Tourism and Travel Trends from India:
News and views on India's Travel and Hospitality Sector

Weekly News Related to Travel Industry in India

Top Travel Destinations
Places in the news
Travel and transportation infrastructure
Medical Tourism
Religious Tourism
Holistic Healing Service Providers
Travel characteristics of Indians
Investment related
Travel and Tourism Support Industries …and much more

Top Travel Destinations

Places in the news

1. Rohtang Pass to be opened on May 10
The snow-covered Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh's scenic Kullu Valley is to be thrown open to traffic May 10 after remaining closed for over half a year.

"The pass will be opened on May 10 for normal traffic after we finish clearing heavy snow over the 13,050 feet high Rohtang Pass," said Krishan Pratap Singh, head of the state Border Roads Organisation (BRO), here on Thursday.

The pass, located 55 km from the popular resort town of Manali (and 325 km from Shimla), is a popular destination for holidaymakers who throng the area in summer.

The pass was closed for traffic in early November last year. It leads to the isolated tribal valley of Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.

BRO officials said the pass is currently under heaps of snow, much of which has been shovelled onto the edge of the road for traffic to pass soon

Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: IANS via Economic Times

2. Historic Jantar Mantar illuminated
The 18th century monument Jantar Mantar in the national capital has been illuminated with an eye on the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 as Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said at least 15 monuments would be illuminated to attract more tourists to this metropolis.

"Conservation and preservation is our primary aim but along with that flaunt them as showpieces of rich cultural heritage," Soni said while inaugurating the illuminations at the Jantar Mantar observatories.

Superintending Archaeologists S.K. Sinha said work is underway at Safdarjung Tomb and Sabzburg in south Delhi. Besides, Delhi Gate, Purana Quila, Dadi Pooti Ka Gombuj and Sher Shah Gate are among the 15 selected monuments that would get this facility.

Jantar Mantar, housing five prominent astronomical observatories, have 14 major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides.

Samrat Jantar, the largest instrument, is nearly 90 feet high and its shadow is carefully plotted to tell the time of day. It can predict time with accuracy up to one second by measuring the shadow of sun.

ASI, Nehru Planetarium in collaboration with the Apeejay Group, a private business enterprise, conducted the preservation and illumination work at the monument. Raja Sawai Jai Singh-II of Jaipur built the observatories during the early 18th century

Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: MSN India

3. Srinagar-Leh highway re-opens after winter!
The Srinagar-Leh highway in Jammu and Kashmir was thrown open to vehicular traffic after six months of biting cold and snowfall.

The strategic 434-km-long highway passes through the Zojilla Pass that connects the cold, mountain region of Ladakh with the rest of the country. It remains closed each year for over six months due to heavy snowfall, which makes any movement across impossible.

Hundreds of vehicles, including private cars, taxis and trucks carrying essential supplies to the Ladakh region, were flagged off at Zojilla Pass by Lieutenant General A.S. Sekhon, General Officer Commanding the army's 15th corps in the Valley.

The first army convoy of this year also crossed the pass, carrying supplies for the troops posted in the extremely inhospitable Ladakh region.

Ladakh has of late also become an attractive tourist destination, for both Indians and foreigners.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Source: MSN India

Travel and Transportation Infrastructure

Sector: Aviation

1. Changi, MADC sign agreement for Nagpur airport

Singapore's Changi international airport would provide consultancy services to Maharashtra Airport Development Company for helping convert the domestic airport here to an international one and train the staff.

An agreement was signed between MADC, a nodal agency for developing a multi-modal international passenger and cargo hub in the city, and Changi airport in Mumbai on Friday.

MADC would pay USD 1,20,000 for the consultancy services, MADC Vice Chairman and Managing Director R C Sinha told PTI from Mumbai.

A joint venture company would be formed by next month, he said. Changi will also guide MADC in setting up a duty-free shop in the airport. The team from Singapore was led by Changi airport manager Kim Peng. Maharashtra government had entered an MoU with MADC in December last year to hand over the airport's control to the company.

Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

2. Training, charter aircraft exempt from import duty
The government today exempted aircraft used in training, non-scheduled and chartered operations from import duties to give a fillip to the booming aviation sector and improve connectivity with remote areas.

The Union Budget 2007-08 had proposed to levy 3 per cent customs duty, 16 per cent counter-veiling duty and 4 per cent additional customs duty on import of all aircraft, except those bought by state-owned airlines.

However, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today announced exempting aircraft imported for training purpose by flying clubs, non-scheduled point-to-point and non-scheduled charter operators from the duties.

"Since civil aviation is a nascent and growing industry, it has been decided to accept this request (of Ministry of Civil Aviation) and exempt these categories also from the duties," Chidambaram said while replying to the debate on Finance Bill 2007-08 in Lok Sabha.

Civil Aviation Ministry had asked Finance Ministry to roll back the tax proposal, saying the move contradicted the government's objective of promoting connectivity to remote areas and tourism and was bound to increase operational costs.

Welcoming the decision, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said: "This relief will help in promoting connectivity to remote areas, including the North-East and the islands, and to remote tourist destinations".

It would also help in the economic development of these areas and promote tourism, he said. Besides, this would promote training institutions and help meet the shortage of pilots the aviation sector is facing. Further, helicopter services operated by non-scheduled operators in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, North-East would also benefit, Patel added

Thursday, May 03, 2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

Sector: Hotels & Restaurants

1. Carlson to pick up 26% in JV with Unitech

US hospitality major Carlson is picking 26% stake in a fresh venture with the Unitech group for introducing the Regent hospitality brand in India. The joint venture would be developing the luxury hotel property located at Greater Noida with an estimated investment of Rs 450 crore. For Carlson, which has global operations under brands such as Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn, Country Inns & Suites apart from Regent, this would be the first such equity venture in the country.

Carlson would be picking 26% stake with a nominal investment of Rs 2.6 crore in the paid-up capital of the joint venture company — Elbrus Builders. This amount will be used for the working capital of the project. Currently, Unitech group companies hold 100% stake, including 34% equity holding through Unitech Hospitality, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the group’s listed arm, Unitech Ltd. Elbrus had in the past got an approval from the Noida Authority to develop a five-star hotel project in the city.

As a part of the deal, Carlson would receive a one-time total initial fee of $100,000, a base management fee of 2.2% of the hotel’s turnover, incentive management fee of 7% of the hotel’s gross operating profit, marketing contribution of 1.5% of hotel’s total revenue. This apart, it would get 1% of hotel’s gross room revenue as reservation charge and $8,000 per month plus reimbursement expenses for hotel development services fee in addition to third-party reservation charges.

It is learnt that Elbrus is also looking to rope in a clutch of PE investors in the project, diluting as much as 49% stake. Following this, Carlson and Unitech would together hold 51% equity in the project. Among other PE players, those in the forefront to pick up equity position in the prestigious project include Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The final decision in this matter is expected to be taken over the next couple of months.

Though Carlson has equity stakes in a few hotel management service ventures, this would be first project in which Carlson would also be directly involved in construction and development of the property. Carlson executives have earlier indicated that the group would be open to picking up anywhere between 26% and 50% stake in individual Regent properties along with local Indian partners. Plans are to set up premium Regent hotels in the country in major gateway cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Goa over the next three years.

Carlson has 26% stake in Country Development & Management Services which is engaged in the hotel management services and for sub-franchising of its brand — Country Inns & Suites by Carlson. The group also has 26% stake in RHW Hotel Management Services which provides management and consultancy services. This apart, Carlson also has 51% equity stake in Carlson Hospitality Marketing(India), which provides sales and marketing services for the hospitality industry. Carlson also has various franchisees for its Radisson brand and also has a collaboration with Sarovar Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts for its brands Park Inn and Park Plaza.

