Tourism and Travel Trends from India:

News and views on India's Travel and Hospitality Sector

Weekly News Related to Travel Industry in India

Places in the News

1. Tales from a Himalayan hill station
High on a hotel terrace in Darjeeling, an alarming noise pierced the Himalayan mists. One moment it sounded like a braying donkey, the next like a crow being strangled. Was it an animal? A bird? “No, no, sir,” said the hotel receptionist. “It is Doctor Sprigg of Kalimpong, tuning up his bagpipes.” That afternoon, my wife, Clare, and I took a two-hour taxi ride down corkscrew roads to find this unexpected musician. “Reach in peace, not in pieces,” urged safe-driving signs. “Road is hilly. Don’t be silly.” We knocked on the door of an isolated guesthouse and a man in his mid-seventies opened it: Dr Keith Sprigg, from Melton Mowbray, a Tibetologist retired from London University and a Kalimpong resident for 20 years. He had a bristling Elgarian moustache and was wearing his old Cambridge University blazer and Oakham School tie.
He had, it transpired, led expeditions into Nepal and was the last Westerner out of Tibet before the Chinese invasion. “I remember one expedition where we had 30 porters,” he said. “Two of them carried the hundredweight of coins that we had brought with us to pay the other 28.”

He poured brandies for us and a Cinzano for himself, reminisced about Darjeeling’s last British tea planter and the coronation of the King of Sikkim, and finally waved us off in the taxi. That meeting – the first of many –was ten years ago, but its eccentricity is still par for the course in Kalimpong, an easygoing, endearingly ramshackle former British hill station about 1,200m (4,000ft) up in the mountains in the top right-hand corner of India.

On our most recent visit this year, as a break from the urgent bustle of Darjeeling, we found goats still wandering its main street. Boys played cricket with upturned chicken baskets for wickets. The shops were full of Buddhist prayer flags and Tibetan jewellery, reflecting the town’s fascinating position at the cultural and commercial crossroads of Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim.

For all its Cotswoldy Victorian church, it feels exotic, in a homely sort of way, and now that Dr Sprigg and his wife Elizabeth have decamped to Sussex (more of this later), there are three main reasons for visiting: the Buddhist monasteries, the walks, and the Himalayan Hotel, an oasis from the clatter and clutter of the town.

The Himalayan looks like a manse in the Scottish Highlands. It has a quiet, old-fashioned charm and is surrounded by pots of pink and white petunias, bamboo groves and banks of scarlet poinsettias. Bulbuls, the most tuneful of Indian birds, burble in the trees, and at night distant dogs bark and cocks crow across the valley.

The hotel’s two modern blocks are cosy and comfortable, but its foursquare old block, with its oak ceilings and teak pillars, is the place for character. The bedrooms have log fires and pictures of doughty Tibetan yaks and even doughtier Tibetan women. At night, the watchman brings scalding hot-water bottles full enough to use as footballs. There’s porridge, poached eggs and toast and marmalade for breakfast (mulligatawny soup, roast chicken and rice pudding, as well as Indian food, for dinner). And there’s “bed tea”, brought to the bedroom before breakfast. On our first morning, we wrap ourselves in shawls and take our tray out on to the broad veranda, where we watch the sun’s first rays pick out the pale blue peaks of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain. Suddenly the clouds part and it rears like a dazzling iceberg: 50 miles away, but unimaginably vast.

We share breakfast with three brothers from Sikkim who have been stuck at home for a week behind shoulder-high snow. “Very good poached eggs,” says one. Over the years, the Himalayan’s guests have included the conquerors of Everest, Hillary and Tenzing; Peter Ustinov; Richard Gere; and, most memorably, Princess Nina of Georgia, who entertained local youths by standing naked at her bedroom window with her pet parrot, trained to imitate the bells of mule trains bound for Tibet.

Those were the great days of Kalimpong trekking, when guidebooks gave specific clothing advice to gentlemen: “1 pair puttees . . . 1 pair jodhpurs . . . 1 topee . . . 1 pair grey flannel trousers . . . 1 dressing gown.” Bear in mind, one book added, that “for rough work, such as carrying bath water, and so forth, the tiffin coolie may be used” and that “muleteers and coolies are, though dirty, and, as a rule, when wet, odiferous, an interesting crowd”. Some of the old frontier-town atmosphere still lingers at the Wednesday market, where farmers from surrounding hill tribes sell pyramids of cauliflowers, lemons and root ginger, posters of Hindu gods, live chickens, incense sticks, sacks of grain and bright red chillis.

