my personal experience, I consider all three – ­­ price, loyalty and experience because if a customer is given the best experience and the price is high, they won’t consider our company the next time as price is also an important factor from the customer’s point of view. At the same time, experience and loyalty by us

Lakshmanan Ramanathan General Manager The Westin, Chennai

to them is equally important from our company’s point of view. So, I would definitely provide my customers with the best experience, loyalty and best price all at the same time.

Are you also replacing legacy technology with a cloudbased system to enable your hotel to transition from a transactional to an experiential relationship with guests?

Sujit Kumar: We have already started to replace the legacy technology with a cloud based system to meet the experiential demands of the guests. Replacing legacy technology with cloud-based system will enable the hotel sector to transitioning from a transactional to an experiential relationship with its customers. Legacy technology is comparatively slow and has high implementation costs. Cloud model changes this completely. It gives us a better understanding of the travellers and their needs. It also avoids a large outlay and supports more

Srijan Vadhera General Manager Conrad, Bengaluru

rapid deployment and faster business case realisation.

Lakshmanan Ramanathan: Yes, this is work in progress that is already started and is bound to happen for everyone including us to migrate to a cloud-based system.

Saagar Panchal: Yes, we are also replacing legacy technology with a cloud-based system to enable our rental villas because the youth are tech-savvy and this generation is putting greater importance on personal experiences and showing it off to the world. 90% millennials use smartphones and 93% of them have access to the internet. So it would be easy for us to connect to them with a cloud-based system technology.

How do you see the hospitality sector, 5 years from now, with this technology in play?

Sujit Kumar: Five years from now, the hospitality sector will shift from being brand focused to being guest centric. Travellers will decide who they want to provide the data to

and they will provide it only if they get an experiential benefit out of it.

Since older legacy systems are still catching up when it comes to mobile optimisation, cloud-based systems are offering hotels the access to use the data using any device and enable guest bookings on mobile devices easy. With cloud PMSes, managers are also able to remotely monitor operations, access reports and measure staff performance, while legacy systems still rely on age-old methods of inter-communication. The new-age guests demand quickness, simplicity and mobile-friendliness from the hotel booking and stay experience.

Lakshmanan Ramanathan: This will make the industry become asset-light for sure and will also help further upgrades in the future faster as the major hardware requirements will go away.

Srijan Vadhera: In today’s rapidly evolving environment, technology plays a key role in each of our lives.

It is important to realise the impact technology can make for brands. I foresee that hotel services will be sold on granular attributes that the hotel offers, allowing a guest to customise his experience at the hotel. At Hilton, we have just touched the tip of the iceberg. Conrad Bengaluru is one of the first hotels in the country to allow guests to check in and select their room before they physically arrive at the hotel. We believe that once a guest chooses to stay at a Hilton property, they already have the key to a great stay.

Through the Hilton Honors, app guests can use their phone to open their door at over 700 hotels, with many more to come. With the implementation of the Digital Key, we

Saagar Panchal Founder & CEO Hireavilla Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

have augmented the way humans interact with guests. It is important for hotel brands to continue to invest in technology to be able to provide unforgettable experiences. With the implementation of the Digital Key, we have enhanced administration processes that allow our teams to focus more on customising inspiring stays for our guests.

Saagar Panchal: From the current scenario of the tourism industry, little-known tourist destinations and home-stays have become popular and are eminently accessible as a result of flight and road transport options that can be accessed round the clock.

Also, this generation is prioritising their cars and homes less and putting greater importance to personal experiences and showing it off to the world. 90% millennials use smartphones and 93% of them have access to the internet. A third of millennials say that posting pictures on social media is as important as the holiday they are on.

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GLOBAL AWARDS

THE GOAT VILLAGE

GETS INTO FINALISTS WTM WORLD RT AWARD 2019 lone finalist from India in WTM World RT Award 2019

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he WTM World Responsible Tourism Gold and Silver Award finalists have been announced for 2019. After an extensive process, the panel of expert judges has decided on 14 global businesses, destinations and organisations to receive the prestigious awards. The esteemed panel of industry professionals filtered through masses of applications to find the best of the best to fit within six categories; Wildlife and Nature Conservation, Reducing Carbon & Other Greenhouse Gases, Benefiting Local People, Transparent Reporting, Reducing Plastic Waste and Coping with Success, dealing with Over tourism.