Regent is positioned at the top end of the brand portfolio of Carlson. It is followed by Radisson which is an upscale brand targeted at the contemporary traveller. Then there is Park Plaza, an upper mid-scale brand, Country Inns & Suites by Carlson positioned as a mid-scale hotel brand followed by Park Inn, a value brand

Saturday, May 05, 2007
Source: Economic Times

2. Banyan Tree to start Rs 150 cr JV hotel in Kerala

The Singapore based internationally acclaimed hospitality group - Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts - is foraying into Kerala to start a Rs 150 crore joint venture luxury resort in a backwaters island of Chertalla in Kerala's Alapuzha district.

The resort, which would be the most luxurious in India, would have 60 traditionally built villas with contemporary interpretations and each villa having its own private swimming pool, Banyan Tree Chairman Ho Kwonping told reporters here.

"We will bring an entirely new tourism concept to India and Kerala," he said.
Kerala's famous Ayurvedic therapy will also be used in the Banyan Tree's spa at the new resort, which is expected to be ready by 2008, he said.

The resort would also have luxury houseboats modelled on the lines of the traditional Kerala houseboats, criss-crossing the backwaters with tourists. Each houseboat would also have a jacuzzi.

The Kuwait-based Kapico group will build the hotel on a 20 acre land belonging to the Mini Muthuoot group of Kerala.

The project will be a seven star resort having 33 standard villas, 17 deluxe villas and a presidential villa and two and three bedroom villas on the lake side.

Banyan Tree is joining hands with Kapico Group of Kuwait and Mini Muthoottu of Kerala for the joint venture- Kapico Kerala Resorts Private Ltd.

Wednesday, May02,2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

3. Oberoi Group among top 10 global hotel chains

India's incredible hospitality and heritage has attracted global attention with the country's leading hotel chain, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts grabbing a position among the world's top 10, according to a latest survey.

As per the study conducted by Zagat Survey, leading provider of consumer survey-based leisure content, the Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, which manages luxury hotels and cruisers in India, Egypt, Indonesia, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia has been ranked one of the world's top hotels, resorts and spas.

The domestic hotel chain has booked its place in the top 10 list along with global high profile hotel chains like Amanresorts, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental, Raffles, St Regis and Shangri-La.

Oberoi was ranked ninth among the top 10 leading chains, hotels, resorts and spas across the world, according to the 2007/2008 World's Top Hotels, Resorts and Spas survey report released by Zagat Surveys.

In the small hotels, resorts and inns segment with less than 100 rooms the Oberoi Udaivilas was ranked the sixth and in terms of rooms (based on rooms score) and service it was ranked fifth and enjoyed a tie with Inn/Little Washington DC.

While, taking into consideration the dining and facilities the Oberoi Udaivilas was ranked third again a tie with Inn/Little Washington DC.

The Oberoi Group, owns and manages 32 hotels and luxury cruisers across five countries under the Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and Trident Hilton brands. The group is also engaged in flight catering, airport restaurants, travel and tour service, car rentals, project management and corporate air charters

Wednesday, May02, 2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

4. Everybody wants to be a hotelier

If 2000 was about internet burn-out, 2004 was about telecom roll out then 2007 might well be the year for hotel build-out. Corporations, real estate developers and investment funds all want to build a hotel. To do this, they are willing to pay unheard of sums for land and for old hotel properties.

Consider the flurry of action in the sector. Hotel Leelaventures is shelling out the highest price ever paid for a hotel property in Delhi — Rs 611 crore. Emaar-MGF paid Rs 388 crore for the two plots in Jasola at a recent DDA auction. Those are developers. Talk about corporations now.

Reliance Industries is developing a hotel. Bombay Dyeing is entering the supply-deficient hospitality sector and is in talks with Peninsula, Walt Disney, Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons for managing some of its hotels. Not to be outdone, private equity players have put money into the sector.