But the town has moved on during the past ten years. The market also sells travel clocks and fake designer trainers. The bazaars boast a mobile phone repair shop, Bob’s CD Parlour and Playnet World, one of a dozen cyber-cafés where saffron-robed monks surf the net and plug into chat-lines, their mobiles slung from their prayer beads. Better, perhaps, to take a taxi to see the golden Buddhas at the Tharpa Choling Monastery, where, in a dungeon-dark, smoke-filled kitchen, we find an old man chopping spinach to make soup for the monks (“47 monks,” he volunteers, helpfully). Across town, up the Upper Cart Road, clouds swirl around us at the hilltop Zong Dog Monastery. Hundreds of butter lamps flicker, venerable men with ponytails turn creaking prayer wheels, wind chimes play, a gong tolls in the mist. A few chanting monks and it could be Lost Horizon.

We walk back into town along a lane straddling a high, narrow ridge. With its half-timbered bungalows and its kitchen gardens of dahlias and geraniums, it suggests suburban England. Or, at any rate, suburban England with pumpkins drying on corrugated tin roofs and prayer flags fluttering from high bamboo poles.

The last vestige of England here was really Dr Sprigg, who always piped Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve. He and his late first wife, Ray, lived in one guesthouse room, its shelves piled high with orange-backed 1940s Penguins, Rider Haggard, Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogues and the doctor’s own 730-page Phonology of the Grammatical Constituents of Verbal Phrase Words in Spoken Tibetan.

The couple had married in Melton Mowbray. “A Tibetan lama I knew turned up at the wedding with ceremonial scarves,” he recalled. “He quite eclipsed us. It was all over the Stamford Mercury.”

Aug 11, 2007
Source: The Times

Travel and Transportation Infrastructure

Sector: Aviation

1. MIAL considers a helicopter service from airport to South Mumbai

Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL) is considering a helicopter service from the Mumbai International Airport to South Mumbai. It intends to use the helipad at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse for the services and has sent a written request to the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) for the same. MIAL is also in the process of applying for a 'Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit', the licence for starting air charter operations.

MIAL has also forwarded a copy to Jairaj Pathak, the city's Municipal Commissioner. This is primarily because the racecourse land belongs to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and has been leased to RWITC till 2013. However, the commissioner has said that the body would prefer not to interfere in the matter between MIAL and RWITC. On the other hand, officials at the RWITC maintain that they are yet to receive such a letter. They also said that the body will consider the offer if it does not cause disturbance to the racecourse's routine activities.

Aug 11, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor

2. Aviation Ministry to connect smaller cities? 

The aviation sector seems ready to spread its wings to smaller cities, with the civil aviation ministry bringling out a new classification for regional airlines, that will be given licenses more easily to ply on non-metro routes.

Till now, the aviation boom in the country has been about passengers through airports like major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Airlines use them as hubs, the trunk routes between them make up the bulk of an airline's profitability, but the aviation boom in India has yet eluded the smaller cities. The non-metro towns in the Indian hinterland, but all that might just change, a separate category of airlines with smaller aircraft, called the 'Regional Airlines'.

In the words of the Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, connecting smaller cities would mean - Having the 'Regional Airlines' to operate from non metro to metro cities, across the coutry thus connecting the non metros to the metros efficiently.

This would mean smaller cities will now get fast access to metro hubs.

It would also put more cities on the aviation map.

And with the government giving incentives to keep the ticket prices low, the idea seems pocket friendly too. Giving examples like a flight between Trichy and Jaipur, Patel said a regional airline, besides flying within its own region, could also fly to any other Tier-II or III cities, outside without touching a metro in the other region. As the southern region has designated metro airports in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, the regional carrier would be allowed to operate between all the three cities.

On pricing of tickets by regional airlines, he said it would be market-driven. He said existing provisions for Scheduled Operator Permit required for large carriers would remain in force alongside the rules for regional airlines. "Such permits (for regional airlines) would be considered only for those companies which have proven financial strength and organisational capabilities," he said.

In order to develop airports and airstrips in various states, a chief ministers' conference would be convened later this year to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The aviation minister also said that several states like Maharashtra and Karnataka were taking aviation seriously and had sent proposals to the Civil Aviation Ministry for development of local airports. These included proposals for airports at Hassan, Gulbarga and Shimoga, apart from those for setting up of flying schools and developing airstrips. The conference would aim at encouraging states to come up with schemes to create or improve aviation infrastructure and boost tourism and travel, he added.

The separate category of regional airlines makes it easier for small operators to get licenses. From regions like the North-East, that have always suffered from a lack of connectivity, to the deserts of Rajasthan, that have made travelling long distances an arduous effort, the concept of regional airlines should help connect the dots across the country.

Aug 10, 2007
Source: Times Now

Sector: Railways

1. IRCTC shortlists hospitality partners for developing 100 properties

The Indian Railways has generated keen response from major hospitality players for constructing budget hotels across the country. Brands including the Taj, Best Western and Orchid are on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)'s list of seven short-listed hotel companies for developing hotels on the railways' surplus land through public private partnership.

