Travel News August 2007

Niche Tourism

ITDC for 'Temple tour'

Uttarakhand is all about adventure and eco-tourism

Experiencing the Adventure: A New Tourism Facet

Medical tourism set to become a $2 bn industry

TravelOrg Medical to introduce 'Signature Health' cards

Take a champagne shower...it’s your holiday

India's incredible MICE market so hot right now

Land of curry fast gaining currency

Monsoon tourism making a splash

Spiritual & Religious Tourism

ITDC for 'Temple tour'
July 29, 2007

Temples in Kerala will soon find a place in the tourism map of India with the India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) proposing to launch a daily 'Temple Tour', taking visitors to five famous shrines from August one.

The tour would cover the famous Lord Krishna temple at Guruvayoor and the popular 'Nalambalam' (Four temples), which also includes a trip to the only Bharata temple in India at Irinjalakuda. The tour would cover the Lakshamana temple at Moozhikkalam, the Shatrugna temple at Payammel, Bharata temple at Irinjalakuda and Lord Rama temple at Triprayar.

The ITDC is hoping that the tour becomes as great a success as its Chennai-Tirupati tour.

The temple administrators are only too happy that the ITDC has come up with such a proposal. Efforts are being made by the administrators of the four 'Nalambalam' to provide all the amenities that the visitors would need.

Source: PTI via Economic Times

Adventure Tourism

Uttarakhand is all about adventure and eco-tourism
August 2, 2007

If you are eco-friendly, you are politically, economically and socially correct. While the world gets hotter, Corporate India is busy doing a green audit of its energy utilisation. Not to be left behind, the hospitality sector is also jumping on to the green bandwagon, as it makes business sense for them in particular.

Leisure Hotels, a major player in the sub-Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has launched a major drive to preserve the fragile eco-system of the Garhwal hills, besides expanding their business. Vibhas Prasad, director, Leisure Hotels speaks about the company’s new initiatives.

Going green: The group is working to conserve the natural habitat in the state by creating awareness among local communities through seminars and films on conservation and its benefits. It also takes up regular forestation efforts and plantation drives that involve the local people. As part of the initiative, we have launched eco-friendly, luxury tented accommodation for tourists visiting Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. We are also promoting adventure tourism to drive home the point.

Backward diversification: We are planning to backward integrate our business by bringing travellers from across India to Uttarakhand. The company has hotels in areas where adventure tourism is proliferating like elephant/jeep safaris, nature walks/treks/hikes, bird watching, white water rafting, rock climbing/rappelling, river crossing.

Spiritual tourism: Last year, Leisure Hotels started the Chardham Camps, an eco-friendly luxury tented accommodation for those wishing to go to the four holy sites: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. The Char Dham package is pretty popular with the NRIs. In fact, Chardham Camps is the first of its kind branded accommodation in the Uttarakhand circuit. Moving forward, we plan to erect semi-permanent and permanent sites at these places.

Camping a favourite with elders and youth: People who undertake a camping holiday with us are usually SEC-ABC, elders and youth segment, and a lot of NRIs. The youth segment, in particular, is taking to this with their families. In less than 45 days, we have had 700-800 people, out of which 40 per cent are youngsters who come in with their families. They go for Chardham Camps because of its uniqueness.

Source: Economic Times

Experiencing the Adventure: A New Tourism Facet
July 9, 2007

The adventure tourism segment in India has evolved over the years, from a nascent one just a few years ago, to a segment that is pegged at Rs 300 crore and growing. The terminology is no more 'adventure' but takes on new avtars such as 'activity-based tourism' or in recent times, 'experiential tours'.

The well travelled customer now wants to experience the destination and the activity offerings and is not content with just a `look and feel' factor. From being a state specific focus to getting global recognition is a feat by itself. In the past months, this segment got special focus at ITB Berlin 2007 and is the topic of discussion by many a tourism boards, be it domestic or international

As per an analysis by PHDCCI, revenues generated by the adventure tourism sector are expected to reach USD 20 billion by 2010. It is also termed as one of the fastest growing sectors in India as it registered a growth of over 20 per cent last year and is currently valued at over Rs 400 crore. With this growth figure, the segment is certainly in the spotlight with the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and various state tourism boards.

Soft adventure is rapidly gaining popularity in India and according to the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), there are a number of tour operators who have made this niche segment as their sole business and their numbers are proliferating by the day.

If one has to just evaluate the adventure offering in India, it spans activities such as white water river rafting, trekking and mountaineering, wildlife safari and desert safari, skiing, hot air ballooning, paragliding, scuba diving etc. These activities are now being promoted aggressively not just by travel agents alone but are being focused upon as new options by inbound tour operators.