Recently Warburg Pincus picked up 27% stake in Delhi-based Lemon Tree Hotels for Rs 280 crore, ICICI Venture Funds picked up a stake in Hyderabad’s Viceroy Hotels for Rs 100 crore, WestBridge Capital Partners acquired 10% stake for Rs 250-million in Royal Orchid Hotels , Sarovar Hotels inked a Rs 100-crore agreement with US-based Bessemer Venture Partners and New Vernon.

All these investors are betting on the scarcity of hotel rooms and consequently, healthy rates of return. There is an immediate requirement of approximately 100,000 new hotel rooms across cities, only 75% of this demand is being met by the projects that are currently underway.

On account of the supply lag, average room rates (ARRs) and occupancy rates have been on the rise and its expected to increase by 20-25% over the next two years and stabilise thereafter. In 2006, occupancy rate across 10 major cities in the country touched 74.5% and ARR was about Rs 7,800.

These high ARRs have given all the would-be hoteliers a good base to show high rates of return on their projects. Typically, hotel projects command a IRR of 30% pre-tax. While the hotel project gets profitable after three to four years of operation, it breaks even after five to seven years.

However, hotel project gestation period has fallen from four years to 18-24 months. “The recent change in interest rate may have an impact on the project cost, thereby affecting the IRR,” said Siddarth Thaker, associate director of HVS hospitality Services. But there is one area where experts are worried: too many announcements but little work.

Thursday, May 03, 2007
Source: Economic Times

5. Gate Gourmet ready for a taste of India

Gate Gourmet, a global airline catering and logistics provider, has taken its first step to expand into India, to gain a foothold into what it believes is one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Advani Hotels & Resorts India for the transfer and sale of its flight catering unit, Airport Plaza Flight Services. The enterprise is the sole airline caterer at the international airport in Goa.

Airline customers are primarily charter companies and domestic carriers. The agreement is subject to due diligence and the approval of Advani’s shareholders. Terms were not disclosed. “We are very pleased and excited about the prospects of entering the Indian subcontinent for the first time,” said Guy Dubois, executive vice-president, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer.

“Gate Gourmet has successfully restructured and is now poised for strategic growth. India, with its vibrant economy, is a natural area for expansion where we can offer our unique blend of culinary innovation and logistic expertise to a new roster of clients.”

Mark Wall, president of the Asia Pacific/Middle East region, said, “India’s growing importance is clearly defining a new leadership role in all aspects of the aviation industry. We are extremely pleased about this cooperation, and the opportunities to further expand into this region.”

Founded in 1992, Gate Gourmet is the world’s largest independent airline catering and logistics company. Revenue in 2006 was 2.4 billion Swiss francs. With approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, Gate Gourmet produces an average of 200 million meals annually, serving customers from 95 flight kitchens in 26 different countries and five continents.

Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: Economic Times

6. ITC Sonar Bangla first hotel to get carbon credits

The ITC Sonar Bangla here has become the first hotel in the world to obtain Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued under the aegis of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention, officials said Friday.

These CERs, also known as carbon credits, are issued under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: IANS via Economic Times

Medical Tourism

1. India promotes med, rain tourism for Arabian tourists

To promote round-the-year tourism in the country, India has taken a number of initiatives to woo more tourists from the Arab nations, with a thrust on medical and rain tourism.

"The Indian government aims to develop the country into a sustainable tourism destination. Our economy is booming and so is incredible India.

"Various initiatives are under way in the tourism sector with the sole objective of attracting more visitors to the country," Sanjay Kothari, Additional Director-General in the Ministry of Tourism, told PTI.

Kothari was here to take part in the Arabian Travel Market convention which opened yesterday.

Indian states taking part in the four-day long event include -- Kerala, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, Uttarakhand, Assam, Pondicherry, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Kothari said the tourism ministry has launched integrated international media campaigns to promote India as a must see tourist destination. The campaign focuses on both generic and niche areas to convert the country into a destination for 365 days a year.

The theme for the West Asian market is "Chasing the Monsoon", he said.