Last year, Kerala Tourism and CGH earth Hotels from India won

this prestigious award in two different category. This time The Goat Village from Uttarakhand is the only organisation to have found a place in the 20 finalist from worldwide.

The Goat Village, a bouquet of farm retreats and home stays managed by The Green People, is an initiative having multiple social dimensions. The Green People has partnered with locales across the state and manage them to create basic lifestyle experiences for visitors. Each cluster of these accommodation locations are engaged in Goat Farming and many other agro practices to provide a better livelihood to the locals, and to give a firsthand experience to tourists in basics of life sciences.

The 2019 WTM World Responsible Tourism Gold and Silver Award finalists are: Beyond – Luxury Safaris in Africa, Asia and South America Batu Batu – Tengah Island, Malaysia Feynan Ecolodge – Jordan Grootbos – South Africa Iberostar – Global Hotels and Resorts Kilkee – County Clare, Ireland Les Villages Nature – Paris, France Nikoi Island – Indonesia Ol Pejeta – Nanyuki, Kenya Park Güell – Barcelona, Spain Six Senses Laamu – Maldives Soneva – The Maldives and Thailand The Goat Village – Uttarakhand, India TUI – UK and Ireland

The Green People has partnered with locales across the state and manage them to create basic lifestyle experiences for visitors.

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“To become a Finalist in the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards is a significant achievement, it marks you out as a leader in Responsible Tourism; it carries a responsibility to exercise leadership,” said Chair of the Judges Harold Goodwin.

“Our purpose in organising the Awards has not changed since they were launched back in 2004 – we want to encourage change in the industry, to single out for recognition those who are taking responsibility and can evidence that they are having a positive impact, that

they are making tourism better.”

There will also be an overall winner to be announced at WTM London, on Wednesday November 6, 2019 as part of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day – the largest day of responsible tourism day in the world.

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NEWS

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he Green People is a community that is working towards a conceptually new blend of Eco-Tourism, Agro-Tourism and Rural-Tourism. Our efforts are driven towards economic development of rural India by offering the insight into the impact of human beings on the environment and thus bridging the gap between rural and urban India. Our beliefs are rooted in reviving old traditions of farming and associated practices. We wish to make the land of the Gods the heaven it was. We work towards letting the people of the hills stay and take up occupations that are gradually becoming redundant. Our desire is to promote development along with ecologically responsible means.

We are a young organisation run by spirited individuals who have come together for a common goal.

We are from all walks of life and

some of us are volunteering for the love of the hills. Our Agenda is to bring significant environmental, conservation, social and economic benefits to all sectors of society.

The Goat Village, a bouquet of farm retreats and home stays managed by The Green People, is an initiative having multiple social dimensions.

The Green People has partnered with locales across the state and is managing them to create basic lifestyle experiences for visitors.

Each cluster of these accommodation locations are engaged in Goat Farming and many other Agro practices to provide a better livelihood to the locals, and to give a firsthand experience to tourists in basics of life sciences.

GREEN PEOPLE & GOAT VILLAGE

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October 2019 Tourism India

H

ospitals in Tamilnadu should not compare themselves with other hospitals in the state or in other states but with the best in the world to augment their facilities and skills, said Dr B. Vijaya Bhaskar, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare.”We have the best medical facilities and experts that even medical experts from the western countries are coming to Tamil Nadu to gain insights on various subjects,” the minister said while inaugurating a conference on “TN Medical Value Travel” at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, on the sidelines of the Tamil Nadu Travel Mart on September 20.

The minister said that advanced medical facilities are available for ordinary people in the government hospitals in the state for free. The chief minister, he said, was keen on bringing the most modern facilities to the common man. ” We have successfully irradicated malaria and dengue from the state for the past five years,” the minister said. While the welcome address was delivered by S.Chndramohan, Chairman, CII Tamil Madu, Mr S. Ganesh IAS, Director, Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Dr S. Chandrakumar, convenor, CII Tamil Nadu Task Force on Health Tourism, Dr M.Sharmila, Director Equipments Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Ltd., also addressed the audience. In his concluding remarks, Dr Raghupathy Veluswami, co-convenor, CII Tamil Nadu Taskforce on Health Tourism and CEO of GKNMH Hospital said,