Countryside Outdoor Programme Pvt. Ltd conducts adventure holidays and outdoor management development programmes and is foraying into wildlife tourism, following a demand from its regular clientele. The company plans to organise tours to sanctuaries like Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttaranchal and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The company is planning to approach these national parks for permits to operate jeep safaris. It is hopeful of starting the wildlife packages from January 2008. Big players like Kuoni Destination Management (KDM) are also focusing on this evolving segment.

Apart from the industry, even states like Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Himachal Pradesh are looking at adventure tourism to add on to the bouquet of offerings and attract more international and domestic tourists. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) organises the pre-World Cup for paragliding at the Bir and Billing area of Kangra district. HPTDC also promotes white water rafting, trekking, horse riding, and water sports at the Maharana Ranjit Sagar Dam and the Pong Dam. Religious tourism and adventure tourism is the mainstay of Uttaranchal and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has decided to introduce paragliding, rock climbing, rappelling and river crossing at the Araku valley from this year for a short period.

Similarly states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and even Goa (water sports) are focusing on adventure tourism. Madhya Pradesh has got international recognition for its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, especially the Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves, and is now also focusing on promoting adventure water sports in the state. Northeastern states and emerging state of Jharkhand also offer great potential for adventure tourism. Rajasthan is also tapping into the niche adventure tourism segment and has undertaken several initiatives for the same.

Source: Travel Biz Monitor

Medical Tourism

Medical tourism set to become a $2 bn industry
August 8, 2007

Growing at the rate of 25 per cent a year, medical tourism is on track to become a two billion dollars industry in another five years.

An estimated 1,50,000 patients arrived in 2004 from across the globe from USA, UK, Middle East, Africa and SAARC countries for medical treatment in India, according to official figures.

In the same year, medical tourism was a 333 million dollar strong market and the ministry said given its growth rate of 25 per cent it will emerge as a two billion dollars market in 2012.

"A patient opting for medical tourism not only gets the best medical treatment the Indian doctors have to offer, but also as a post-treatment fare, he or she gets to see the best of India's destinations," Leena Nandan, Joint Secretary (Tourism), said.

The tourism ministry is also giving a big push to medical tourism highlighting its low-cost advantages. Nandan said, "Just like the IT expertise of India, the medical expertise of country too is well recognised abroad. And eventually this too translates into tourism in India."

Tourism ministry sources said the potential of medical tourism is borne out of the fact that there has been an increase of 20 per cent of arrivals of tourists to avail medical treatment in the country.

As part of measures taken by the government to promote this segment is introduction of medical visa which is issued for a specific purpose to such foreign tourists.

This visa is initially issued to a patient with a companion for a period of one year and can be extended upto three years after fulfilling certain conditions and recommendations from the accredited medical authorities.

Source: PTI via Hindustan Times

TravelOrg Medical to introduce 'Signature Health' cards
August 4, 2007

The growing medical tourism segment in India has prompted TravelOrg Medical, to create a medical card, 'Signature Health.' The card, which will be introduced by September this year, will promote medical tourism in India across the globe. TravelOrg Medical, division for medical tourism of TravelOrg Holidays Pvt. Ltd. which is owned by TravelOrg Group, has set a target to sell about one lakh medical cards by March 2008.

The USP of the card is that the holder gets a free consultancy from a team of doctors in India, and if detected with any illness, the person will get a flat 20 per cent discount on the treatment charges and about 40 per cent of the total available room nights for free in any of the Signature Crest property, a chain of service apartments in India.

According to a Mckinsey Report, India is viewed as a country with best quality of treatment at comparatively cheaper rates. The country can earn as much as USD 100 billion through medical tourism by 2012.

TravelOrg is planning to set up office in Singapore by September end in Australia by October this year. The company started its operations in India in December 2006 and is targeting a turnover of Rs 16 crore by March 2008, with an aim to touch a turnover of Rs 40 crore by 2009.

Currently the company has nine offices and 32 associate offices in India and has presence in Dubai, South Africa, London, United States and Colombo.

Source: Travel Biz Monitor

Luxury & Rejuvenation

Take a champagne shower...it’s your holiday
July 3, 2007

Want to do a Charlie and make a bar, probably with your name on it, in one of those Swiss chocolate factories, or go to wineries in France and indulge in wine-tasting and maybe, make some too? Or back home, trek around the coffee estates in Coorg, roast beans and powder them; or indulge in a champagne shower and follow by “wine treatment” in a spa in Nashik!

These are the latest add-ons that are part of the theme-based travel packages that target the increasingly inquisitive creamy layer of Indian travellers. While adventure, health and pilgrimage tourism have been talked about for sometime now, the tours of wine yards, tea gardens and coffee estates are the latest theme flavours. One might also add an under-water walk in Malaysia or a self-drive tour of Europe. Or simply include all these along with a rose-petal bath to make a honeymoon package.