The recent introduction of Medical Visa would help in the growth of medical tourism sector, Kothari said, adding under this visa, a patient along with an attendant can come to India for a period of one year, which can be extended further up to three years.

"India is also a shopper's paradise with its traditional handicrafts from different regions of the country and modern shopping malls in various cities," he said.

With the Conference and Convention Tourism gaining importance, India has announced several schemes to increase the capacity of existing infrastructure and construct world class international convention centres through private- public partnership in Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Kochi, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram, he said.

"Infrastructural facilities in the country are being augmented in a well-planned manner. With an open sky policy providing better air connectivity, the aviation system has been radically liberalised," Kothari said.

In order to overcome the shortage in accommodation, efforts are on to build 150,000 hotel rooms in the next four years, he said. Besides, the new 'Bed and Breakfast' scheme has been launched to cater to the requirements of more tourists.

The tourism ministry has also proposed to create a Land Bank by acquiring land from land owning agencies for building hotels in PPP model, he said.

The Urban Development Ministry has agreed to allot three sites in Delhi to the Ministry of Tourism which would help in meeting some accommodation requirements of tourists in the national capital in view of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, Kothari added.

Wednesday, May 02,2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

2. Medical tourism to touch $1.5 bn by 2010

The tourism industry can get a major boost if the hospitality industry, travel specialist (agents), state government and local people work collectively towards promoting medical tourism in India. This was one of the major issues discussed at an international seminar—Maharashtra Vision II—organised by the Maharashtra Economic Development Council (MEDC), on Thursday.

‘‘Medical tourism is one of the most lucrative industry as it is anticipated to attract tourists from world over especially the UK, South Africa, Canada and Malaysia, and is expected to grow into a $1.5 billion industry by 2010,’’ said Abhijeet Patil of Raja Rani Health Alliance.

‘‘With increasing number of medical tourists coming to India, tour operators have immense opportunities to grab their own share of financial profits by way of fee-based agreements with the hospitals,’’ he added.

Patil also noted that it is important to form an alliance of medical professionals and institutions to work towards the goal of promoting India as a medical tourism centre in a united consortium.

‘‘What we need is a panel of efficient doctors and hospitals to provide core of the treatment process, integrate the Maharashtra tourism development corporation (MTDC) to provide infrastructure support, set up alliances for marketing and promotion of activities,’’ said Sudhir Patil of Kesari Travels.

Vitthal Kamat of the Kamat Group of hotels echoed the same sentiments. ‘‘With most modern medical services infrastructure, availability of state-of-the-art hospitals and medical centres with modern amenities and technologies, world class facilities for traditional systems including naturopathy and ayurveda along with the world renowned tourist attractions and heritage places, tourism sector can grow leaps and bounds,’’ he said

Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: The Financial Express

Religious Tourism

1. Spotlight is now turned on Buddhism
The year 2007 is being celebrated as the 2,550th year of Buddha’s ‘Mahaparinirvana’.

It is estimated that 15 percent of the four million foreign tourists coming to India annually make it a point to visit the Taj Mahal. The ‘great monument to love’ fetches us nearly 600 million US dollars in foreign exchange. But if the efforts of the Tourism Department, aided by inputs from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) proves fruitful, then the Holy Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya might provide us with more tourist revenue (estimated at one billion dollars) than the Taj Mahal.

Buddhism founded in North India is not a religion but a system of philosophy and a code of morality. With 6.6 million Buddhists in its manifold, the country abounds in a plethora of monuments and locales associated with Buddhism. Today, there are over 500 million Buddhists all over the world especially in the Far East and the South-East Asian countries. Though the sects and beliefs within Buddhism are many, they all look upon these sites in North India with great reverence and Lord Buddha himself had exhorted his followers to be, to make the pilgrimage to India, the birth place of Buddhism.

In his words “O-Bhikshus’ after my death when people and members of new generation come and ask you, then tell them that here the Buddha was born, here he attained full enlightenment, here he turned the wheel of Dharma twelve times, and here finally the Buddha entered into Parinirvana”.