IRCTC has earmarked 42,846 hectares of its vacant land at 20 different sites for developing a total of about 100 budget hotels. The sites are located in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Agra, Darjeeling and Jaipur among other places. As per estimates, IRCTC will earn about Rs 300 crore through this hospitality venture.
Aug 11, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor

Sector: Waterways

1. Incredible India in cruise control
Indian tourism has off late been taking on an endearing vigour which is reflecting the prognosis that World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have made on its future prospect. One of the key evolutionary trends that have recently emerged in Indian tourism's approach is segmentation as a way to create captive markets for every niche, thereby gaining a larger macro market share. And few other niches hold as much potential as the one that has caught the Indian government's fancy most recently. Cruising was for most part, viewed as an outbound phenomenon in light of the gathering rush of Indian tourists flying to an accessible Far East made for a ready, convertible market for cruise departures from Singapore and Hong Kong. The current decade has however, seen Indians graduate as thoroughbred cruisers, having navigated most of the globe. Given how successfully other countries have developed a captive high yielding domestic tourism segment by focusing on cruise tourism, the Indian government swept itself into emulous mode. With 7,500 km long coastline pierced by 12 ports and 185 minor ports, all functional, this particular transport mode may be spared the aviation ministry's favourite pet headache, infrastructure.

Ministry on a cruise mode
It was a pleasant case of 'suddenly something' when two rather unfamiliar colleagues in the Ministry of Shipping and Department of Tourism and Culture surprised the rest of the political lot by proffering a cruise tourism circuit linked by strategic ports, sparking off a "cruism" buzz. The Ministry of Shipping appointed a committee chaired by Mumbai Port Trust, Chairperson, Rani Jadhav, mandated to consider the infrastructure and marketing activities needed to jump-start an overdue segment. The five ports mooted include Mumbai, Mormugao (Goa), Mangalore and Kochi along the West coast circuit and Tuticorin on the East. While Star Cruises (Mumbai and Goa to Lakshadweep) and Indian Ocean Cruise (Goa to Lakshadweep via Mangalore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram) remain the only two operators, TravelBiz Monitor (TBM) has learnt there are more international and in fact Indian players in the wings. The Ministry of Tourism also recently introduced a slew of incentives aimed at stimulating private sector intent to begin domestic cruises like grants of 20 to 25 per cent of the capital costs of a private operator. The government is currently talking to Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the intention of initiating a line of credit for the private sector and individual states. All this alacrity is undoubtedly driven by the potential that commissioned studies on the segment has revealed. According to a study by an industry body, India and China together have 900 million middle-class 'cruise potential population'. Already 50,000 tourists arrived in India on 55 cruise vessels during 2006-'07. Super Star Libra, one of the two cruise liners operating domestic cruises along India's West coast hosted more than 1,60,000 passengers from Mumbai alone in the October - May season of 2006-'07.

Cruise Tourism - Indian Scenario

Ports of call
Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin & Chennai

Turn-around ports
Mumbai and Kochi ports
Mumbai is the third largest base port in the region after Singapore and Mombassa

Home port
Superstar Libra of Star Cruises has Mumbai as its home port from October 2005

Government initiative
Govt. has identified cruise tourism as a thrust area
Four ports on West coast and two on East coast - all weather ports - have been selected.
All ports on international map and ISPS compliant with clean berths with drafts10 mtr. - 12 mtr.

Cruise visits at Indian ports and passenger nos.

13 cruise ships visit India: Cunnard, Princess, Holland-America, P&O

Growth of Indian Cruise Tourism projection by CRISIL

Cruise visits at Mumbai port
Home port (domestic cruises)
For third largest cruise line Star Cruises from Oct, 2005
Cruise season 05-06 : 99 calls, Pax - 66,717
Cruise season 06-'07 : 130 calls, Pax - 1,00,000 (est.)

Turn-around port (international cruises)
Mumbai second largest base port in the region after Singapore

Cruise calls :
Cruise season 05-06 - 21 calls
Cruise season 06-07 - 32 calls

The national cruise policy, due for a tentative release by end of this year is expected to bring relief in the form of seamless immigration, lower fuel duties and improved transit infrastructure. Jadhav in an exclusive to TBM said, "The temporary relaxation of cabotage laws and simplification of procedures vis-à-vis immigration and customs are testament to our earnestness to promote cruise tourism. In fact, apart from domestic cruise circuits, we are also targeting Sri Lanka as the first touch point for an international cruise that starts from India. Mumbai alone received 77,251 tourists with 120 vessels in 2006-07, registering a whooping growth of 60 per cent in the passenger traffic over 2005-06. We are also witnessing transport integration between the cruise, land and air arrangements, which is an important trend."

Cruise terminal infrastructure is also being created in Mumbai, Goa and Tuticorin, where currently, provisional terminals have been created with container facilities. Mumbai port recently floated tenders for building a Rs 200-crore new cruise terminal. All of this is expected to result in a consolidated 2010 target of a million domestic and inbound cruise tourists. For 2007-'08 up to 54 cruise companies have sought permissions to berth their ocean liners in Indian ports, which is unprecedented in the Indian context.