TN HAS HOSPITALS, EXPERTS COMPARABLE TO THE BEST GLOBALLY the state has immense number of registered medical professionals who are experts in their respective fields. it is no wonder that Tamil Nadu is a leader in medical field in the country now The minister said that advanced medical facilities are available for ordinary people in the government hospitals in the state for free. The chief minister, he said, was keen on bringing the most modern facilities to the common man. ” We have successfully irradicated malaria and dengue from the state for the past five years,” the minister said. While the welcome address was delivered by S.Chndramohan, Chairman,

CII Tamil Madu, Mr S. Ganesh IAS, Director, Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Dr S. Chandrakumar, convenor, CII Tamil Nadu Task Force on Health Tourism, Dr M.Sharmila, Director Equipments Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Ltd., also addressed the audience. In his concluding remarks, Dr Raghupathy Veluswami, co-convenor, CII Tamil Nadu Taskforce on Health Tourism and CEO of GKNMH Hospital said, the state has an immense number of registered medical professionals who are experts in their respective fields. it is no wonder that Tamil Nadu is a leader in the medical field in the country now.

October 2019 Tourism India

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HOSPITALITY

DIWALI HAMPERS THAT DON’T HAMPER NATURE

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Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Goes Green This Diwali

our Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram, has curated an exclusive ‘Go Green Diwali Hamper’ to bring in the festival of lights. Diwali is a festival that brings a lot of cheer and togetherness, in order to make the festivities all the more special, Four Points

by Sheraton team is engaging in practices that not just put a smile on the faces but greatly contributes to the environment as well. Keeping the healthy lifestyle as theme, Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram has crafted an interestingconcept of ‘Go Green Diwali Hamper’ with handpicked, sustainable and organic gifts that

issure to add more excitement to the festive spirit.

The hampers have a perfect assortment of organic food items like organic jam, homemade cookies that are sure to tease your taste buds and one can enjoy them without any guilt feelings. On the other hand, the hampers also include a Ganesha idol, Jute bag and Money plant, which upholds the culture and tradition that signifies the true meaning of the festival.The Diwali hampers come in three categories ranging from INR 999 to INR 2999.

Make this Diwali a memorable and responsible one with the hampers from Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Center.

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CULINARY JOURNEY FROM BENGAL TO BENGALURU @ THE CHANCERY

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Bengali food festival held at The Chancery Hotel

hit in the City, the recently concluded Bengali food festival held at The Chancery Hotel, drew people of all ethnicities to the lavish spread of Bengali delicacies. The festival showcased some of the best Bengali delicacies prepared by their executive chef RajkumarNandy who used distinct Bengali spices and flavours in his cooking, that were specially flown in from Kolkatta to ensure the original taste of Bengal. Chef Nandybelieves that the taste of the varied spices procured from the land of its origin is exactly what enhances the taste of his food and lends authenticity to the Bengali food festival.

The spread was so elaborate and lavish that even the most disciplined eaters indulged in guilt free gluttony.Each day, the menu comprised of more than 15 vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies and was a special treat to seafood lovers, who relished the seafood, dominated Bengali food. The vegetarian dishes were served first, followed by fish and then meat and concluded with melt-in-the-mouth sweets.

The menu was fairly traditional,

with innovative fusion Rasagulla shots that added a modern twist.

The spread showcased Bengali fare which included AlooJhuribhaja, Poshtorboda, Machhaer chop, Atlamachaerkalia, Mutton Dakbunglow, PoshtodewaMurgi, BasontiPulao, Mutton Rezala, BhajaMoong dal, Shukto, AloopotolaerRosa ,Mochar Chop (Banana Flower). The starters were complimented by Tomato Khejurer Chutney ( mixed with Aampapad ), Anaraser chutney (pineapple), KaanchaAamer Chutney (Raw mango), GurerRosagolla (with date palm jaggery) and Khejurer rolls made with dates. The

fusion Rosogulla shots in Filter coffee. Green chilli, Saffron, RoohAfza, Blue Curacao. Raj bhog, Komolabhog and Gurerrosogolla flavours were the icing on the cake and left every guest asking for more.

We ignored the uninspiring decor, because the food is what counted here, though efforts were made to create an ambience that augmented the experience, but to be honest, when the feast is before you, little does your mind wander off to the ambience. All in all, a successful feat that had to be extended because of the fantastic response it garnered from namma Bengaluru.

The menu comprised of more than 15 vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies and was a special treat to seafood lovers.