Hundreds of years have gone by, but architectural splendours, still standing resoundingly are ample testimony to Buddhist philosophy and doctrines.

The four famous places of Buddhist pilgrimage are Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, which are associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. Lumbini, in Nepal, is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The other sites are in India. Bodh Gaya was the place, under the pipal or Bo tree, where the Buddha was enlightened after practicing meditation for several years. Sarnath was the site of his first teaching and Kushinagar was the place of his death or Mahaparinirvana.

In 1957, when the 2,500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha was celebrated, the interest to develop these pilgrimage centres was rekindled. Unfortunately nothing much was done. Fifty years later, the tourism department has drawn up a plan of action to celebrate 2007 as the 2,550th year of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana. The Mahabodi temple in Bodhgaya town in Bihar, where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment 2,500 years ago is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today many important projects like the resuscitation of the 2,500-year-old Buddhist University of Nalanda and the proposed Buddha statue project of Maitreya - an international organisation are important tourist spots.

The aim, the statue sponsors say, is not just to build a unique statue but “to benefit as many people as possible for as long as possible”. The 152 metre (500 feet) high Buddha will stand in the centre of 750 acres of landscaped environs, designed to last at least a 1,000 years.

The question now is, where are the Buddhist tourists who are coming to see these holy places? In 2006, the total traffic to the Buddhist circuit was two lakhs, a mere five percent of the total inbound tourist traffic to India. Estimated Buddhist visitors to India in 2005 from select countries as against percentage of the Buddhist population in those countries was less than 0.6 percent. Travel agents say nearly one million tourists turned away due to high costs or infrastructural constraints such as lack of accommodation, interpreters etc. Of these Buddhist pilgrims, Japanese tourists alone numbered more than 50 percent and were also the most aggrieved, as they found the hotels/transport in the Buddhist circuit to be very primitive. In the last 50 years Japan had, with the cooperation of Air-India, constructed hotels of international standard in Bodh Gaya. In 2007, Rs 400 crore was allocated to make the Buddhist circuit ‘tourist friendly’.

In the past 50 years, India has failed to promote these Buddhist sites, with even foreign funds obtained remaining under-utilised.

The study by FICCI suggested three Buddhist circuits. Life of Buddha; locations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar related to Buddha’s life which are places of pilgrimage interest combined with Lumbini in Nepal. Icons of Buddhism sites are spread in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh which have commemorative structures of artistic and archeological interest. By designing effective strategies to promote India as a Buddhist hub, the circuits can aim to attract 0.25 per cent of the world’s Buddhist population by 2012. This is equivalent to about one million tourists – a rise of 500 percent from the current annual base of two lakhs, giving India a tourist revenue of Rs 4,500 crores. It calls for increasing the number of direct international flights from important source markets like China and Japan to India, and raising the frequency of domestic flights between Buddhist sites like Bodhgaya and Varanasi.

As a first step,the Indian Railways has launched a new Buddhist circuit special luxury train, Maha-Parinirvan Special, from February 2007. It will cover prominent Buddhist pilgrim centres in India and Nepal. This is the first major link to all Buddhist pilgrim spots in India and Nepal in the environs of luxury and comfort.

Sunday, 29 April, 2007
Source: Deccan Herald

Holistic Healing Service Providers

Travel Characteristics of Indians

1. Cheap dollar a boon for outbound travelers

India’s outbound travellers are a happier lot nowadays. With the dollar getting cheaper vis-a-vis rupee, they have more than one reason to cheer.

First, overseas travel becomes more competitive, thanks to a more favourable exchange rate. What’s more, a cheaper dollar offers a higher spending power to the Indian traveller, already counted among the biggest spenders in the world. The bottomline: more bang out of the buck.