Little wonder that even a grape-squashing session, squeezed into a tour to France, comes with an extra premium. More exclusive is making that favourite Toblerone bar at a Swiss factory that can cost Rs 16,000! A Korean cultural tour, offered by Cox&Kings, costs Rs 1.5 lakh for a 10-day tour. But this hasn’t stopped the Indian corporate to award its employees and clients with some wine toursim.

The more economical Indians though are doing the same in the wineries of Maharashtra. Chateau Indage, the country’s largest wine manufacturer, offers tours on its vineyards, including dining at a wine bar restaurant on the Pune-Nashik highway.

Wine tourism is also gaining popularity in Karnataka’s Krishna Valley. The southern state also conducts coffee tourism. Planters in Chikmagalur host tourists in their bunglows and teach them how coffee beans are cured and processed.

One of the latest to join the bandwagon is the Darjeeling Tea Association, which is helping the government to develop Tea Tourism Circuit in North Bengal.

Source: Economic Times

Others

India's incredible MICE market so hot right now
August 9, 2007

From the hot South to the more temperate North, India is buzzing with the recent influx of the MICE market, from small events to massive conferences, there's a site to meet your needs.

The country's first purpose-built convention centre is the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC).  Opening last year, it has already been quite a sought after commodity. The HICC, under Accor management, offers capacity for 5,000 delegates within its 291,000 square feet of primary meeting space, as well as 250,000 square feet for additional pre-function areas supported by 32 break-out rooms.

Not to be outdone, other convention centres are popping up all around the country.  By 2010/11 projects underway will see six or seven similar sites completed in different cities around India.

Source: www.etbmice.com

Land of curry fast gaining currency
August 3, 2007

Stomach this. Over the last 12 months, tour operator Cox & Kings has been raking in the moolah through its ‘Curry Spice Tour of India’. So has SITA Travels with its ‘Cuisines of India’ travel-pack aimed at the global foodie. Other tour operators are not averse to the idea either. Gourmet tourism (the wine curries favour too) has just found a new home — India.

The land of curry is fast gaining currency among other people, tingling their tastebuds and bringing them to India in droves. While tour operators cash in on the tastes of India with sugar-coated brochures promising gastronomic trails, ET goes the whole hog.

Though the 20-30% margin falls nothing short of mouthwatering, operators carp on volumes.

To turn the trickle into a flow, now even the tourism ministry has something to chew on. Gastro-enteritis is out, gastro-entreaties is in. The ministry has identified gourmet tourism as one of the themes to promote India as a destination for foodies.

A speed read through Cox & Kings’ Curry Spice Tour takes the gourmand traveller through cups of mishti doi (sweetened curd) in Kolkata, or chakna (spicy offal stew) in Hyderabad, or the narrow bye-lanes of Paranthewaale Gali in Delhi, the Royal Barge in Udaipur’s Lake Pichola with sweet champagne on ice, or for that matter, a late evening Chettinad meal at a private home in Chennai.

The hospitality trade too is wheeling in sumptuous spreads to satiate global appetite. “Bukhara and Dum Pukht are destination restaurants.

Gourmet tourism faces an uphill task. Ask India’s Cordon Bleu chef Sanjeev Kapoor and he retorts straight from the gut —“While the country offers some cuisines, gourmet tourism could face some challenge. Besides the notion that most Indian eating joints are unhygienic, there are logistical nightmares. Anyhow, this is a sunrise sector and I expect a lot of action in times to come.” No point in hurrying the curry. For tour operators, that’s the bottomline.

Source: Economic Times

Monsoon tourism making a splash
July 17, 2007

The monsoon, which is traditionally seen as an off-season in the tourism industry, has taken off very well this year.

Monsoon tourism, as it is known, has performed beyond the expectations of tour operators, garnering a 50 per cent increase in both in-bound and out-bound traffic. Last year, the industry saw an increase of only 15-20 per cent in monsoon tourism.

While Goa and Kerala remain the top domestic destinations, West Asia is still a favourite with travellers heading for international destinations. Over the years, the number of international tourists visiting India during the monsoon, especially from the Gulf countries, has almost doubled.

Besides, there has been an increase in travel by the double-income-no-kids (Dink) group. These people believe in beating the rush and getting a truly relaxing holiday. Another trend visible this monsoon is the charters coming from Spain to Jaipur.

While Kerala, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim and Meghalaya have already started cashing in on monsoon tourism by starting special monsoon packages, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, too, has had its cash registers ringing with tourists making a beeline for Lonavla, Khandala, Malshej Ghat and Karla.

Source: Business Standard