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HOSPITALITY

From 4th October to 20th October 2019

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urga Puja and Garba are essential elements of Navratri and so are the Sindoor Khela and Bengali food. Taking a cue from this, Indore Marriott Hotel is all set to host its guests for Sonar Bangla, a Bengali food festival, which will

INDORE MARRIOTT HOTEL CELEBRATES SONAR BANGLA 46

October 2019 Tourism India

Bengali food is mostly known for its non-vegetarian

ter of scrumptious food. Navratri is one such festival where people look forward to relishing some authentic Bengali food.

Thus, the hotel has decided to give one more reason for Indoreans to come forward and celebrate the festival with us while enjoying Bengali food prepared by our chefs.”

Somrup Chanda, Food and Beverage Director of Indore Marriott Hotel said, “Sonar Bangla food festival would have a wide range of Bengali cuisine to satisfy all types of foodies. From Macher Jhal to Shorche Jhol, Mangshor Jhol, Shukto, Bati Chorchori, and Enchorer Kalia, all

vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties of Bengali recipes will be served. We are also having a dedicated sweet and dessert counter serving authentic Bengali sweets.”

The four-course meal is priced at Rs 1299 per person and Rs 1999 per person with unlimited IMFL.

and seafood delicacies. be held at Indore Kitchen from 4th October to 20th October 2019.

Bengali food is mostly known for its non-vegetarian and seafood delicacies, but Indore Marriott Hotel will also be presenting a large variety of lip-smacking vegetarian dishes. To add more authenticity to this festival, the hotel has created an ambiance that will give the feel of Durga Pujo and the Hotel staff will be dressed in the traditional Bengali attire.

While introducing the food festival, Devesh Rawat, General Manager of Indore Marriott said, “No festival is complete without a platOctober 2019 Tourism India

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ADVENTURE

CHALIYAR RIVER PADDLE 2019 FOCUSES ON PLASTIC MENACE 3 day adventure trail has started from Nilambur on Sept20 and finished at Beypore on Sept 22, 2019

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ver 100 water sports enthusiasts participated in the Chaliyar River Paddle 2019, organised by Jellyfish Watersports in association with Kerala Tourism.

The participants covered over 68 km and paddled all the way till Jellyfish Watersports at Cheruvannur Kozhikode. It was all about getting Kerala to bounce back, along with 48

October 2019 Tourism India

spreading awareness about the disastrous plastic deposits around the river after the recent floods.

Renowned circum navigator Commander Abhilash Tomy, Indian Navy, and Ms. Shweta Shervegar, Asian Games gold medalist, were joined by a few environmentalists like Aakash Ranison, a stand up paddling group and tourists from

different parts of the country and abroad.

It was a plastic negative event, as the paddlers went plastic free for three days and moreover helped clean the river while they paddled.

The whole idea was to promote water sports such as kayaking, Stand up Paddle (SUPing) and sailing as it helps build the connection with

the water bodies, turning more and more youngsters and tourists into evangelists of clean waters.

Clearing up plastic and garbage from the river is just one thing, but what makes the real difference is rejecting plastic altogether. So, participants were urged to stop using single-use plastic, right from the time they leave home, and the next was to urge them to leave one single-use plastic from their daily lives.

This activity flowed into the digital platforms, and the message spread to about a million people through the participants and public figures present during the event.

While people love exploring water bodies, what’s missing is sensitiv-

ity towards sustainable travel, and through this event we have tried to build that. “This three days Leave-No-Trace paddling event was an eye opener for the paddlers. On one hand, it was beautiful to paddle on the gorgeous Chaliyar, but on the other it was disheartening to zoom in and see infinite number of trees covered in blue, white, yellow plastic, looking like monsters. The plastic problem is real, and we humans need to accept what we are doing to the planet. And all the participants have taken home this realisation� Mr. Kaushiq Kodithodika, founder, Jellyfish Watersports, said.

From beginners to non-swimmers to well-established water

sports enthusiasts were among the participants. Not just that. From eight year olds to 70, all were part of the programme. For those on the water for the first time, kayak lessons were offered on the first day to prepare them for the adventure.

It was amazing to watch people from all age groups and different walks of life paddle together joining the Global Climate Strike, spending three days in the water, cleaning up the river and raising their voice against plastic pollution and climate change.

Apart from the exciting journey on the water, the campsite was the perfect place to unwind and bond with fellow paddlers. Also, the participants got a peek into the culture through authentic Kerala delicacies and local tribal music.