Going West
Apart from the port authorities, it is the state tourism boards that will eventually have to play the long term role in growing this segment. Naturally, the coastal states have a strategic advantage over their landlocked peers. Even amongst this fortunate clique, only Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala have garnered a headstart. Abhay Yawalkar, Director of Tourism, Government of Maharastra and Joint Managing Director of MTDC informed that work was on for development of new cruise terminal in Mumbai and a facelift for the current one was also on the anvil. "Apart from developing cruise terminals, we are also looking at attracting tourism through floating restaurants and water sports," he added. Domestic cruises have seen increased interest in Goa particularly with the operations of Super Star Libra and Indian Ocean Cruise Line Ltd. The Mormugao cruise terminal also currently went through a refurbishment to be extended to a 1,200 sq. mtrs. Slow, yet steady initiatives are also coming from Kerala, which conducted the International Boat Show in October, 2006 and is now working on waterway connectivity for the neighbouring states.

The Government of Karnataka (GoK) like Maharashtra has put domestic cruises high on its agenda. Infrastructure Development Corporation Karnataka Limited (iDeCK), which was set up as a joint venture between GoK and the Infrastructure Development Finance Company Ltd, has prepared a project report on how best to develop the coastal circuit. In the first phase it will develop Ullal, Surathkal, Kappu and Someshwar and consider destinations such as Karwar for the next phase. Bore Gowda, Joint Director, Karnataka Tourism said they will be developing cruise tourism with iDeCK as their partner for the same.

This buzz is however offset by a bit of skepticism about the perceived success of domestic cruise tourism, considering mixed opinions on how Star Cruises' cruiseliner has performed so far. According to Cox and Kings, it has not seen occupancy levels beyond 60 per cent. Anju Tandon, Faraway Places Marketing Pvt Ltd, however believes Superstar Libra has been doing rather well, saying that 25 per cent of inventory for the next year had already been sold and a 10 to 15 per cent growth is expected for the upcoming season. Rajendra Kakade, Area Sales Manager, Interglobe Cruises, added, "There are infrastructure related problems at the ports which is curbing more growth. Mumbai and Goa ports, both essentially provisional, are almost oversaturated as hubs. More so, if domestic cruise tourism is to grow, it needs to be more than just a western phenomenon."

There is a tickling irony to this snowballing trend. Little over three years ago, when this reporter was interviewing Ashwini Kakkar, now Mercury Travels' Executive Vice-Chairman, about the state of inbound tourism, he lamented that tourism at the inception of the great Indian democracy languished at number 156, immediately below lighthouses in the government's priority rostrum. The metaphor herein is encouragingly unmistakable as the bureaucracy of the day are busy illuminating lighthouses dotting the coastline to woo an international phenomenon that has swept up the world's elite and middle class alike and could have their waterborne hotels dock in sooner than expected. Wonder what number are the lighthouses at, now

Aug 6, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor

2. MPT earmarks Apollo Bunder as potential site for Mumbai cruise terminal

Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) has earmarked Apollo Bunder, off Radio Club, as a potential site for Mumbai's dedicated cruise terminal. Official sources have informed TravelBiz Monitor that the terminal is expected to be ready by 2010 and an investment of Rs 150 crore has been lined up for the same. MPT has also approved Zebec Marine as consultant for designing and developing the blue print for the new cruise terminal and is now awaiting clearance from the centre. The role of the consultant in the project will range from identification and finalisation of the site for the terminal, formulation of the project and identification of traffic flow, post which a tendering process will commence to identify the company that will eventually construct the terminal on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring connectivity to the terminal by road and also linking it to the airport.

The terminal will include duty free shopping, communication centre, foreign exchange centre, immigration facilities and port health organisation, and will accommodate two international cruise liners at a time and will extend limited amount of services to catamarans. The development of the cruise terminal in Mumbai is part of the initiative to develop Indian cruise tourism and is expected to be vital to invite increased interest from international cruise players into the country, as well as generate curiosity for domestic cruise tourism. It had earlier been reported that the potential move of cargo traffic away from Mumbai to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) could free up more land for dedicated cruise infrastructure. The National Maritime Development Programme in fact has a mandate to boost cruise tourism within India. Kochi also has plans to set up an exclusive cruise terminal with Public-Private Participation (PPP) at an investment of Rs 55 crore.
Aug 6, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor

Sector: Hotels & Restaurants

1. Domina to bring Italian flavour to India
The Domina Hotel Group, Italy’s largest hotel and resort operator, will start operations in India in the next two years.

The group is targeting tier-I and tier-II cities and will bring in its three-, four- and five-star brands – Domina Inn, Domina Hotel and Domina Prestige. It plans to build 30 properties in India in the next five years.