Over the last one month period, the rupee appreciated nearly 5.5% against the greenback. The rupee is stronger by around 7.7% this year, the best performing Asian currency against the dollar. At present, it is hovering around the 41-mark, a nine-year high level. According to a cross-section of tour operators, the dollar's persistent weakness has had a positive outcome on outbound tourism.

“With the rupee gaining, Indian holidaymakers have more reasons to splurge. The Indian travellers now have an option to buy and choose from the renowned international brands present in Port Louis shopping district of Mauritius. The average spend of Indian travellers in Mauritius is $75-80, apart from boarding & lodging,” said Mr Rajeev Nangia, associate director-operations of TRAC Representations

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Source: Economic Times

Investment related

Travel and Tourism Support Industries …and much more

Policy Related

1. First Northeast India Tourism Festival begins
A five-day cultural festival began here on Friday with the eight north-eastern states taking part in the carnival aimed at promoting tourism in the region.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the Northeast India Tourism Festival where a number of leading tour operators, officials of the union tourism ministry and the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim, participated.

Various cultural troupes from the region are taking part in the event.

"The northeast, including Sikkim, is a region endowed with diverse tourist attractions having its own distinct features," said Nepal Sinha, Tripura's information and tourism commissioner.

"The rich natural beauty and the exotic flora and fauna of the area are invaluable resources for the development of eco-tourism," said Sinha.

West Bengal Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee was also present at the inaugural function. The festival, sponsored by the union tourism ministry, would hold a series of seminars, besides cultural and traditional fashion shows.

"The central government has taken keen interest in the development of tourism infrastructure in the northeast," said another official.

"The Himalayan range of Arunachal Pradesh with its snow-capped mountains, the world's highest rainfall region of Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in Meghalaya, the one-horned rhino at Kaziranga and Manas, the unique phenomenon of birds committing suicide in the Jatinga hills are some of the diverse attractions for nature lovers," a promotional pamphlet read.

Friday, May 04, 2007
Source: IANS via Economic Times

2. UP fails to use funds for tourism promotion

Uttar Pradesh has failed to utilise the central funds allocated for development and promotion of tourism in the state.

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said the Centre had assigned funds for the development of some of the important tourism sites, including Taj Mahal for which the government gave Rs 50 crore, but the state government has not been able to spend the money.

Ministry of Tourism has adopted a strategy to position tourism as a major engine of economic growth and planned creation of world-class tourist infrastructure during the 11th Plan.

Budget 2007-08 has earmarked Rs 953 crore for tourism promotion but the Planning Commission is still to allocate the fund to the ministry

Thursday, May 03, 2007
PTI via Economic Times

Service Providers

1. Planning your holidays on the Net could get simpler

The way you plan your travel itinerary is changing at the speed of Internet. To keep pace with the rest of the world, India too needs to focus on new online strategies for inbound and outbound travel, suggest organisers of an upcoming conference on the subject.

To be held at the Hotel Inter Continental The Grand here May 18, the conference will focus on new opportunities for online travel payments and how to target, engage, fulfil and retain online customers, among other themes.

Among the speakers for the event are Travelguru.com CEO Ashwin Damera, Yatra.com co-founder Dhruv Shringi, and Travelocity India Managing Director Himanshu Singh.

The conference is aimed at executives from airlines and hotels, online travel providers, tour operators and agencies, other travel suppliers, leisure and holiday travellers, corporate and business travellers and executives from software companies.

Growing Internet access and the enhanced popularity of cyberspace has made this medium a convenient way through which many plan their holidays, buy their tickets and book into hotels.

Currently, a number of networks offer an amazing range of information about travel in India - including collaboratively crafted enterprises like IndiaMike.com or chalukyas.com, which is ' a group of travel enthusiasts that provide accounts of trips and travel across India'.

One of the sites that offers credible information is incredibleindia.org, the official site of the ministry of tourism and culture. Other popular sites include indiatravelportal.com, Lonely Planet of India, Wikitravel (wikitravel.org/en/India).

Tuesday May 1,2007
Source: By IANS via Yahoo India New