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APPOINMENTS

M

JOHN THOMAS TAKES CHARGE AS GM, SOUTHERN RAILWAY

r. John Thomas has taken over as the General Manager of Southern Railway on September 19, 2019. He is of 1982 batch of Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE).

Mr. Thomas started his career in Indian Railways in 1984 and he has held several important assignments in Central Railway, South Central Railway and Southern Railway over three decades of service.

Prior to his present posting, Mr. Thomas served as Additional General Manager, South Central Railway. During his tenure there Mr. Thomas initiated various innovative measures towards handling issues concerning public grievances, review of zonal performance on critical aspects such as safety, security, punctuality, operational efficiency and business. He was also instrumental in handling the massive relief measures undertaken by South Central Railway to render succor to victims of floods in Kerala in 2018, intensively coordinating the entire operations from all over the zone.

Earlier, as Chief Electrical Engineer of South Central Railway, Mr. Thomas led the zone to achieve national level recognition in energy conservation, enabling the zone to earn a record 09 National Energy Conservation Awards for 2016 from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, and Government of India. He has also been instrumental in initiating efforts towards better work efficiency and boosting workforce morale among the Loco running staff of the Zone.

Mr. Thomas has travelled widely for training and study programmes abroad that include training in design of power converters for three-phase ABB locos at Turgi & Zurich, Oerlikon and Switzerland.

RAHUL RAJ APPOINTED AS GM AT HYATT REGENCY TRIVANDRUM

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yatt Regency Trivandrum has announced Mr. Rahul Raj as the General Manager. Rahul is a strategic business and operations head which is sure to establish a reputation for excellence and mark Hyatt Regency Trivandrum a market leader its right blend of service and luxury.

Rahul’s last assignment was with Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad as the General Manager of the hotel. He has been associated with Marriot International, Taj and the Oberoi group for over 15 years.

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KRISHNA TEJA APPOINTED AS MD OF KTDC

r. V.R. Krishna Teja Mylavarapu, an Indian Administrative Service Officer of 2015 batch, has been appointed as

the Additional Director (General) of the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala and Managing Director, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. He assumed charge of ADG on September 30 and will take charge of KTDC on October 24. He replac-

es Rahul R. IRS, who is appointed as Managing Director of Kerala Roads & Bridges Development Corporation Ltd at Kochi.

He was very closely associated with the tourism industry during the great flood in August 2018, and led the team from ground zero to evacuate more than two lakh people from different part of Kuttanad with the support of Mr. S. Suhas IAS, then District Collector of Alappuzha, and Dr. Thomas Issac, Minister of Finance, Kerala.

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RAHUL MAINI IS GM JAIPUR MARRIOT HOTEL

r. RahulMaini has been appointed as the General Manager of Jaiour Marriot Hotel.

Rahul Maini is an experienced hospitality professional with a

passion for operational excellence and guest engagement and has over 20 years of versatile accomplishments in the hotel and food & beverage operations at some of the most premier hotel properties in India and abroad.

His career with the Marriott brand began with the Marriott Executive Apartments and Renaissance (Mumbai), in March 2001. He moved to various luxury Taj properties like Taj Palace Hotel (Dubai),Taj Mahal Hotel (New Delhi) and Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur). He was later appointed as the Director of Operations at Courtyard by Marriott in Ahmedabad in 2011.

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AVIATION WORLD

E

thiopian Airlines has announced that it will be operating flights from its base at Addis Ababa to Bangalore from 27 October 2019. The African carrier will operate the flight using a Boeing 737. In an exclusive with TadesseTilahun, Regional Director, Indian Sub-continent, who fervently believes that Ethiopian Airlines is a significant player in connecting India to Africa and beyond, Tourism

By Raadia Mukadam

India learns more about two things he is most passionate about, Ethiopia, the land of origin and its official carrier.

Why do you call Ethiopia the land of origin?

We call Ethiopian the land Origin as the country is the origin of modern human beings. We have 3.2 m years’ human fossil (Lucy) that is believed to be the first modern human being. by Anthro-

pologists, We are also the origin of Coffee and Origin of Nile- the longest river in the world. Moreover, we have churches Tadesse Tilahun and monuments RD Indian dating back 4th Sub-Continent ET Century making Ethiopia one of the oldest Civilizations and rich history and culture.

“ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES IS A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN CONNECTING INDIA TO AFRICA AND BEYOND”

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What has been the growth rate of ET in the Indian sub-continent?

ET India has been growing in Double digits last few years, both in Cargo and Passengers. In the past few years, we have managed to double our capacity from smaller aircraft to twice daily operations from Mumbai and New Delhi. We have also managed to increase our cargo operation in India by increasing capacity in our flights at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and opened new destination Ahmedabad recently. Our Passenger and Cargo Revenue have increased by 19% and 12% compared to last year, respectively.

Which are your hubs and how big is your fleet?

Addis Ababa is our main Hub. Currently, we have seven Hubs in Africa, with our partnership with different African Airlines. These are Togo, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and few are in the pipeline. Currently, we are operating 120 fleets to 125 destinations. Our average fleet age

is less than five years which is very low compared to many major airlines in the world and from the Industry standard.

How many flights are you operating from India and from which cities?

Currently, we are operating passenger flights twice daily with state of the art brand new A350 aircraft with flatbeds in Business class and WIFI services. From Delhi, we are operating twice daily with retrofitted 767 that has flatbed in Business class. Bengaluru will be the third passenger point starting on 29th October. Similarly, we are operating five weekly freighter flights from Mumbai, three flights from Delhi, two weekly flights from Chennai and Ahmedabad each and one weekly flight from Bengaluru.

What are the special sales support and collateral being extended to the travel trade to promote the flight from Bangalore?

We are working closely with travel agents and on top of very attractive discounted fares, we are offering Additional Commission to travel

agents for travel out of Bengaluru.

We are also working closely with Corporates to give our best services to their travel requirements.

Why did it take ET so long to initiate operations from Bangalore?

We have noticed the traffic growth from South India to Africa and were always looking to launch operations from South India, but had to wait until the required permits and approval for operations are finalized. We believe that our new flight from Bengaluru, which is the first direct flight from South India to Africa, will help to serve the growing demand from South India to Africa by giving seamless connections to our vast African network and to the Middle East, Europe, and US. How are you collaborating with Ethiopian Tourism Board to promote tourism to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is an exotic destination with a rich history and culture which offers a wide variety of Tourism attractions. Unfortunately, it is not well promoted in the Indian market and India knows very little about Ethiopia. To fill this gap, we are prompting Ethiopia through our holiday product “Ethiopian Holidays� which is a product of Ethiopia airlines. We are working closely with the Ethiopian Embassy and consulate office to promote Ethiopia as a tourist destination. We know that Indians love to travel and always look for new destinations and new experiences and Ethiopia is the right choice.

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MICE TRAVEL

SRI LANKA CONVENTION BUREAU CONTINUES TO WOO INDIA, ITS LARGEST SOURCE MARKET FOR MICE AND FIT WITH 3 CITY ROAD-SHOW

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ri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) recently concluded its three-city MICE promotion road-show in Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata on 20 September. SLCB left no stone unturned to present Sri Lanka as an apt MICE destination, showcasing the opportunities to the Indian travel trade, professional conference and MICE organizers.

The event garnered a favourable response from the travel trade and MICE professionals who attended and interacted with the SLCB team in a bid to understand unique offerings for Indian travellers in Sri Lanka.

Sharing his views on what SLCB aimed to achieve through the roadshow, Kumar De Silva, Chairman, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau said, “the objective of the roadshow was to build on the momentum of the MICE business travelers to Sri Lanka tar54

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geting Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. Come November, we will target Mumbai and Pune. Our focus and efforts will continue in India and you will be seeing and hearing more of such activity in the near future”. De Silva reiterated that India is their largest source market for both the MICE and individual Tourists. “We have and will continue to focus on this market for the development of MICE business.

Previously the major metros Mumbai and Delhi had been targeted, however, since 2018; SLCB has grown its focus to include Chennai. Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata as they have been identified as strong potential markets,” confirmed De Silva. Besides Mumbai and Pune, as an integral part of their strategy, SLCB plans to identify and pursue new opportunities in other metro and sub-cities in India going forward.

By Raadia Mukadam Advocating for Sri Lanka as the ideal MICE venue, De Silva states that the USP for Sri Lanka is its authenticity, diversity, and compactness that provides the MICE travellers plethora of experiences and options to choose from. “Besides an array of activities and possibilities that the MICE and FIT market can explore, we offer a warm, friendly and welcoming environment and folks with strong cultural ties, the similarity in cuisines and mutual respect and understanding provide the ingredients to make Indian MICE events successful and memorable.”