“We are targeting tier-I and tier-II cities such as Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Pune, Shantigarh and Indore. We are evaluating several opportunities in these destinations with regard to new development and existing hotels,” said Francois Droulers, vice-president, director development and acquisitions, Domina Hotel Group

“We have a firm belief that the Domina Hotel Group would be successful in India as in all other 15 countries we operate,” added Gopika Mohla, country director, development and acquisitions, Domina Hotel India.

Aug 10, 2007
Source: Business Standard

Niche Tourism

Medical

1. Medical tourism set to become a $2 bn industry

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.

In 'New York Times Travel Show' in February this year this segment was promoted through a session organised by India Tourism Office, New York, Indian High Commission and CII to promote Indian healthcare services and invite investment in India. The Ministry also participated at the World Travel Mart(WTM) 2006 in London in November last year and at International Tourism Bourse (ITB) at Berlin in March this year to promote India in a big way as the new emerging healthcare destination and disseminate information on "Medical Value Travel."

Ministry sources said the response was positive. A lot of queries were generated from the potential tourists, medical tourism companies, health insurance companies, travel and tour operators.

Aug 8, 2007
Source: PTI via Hindustan Times

Rural
Wine
Heritage
Adventure
Education
Nature tourism
Luxury & rejuvenation ( ayurveda, spas, holistic healing, cruises, customized travel)

Others

1. India's incredible MICE market so hot right now
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. In recent times, we've all heard about India's massive outbound Meetings Incentive Conventions and Events (MICE) sector, but word has begun to get around that it's a two way street, and India inbound MICE market is also starting to heat up.

"When I say India, it evokes certain images.  It brings out certain feelings, it touches senses and it gives certain memories.  There are a lot of preconceived notions out there, and a lot of visuals that you're bombarded with on a daily basis of what India is like," said Rajeev Kohli, India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) Vice Chairman.

The modern India, while still famous for its ancient culture, also has bustling metropolitan cities, some of the most modern technology in the world, and a strong focus on opening itself up to the world. "Today's India is different.  It's hot, it's happening, it's vibrant, it's changing, it's incredible, and it is the right place at the right time," continues Mr Kohli.
"These are the images which you are seeing these days in the media, as an industry, we have seen many increases in tourism arrivals into the destination.  There has been [in recent years] increases in corporate traffic, and as corporate travel increases so does MICE traffic."

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. "As a destination, we have some of the finest hotels in the world, this is unquestioned.  Conde Nast, Tattlers and Travel + Leisure… have voted more than one Indian hotel as the top five out of its category," Mr Kohli exclaims. "We can offer an accommodation to meet every budget, and every whim and fancy of the client." So how do you get there?  With the new Jet Airways and Qantas codeshare, India has become closer than ever.  The services originate from five cities in Australia (Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide) and fly direct to Delhi, with a stop in Singapore.

Aug 9, 2007
Source: www.etbmice.com

Policy

Travel and Tourism Support Industries …and much more

Service providers

Travel ecommerce

Events

1. Hyd to host tourism fair from Aug 10

For the fifth year in a row, Hyderabad is playing host to the 56th edition of the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF), scheduled to be held from August 10, 2007. Aimed at promoting domestic and inbound tourism under one roof, the three-day event would witness the participation from over 12 states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, besides international participation from Nepal.

“Apart from marketing the various destinations to the prospective tourists in the city, TTF will help showcase the entire range of tourist attractions in the state for domestic and inbound tourists, and also the potential as an emerging outbound travel market,” Chitra Ramachandran, secretary to AP Tourism, told mediapersons here on Wednesday.

Besides, AP Tourism proposes to concurrently conduct forums to create joint promotional logos, arrive at joint marketing ventures and protocols to work in tandem with other states, she added. Stating that Andhra Pradesh is registering highest growth rates in inbound domestic tourist numbers, Ramachandran, quoting the Incredible India figures, said the state stood first in domestic tourist arrivals and emerged the most popular tourist destination in India. She said Andhra Pradesh recorded 111. 7 million domestic tourist arrivals in 2006, compared with 93.5 million during the previous year, accounting for 24 per cent of the domestic tourism in the country

Aug 9, 2007
Source: Business Standard

Research and Market reports

1. Tourist arrivals in India rose 11.9 % in July

Indian tourism is on a roll and how! According to the latest figures released by the government yesterday, tourist arrivals in India rose 11.9 per cent in July as compared to the previous year. There were 3,77,474 foreign visitors in July, 2007 as against 3,37,332 in July, 2006. In terms of the foreign exchange earnings from the sector, the rise in tourist arrivals has boosted the figure by 34.6 per cent to USD 703.63 million.

Aug 9, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor

2. Forex earnings from tourism up 20%
An average foreign tourist in India is spending far more now than he/she did last year. In the first seven months of this year, about 2.7 million tourists visited India and spent $4.2 billion. In the year-ago period, 2.4 million tourists visited the country and spent about $3.5 billion. This represents an increase of about 12 per cent in arrivals and over 20 per cent in forex earnings, with an average tourist spending $1,555 on a holiday or business trip to India this year.

Tarun Thukral, chief operating officer of Le Meridien, said, “In real terms, high-end business travel has gone up considerably. As a result, spending on conferences, functions and seminars too has seen a jump.” With hotels in short supply, tourists are spending more on a room. Thukral said, “An increase in room rates is reflected in the high foreign exchange earnings by hotels. The average room rate increased 30 per cent between January and March and 20 per cent between April and July across the country.”

In India, the period between October and March is considered peak season for tourists. A senior Indian Hotels executive said, “The hotel trade has made large investments to renovate and upgrade properties. As a result, India is attracting tourists with high disposable incomes.” Moreover, new products and services by hoteliers have encouraged the inflow of tourists to India.

With the Centre aggressively pushing medical tourism by highlighting cost advantages, this segment has been growing at the rate of 25 per cent a year.

Analysts estimate medical tourism can fetch the country $2 billion a year in the next five years.

Aug 8, 2007
Source: The Telegraph

Human Resources & Training

1. Served Right

As the economy continues to evolve and people have more disposable income in hand, the travel, tourism and hospitality sector has witnessed a phenomenal accretion. Where 10 years ago, the industry was not yet fully developed, the advent of multinational hotels and the boom in Indian tourism has resulted in the emergence of a streamlined, efficient and focussed segment. The demand for professionals in the hospitality industry too is at an all-time high.

The careers in this field are manifold, ranging from high flying managers, directors and chefs to the more subdued receptionists, housekeepers and stewards. If you have the right aptitude and personality, the hospitality industry provides ample opportunities to leave your mark.

Current scenario
Going by the recent growth rate, it is anticipated that the hospitality sector will continue to grow rapidly in the country. Hence, it is not surprising to see that today, hospitality graduates have a wider range of options to choose from, as compared to a few years ago. Explains Ruchita Verma, principal, ITM Institute of Hotel Management, "The market for hospitality is growing by leaps and bounds due to shifts in society and a surge in tourism. There is a huge gap between the demand and supply of trained hospitality workforce along with the challenges of attrition which the service sector faces. This has resulted in an increased demand for trained hospitality professionals. To fulfil the growing human resource demands of the industry, numerous schools of hospitality have sprung up.

No longer limited to five-star hotels, the hotel industry includes fine dining restaurants, travel agencies, luxury resorts, high-end casinos, sports venues, cruise lines, health spas, theme parks, etc. Points out Tanmay Arurkar, a chef management graduate, working with the Taj group of hotels, "The industry holds great promise since it draws a large amount of money and talent. Jobs in the hospitality industry are lucrative wherein professionals get to meet high profile guests and attend to them. This makes it attractive for many people and also improves their confidence and grooming style." According to Rattan Keswani, executive vice president, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, the growth of a number of hotels in various categories is responsible for the upswing in the hospitality industry.

Also, employers around the world are looking towards qualified graduates who are expected to possess a superior level of training over a person who does not have a specialised hospitality degree. Keeping this in mind, a number of institutes in India are offering specific courses in hospitality, with the result that a prospective student need no longer look towards an international education as a stepping-stone to a career in the hospitality industry.

Getting in
A class XII pass grade in science, commerce or arts is sufficient to make one eligible to a hospitality course. However, most schools require students to perform satisfactorily at the entrance exam, whether it is the all-India entrance exam or a separate examination conducted by a private institute. At the all-India exam, students have to prove their proficiency in subjects such as English, general knowledge, reasoning and logical deduction, numerical ability and scientific aptitude. Besides this, questions are also asked on the service sector. Ranks are allotted to students and admissions are given. There are 4000 seats available all over the country, and most states have an institute that is affiliated to the national exam. The advertisements for the centralised admissions are published in leading newspapers in the months of January and February and the exam is generally scheduled for April.

Private institutes that conduct separate examinations have their own set of subjects and grading criteria to judge the students they take in. In certain cases, group discussions or personal interviews are also conducted. Explains Ruchita, "The hospitality industry is all about 'handling people'. No matter how clichéd it sounds, it is about pampering people and making them feel at home. Qualifications add operational value and make you aware of the processes." Besides, many institutes offer campus placements to top- level companies such as the Taj group of hotels, ITC, Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut, etc, making the recruitment process simpler for students.

Career options
The hospitality field offers a wide range of career options in hotels, restaurants, resorts, spas, ships, airlines, clubs and any other place where people go to relax. Says A D Bagul, UDC at the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, "In a basic hospitality course, one can specialise in either of four options, ie food production, front office, food and beverage service and housekeeping. Besides these, as one moves up the hierarchy, one can also become a manager, administrator or vice president of either of the four options."