He added that SLCB and its trade partners work closely with the Indian travel trade and MICE professionals to deliver beyond expectations, thus encouraging and giving confidence to them to choose Sri Lanka for their events.

Delving more about the conferencing facilities that Sri Lanka presents, De Silva declares that they currently have many purpose-built facilities across the country that could accom-

modate up to 1000 plus delegates.

“This is supported by our hotels which provide state of the art facilities with varying degrees of inventory that could arrange small-medium and large events and importantly customize so deliver a unique experience with different theme and settings,” informs De Silva. He adds that they also have dedicated companies who are members of SLAPCEO & SLAITO who could handle all elements with event management companies that could arrange sound, lighting and other support aspects for the event.

“So there is only one decision to be made, choosing Sri Lanka, and our stakeholders are ready to deliver,” he declares.

In terms of any new products for the MICE market, SLCB informs that South Asia tallest Tower, the Lotus Tower has opened a few days ago which reportedly provides an exciting option for the MICE travelers to experience with 360 aerial views of the

city and can accommodate up to 500 delegates at a time.

It was learned from De Silva that promoting Sri Lanka was a collaborative effort of four different entities all with one clear goal to augment tourism footfall to Sri Lanka. These include the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority which formulates the direction, structure to be compliant and ensures transparency of the process. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau which is responsible for the destination promotion, brand, and marketing, Sri Lanka Institute of Hospitality Management which takes care of the capacity building to meet the requirements of the industry through their dedicated hotel schools and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau that focuses on the MICE Business. “We collaborate and work closely in an integrated manner to achieve a single goal and that has been the primary reason for our continuous endeavor and the success that has followed it,” concluded De Silva.

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DESTINATION NEWS

V Costa Brava is known for its gastronomy.

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.R. Costa Brava, a destination management company specialising in the Costa Brava region of Spain hosted its maiden networking event for the travel trade fraternity in Mumbai at Su Casa, Bandra. The idea was to introduce the company’s offerings and highlight its USPs among key tour operators, up-market leisure agents and media personnel with an aim to enhance commercial ties with the industry. The event commenced

with a presentation by the organisation’s founder Namrata Malu leading to an interactive session followed by a networking evening over cocktails.

Commenting on the event, Namrata Malu, CEO, V.R. Costa Brava said, “We commenced with a plan to establish a high quality wine-making company and purchased a vineyard in the Costa Brava region of Spain. However, the glorious beauty of the place steered us to go beyond

wine production and launch a destination management enterprise thereby creating V.R. Costa Brava, with a vision to provide immersive local and bespoke experiences that have a highly personalised approach for the discerning travellers in India. Our expertise is vast to include organising weddings and events, itineraries for MICE groups along with offering accommodation and luxury concierge services not just in Costa Brava but also Barcelona.

Costa Brava is characterised by charming towns and villages, rugged rocky coastlines, mountainous peaks and is home to some of the country’s best beaches, bays and inlets.

V.R. COSTA BRAVA HOSTS THE MUMBAI TRAVEL TRADE INDUSTRY From staying in a castle of the medieval era, sipping on wines on a hot air balloon, road trips in rare vintage cars, Michelin Star dining to skydiving with stunning views of mountain tops and pristine beaches, our vacations personify luxury and exclusivity”.

Costa Brava is the coastal area that runs all the way from just above the city of Barcelona to the French border. It’s characterised by charming towns and villages, rugged rocky coastlines, mountainous peaks and is home to some of the country’s best beaches, bays and inlets.

Known for its gastronomy, Costa Brava has an impressive concentration of world-renowned restaurants

and chefs who either have roots or have begun their careers in the Catalonian region.

The region is a food lover’s paradise from fancy haute-cuisine restaurants, family-run eateries and market-style meals made of fresh produce sourced locally.

Alternatively, travellers looking for undiscovered wine regions have found their way to Emporda in Costa Brava.

Less than two hours by road from Barcelona, Costa Brava is a yearround holiday destination with June to August being the busiest months for tourism while December to February have mild winters making it ideal for Indian tourists.

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TOURISM INDIA

Vol 22, No. 06

October 2019

Rs 100/-

RNI No. KERBIL/1998/7642