(a) Food production: This involves working in the kitchen of the organisation. Job options include that of a chef, sous chef, commis and chef de cuisine. One could also establish positions such as an F&B manager.

(b) Front office: The front office involves welcoming guests and attending to their problems and concerns. This includes jobs of a receptionist, lobby manager, cashier, captain, travel desk manager, and so on. One can move up to managerial positions including a duty manager, guest relations executive, customer care executive etc.

(c) Food and beverage service: This involves service of any kind of food or beverages to the customer. Typical jobs are those of a steward, butler, bartender, or host/ hostess. Managerial jobs include the head, vice president or general manager of food and beverage.

(d) Housekeeping: It involves taking care of the requirements of guests in their rooms. Housekeeping includes two positions- the housekeeping executive/ assistant and housekeeping manager. The assistant is in charge of manually doing the work, while the manager is responsible for supervision.

The right personality
Says Ruchita, "You need to be a people's person and strive to make your customer feel at ease. You must have a pleasing personality and gifted communication skills." Since the industry is all about providing service to customers and making them feel spoilt and at home, one needs to have dedication, tolerance as well as the ability to work flexible hours. According to Keswani, "The right attitude and listening skills contribute a great deal towards one's success." Also, the person must have an avid interest in travel, tourism, and entertainment.

Overseas - a better option?
For many people, the study of hospitality management is synonymous with a fancy school in Switzerland. However, over the years, India and other countries have proved to be equally good options. Affirms Keswani, "We do not particularly prefer to hire students with a foreign degree. Ultimately, it boils down to the content taught and the candidate's ability to learn, not the location of the school."

Elucidates Ruchita, "Although Swiss schools are very skill- focussed, a Swiss diploma may have a slightly limited acceptability across the globe for continual education. Also, the skills imparted by Swiss schools are similar to those taught in Indian institutes. However, Swiss schools do not impart research, which adds more value to your professional life and helps you analyse and synthesise information to make better decisions."

Conversely, Arurkar believes that employers do give preference to students having an international degree. "However, unfortunately for them, most students who go abroad do not return to work in India, which leaves employers with no choice but to hire candidates with degrees from Indian institutes," he explains. Agrees Prathamesh Kakirde, a hospitality graduate, who has worked with hotels such as the Taj President and Hotel Intercontinental, "In my experience, I have found that employers prefer students with international degrees. This does not mean that an Indian degree isn't good. The Indian education system has evolved to provide quality education at reasonable rates, leading to the inception of a number of good hospitality institutes in the country."

Remuneration
The salaries offered differ by virtue of the individual's personality and the institute from where they complete their education. The bigger the organisation, the fatter the pay cheque.

Generally, fresh graduates are hired as management trainees with an average salary of Rs 7,500 to Rs 12,000 per month. As they gain experience, salaries can even go up to Rs 50,000 per month.

6 Aug 2007
Source: The Times of India

Travel Characteristics of Indians

1. Unleashing hidden gems
The domestic traveller loves Andhra Pradesh. It has recorded the highest leap in numbers for travel, according to ‘Incredible India’ findings. Hyderabad’s composite and cosmopolitan culture, its good weather and modern feel make it a naturally attractive destination.

The city still retains its old world charm and has a freshness that cannot be seen in done-to-death touristy places. Research shows that it is not just Hyderabad the travellers visit, they now tend to go to various places in the heartland of the state, from Srikalulam to East Godavari.

Whether it is the spanking new Balayogi Paryatak Bhavan, the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management,

the renovation of breathtaking and historical Taramati Baradari, or even the plans to dot the city with budget hotels, efforts are afoot to give the state its due place on the tourism map.

Worldwide, tourism accounts for 10.4 per cent of the global GDP and 8.1 per cent of the global employment. Andhra Pradesh is seriously looking at tourism as an industry and a major employment provider. “We are finally set to harness the direct and multiplier effect for employment generation, economic growth and poverty alleviation with tourism projects in the state,” avers tourism secretary Chitra Ramachandran.

Enhancing private sector participation in the tourism sector with the government working as the facilitator and the catalyst is a key part of the programme. Developing major centres of historic stature and natural beauty such as Vishakapatnam, Warangal and Tirupati with unique concepts such as beach tourism, rural tourism, eco-tourism, medical tourism, and developing the Buddhist and Jain travel circuits is top priority now.

Looking back Chitra says, “Attracting the domestic traveller starts with infrastructure, and the general feeling of well being in India right now just adds to it.” The migration of the IT worker to Hyderabad has led to travel tales all over the country describing the city and its beneficence. For once, the attitude towards tourism is in step with the times – one is likely to see a sea cruise, river cruise in coastal Andhra and an entire temple circuit develop in parts of Warangal. Statewide, spas, entertainment centres, star hotels and budget hotels are in various stages of completion.

Interestingly, it is the bright new ideas era now. Ideas like the Southern Splendour Express train, the Sri Ram Sagar dam project called the “The river country getaway” are a sharp shift from the tried and tested ideas. Why, there is even a plane called Andhra Pradesh now!

A lot of the corporate good will is actually because Hyderabad is now a leading MICE destination and international conventions happen here as a routine. Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) is South Asia’s first truly world class convention centre. The Shilpa Kala Vedika and Ramoji Film City come a close second, and both are exceptionally impressive .

There is something about Hyderabad that gets people to say “wow”. Like we said, the world is Hyderabad’s oyster now
6 Aug 2007
Source: Economic Times

2. Kerala registers increase in tourists inflow

Kerala has registered increase in domestic and international tourists during the first-quarter (January to March) of the year, a senior Kerala tourism department official said.

International arrivals recorded a significant 25.89 per cent increase over the previous year's figures, while domestic tourists marked a 7.95 per cent rise, Dr V Venu, secretary, Kerala Tourism and Sanjay Kaul, director, Kerala Tourism told reporters today.

To sustain this momentum several innovative initiatives have been introduced by Kerala Tourism for the first time in India including, Dream Seasons, Syneergy Quest and Wake Up To Malabar.
Pioneering Responsible Tourism, Kerala envisages its future growth by focusing on sustainable and Responsible Tourism (RT).

"The RT initiative has taken off well and is being implemented on a pilot basis in four destinations -- Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Wayanad," they said.

To reach out to the domestic market, a series of road shows are being organised in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
8 Aug 2007
Source: PTI via Economic Times

3. Bollywood boost for tourism

FIRST it was Test cricketer Brett Lee who bowled India over singing a duet with the legendary Queen of Bollywood, Asha Bhosle. Now Tourism NSW wants to woo tourists from the sub-continent with a campaign that focuses on the new Bollywood movie Heyy Babyy.

Based on the Hollywood hit Three Men and a Baby, it was shot in Sydney and features five of India's most popular stars.
It will premiere in India later this month with a red carpet preview scheduled for Sydney's State Theatre on August 22.
Iconic sites such as the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Bondi Beach feature, along with The Rocks, Darling Harbour and many of our city streets.
"India is the fastest growing market for travel to Australia," NSW Tourism Minister Matt Brown said. "The number of Indian visitors is expected to grow by 18 per cent a year until 2016," he said. "Last year around 45,800 people from India visited NSW, spending $115 million." He said the State Government planned to harness the massive growth.
Details of the new campaign were revealed yesterday at Star City. Working with Qantas, Tourism NSW has invited senior representatives of Indian travel companies for the Focus on India program from August 17 to 24.

The promotion follows this week's unveiling of a campaign to win back Japanese tourists to our shores. The renewed campaign - Immerse Yourself in Australia's World Heritage - is a softer "complement" to last year's controversial "So Where the Bloody Hell Are You?"
9 Aug 2007
Source: Daily Telegraph

4. ANTO to market incentives to Indian pharma majors

Austria Tourism is now looking actively at marketing itself as an incentives destination to Indian pharma majors, like Ranbaxy, Cadila and Cipla. Beginning with incentive tours to Vienna, it is keen to gradually venture into other segments of MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) as well.

"The incentives segment in India has a different profile as compared to the leisure segment as travellers in the former category have unique interests and tastes - for instance, fondness for classical music. We are looking to tap on the Meetings, Conventions and Exhibitions segments also," says Christine Mukharji, Market Manager (India), Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO). As per a research conducted by ANTO, 70 per cent of the Indian tourists to Austria fall in the age group of 45-60 years and are willing to spend on luxury hotels and other comforts.

Aiming for a significant increase in tourists' inflow next year, particularly, individual travellers, groups and honeymoon travellers, ANTO will kick-start a four-month online promotion from January 2008. It has already tied-up with MSN, the Internet portal, and SOTC, a brand of Kuoni Travel Group India, for six-day packages to Austria, including two days each in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck.

Apart from that, in 2008, from January 27 to 29, the annual Austria and Central European Travel Business Fair will be organised in Vienna, wherein travel agents from the two countries will participating. Besides, Austria Tourism will be organising workshops in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi from February 12-14 next year, which will essentially act as a platform for the tour operators and travel destinations in India to present their products and have a one-to-one interaction. About 120-130 visitors are expected at the workshops.

This year ANTO is expecting 57,000 tourists to Austria, which is approximately an increase of 15 per cent in the traffic from last year and targeting one lakh overnights. "This year, the figures could have been higher if it weren't for the continuing visa problems in India, especially from January to June. Last year, we witnessed an increase of 30 per cent in tourist traffic," says Mukharji.

Aug 10, 2007
Source: Travel Biz Monitor