February 2015

Rajeev Kohli
Joint Managing Director

Dear Industry Colleagues

Welcome to another edition of award winning 'Creatively Yours'. Happy New Year ! We wish you all the very best for the new year.

February is a very important month for us in the Indian business environment for this is when the Government of India releases its budget for the next year. Are we going to get taxed again or will we get some tax relief ? Will petroleum prices go up even more or will employees get more tax benefits? February 28th is always a nervous day for all of us, but we are keeping our fingers crossed for some good news for the Indian tourism industry.

We are also expecting and hopeful on an announcement on the expansion of the list of countries in the Visa on Arrival system. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we may hear something in the budget.

With the end of the season approaching, we are working on some special options for industry professionals to come and visit India. Under our 2013 "Be our Guest" program, we have some exciting options at very special prices. Ask us for details. We are also working on some special low season pricing that will allow you to position the region more aggressively.

You shall see some new and exciting initiatives in the next season from Team Creative. New experiential inclusions, new circuits, new concepts... We take pride in our ability to make a trip to the Indian sub-continent something very different.
 

Take care

www.creative.travel

More than 14,000 tourists flew into India in December using the e-visa, or electronic tourist authorisation, facility that was rolled out on November 27. The number may increase significantly as the country plans to extend the facility to tourists from the UK, France, China, Spain and Italy, which together make up 63% of India's in-bound tourism source markets.

Under the e-visa facility, people from 43 countries can apply for a visa to enter the country online. Once cleared after a background check, the tourist can fly in to any of nine select international airports in the country and pay the visa fee there.
Tourists from the US accounted for nearly one-fourth of the electronic visas issued last month and a majority 35% of the arrivals happened in Delhi. In the past, industry experts have said that e-visa facility could double annual tourist arrivals to over 12 million in five years. The country is also planning to come up with a new tourism policy within six months to boost the industry. "The last policy was made in 2002 and it's time we revise it with suggestions from the industry

Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mahesh Sharma, launched e-ticketing facility for the Taj Mahal and Humayun's Tomb on a pilot basis, and a helpline number to ensure safety of domestic and international tourists. Ever since Sharma took charge of the tourism ministry, he has been emphasising on creating a safer environment for tourists coming to India, and the launch of Incredible India toll free helpline number is in pursuance of that. "The facility currently is available in two languages - Hindi and English across 6 lines. We will be introducing international languages like German, Russian and French soon," said Sharma.

Tickets for the Taj Mahal and Humayun's Tomb can now also be booked 90 days in advance. Payment can be made via debit card, credit card or through net banking and there are three categories of tickets for visitor's viz. foreign visitor, Saarc visitor and domestic visitor. Sharma also released a book in Braille on Delhi's monuments. "This is the best time that the stakeholders become partners because development is not possible without them. We will have inputs from stakeholders and discuss issues with them and see how those inputs can be included in our final decision making process," said Sharma.

Holi is a religious festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world. Holi is considered as second biggest festival on Hindu calendar after Diwali. Holi is also known as festival of Colors. Places related to life of Lord Krishna are known as Braj regions. Holi rituals in Braj regions - Mathura, Vrindavan, Gowardhan, Gokul, Nandagaon and Barsana - are the most famous one. The Lathmar Holi – the traditional Holi festivity in Barsana is world famous.

On first day bonfires are lit after sunset at Right Holika Dahan Muhurta. Main Holi day when people play with colours is always next day of Holika Dahan or Holi bonfire. Next day in the morning people play Holi with dry and wet colours. People are more willing and comfortable to play Holi with dry coloured powders which are known as Gulal. However many people feel that Holi celebrations are incomplete without wet colours. Wet colour is applied on the face and is made on the spot by mixing little amount of water with dry coloured powder. More enthusiastic Holi folk mix dry coloured powder in full bucket of water to drench complete body in wet colour.

The number of tigers in India has seen a sharp rise to 2,226 tigers from just over 1,400 seven years ago, the environment ministry has said. "India is now home to 70 per cent of the world's tigers," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday. Karnataka has the most number of tigers at 406. Uttarakhand has 340 tigers, Tamil Nadu has 229, Madhya Pradesh has 208, Maharashtra has 190 and the Sundarbans in Bengal has 76 tigers. India has struggled to stop the rapid decline of its big cat population in the face of poachers, international smuggling networks and loss of habitat. read more...

Goa Tourism plans to launch hot air balloons and amphibious vessels by April this year, for which it has roped in two agencies - Camping Retreats Pvt. Ltd., and US-based D'Souza Leisure Pvt. Ltd.- to provide hot air ballooning and amphibious vehicles respectively. "Both adventure services will focus on highlighting Goa's hinterlands and will give tourists an opportunity to explore the rich geography of the state via the sky and the waterways," said Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (GTDC), Nilesh Cabral. As many as six amphibious vehicles will be introduced utilizing Goa's wide networking of ferry ramps. The vessels can operate on water and land and will be equipped with all facilities required for effective and smooth conduct of operations. read more...

The Union Ministry of Tourism has finalised a scheme for Procurement, Registration and use of Satellite Phones by the Tour operators which has been agreed on by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) had urged the Ministry of Tourism to end the ban on use of Satellite Phones for tourism purposes. Lack of communication facilities has long hindered some adventure sports such as high altitude mountaineering, trekking etc.

The various adventure sports available in India include mountaineering, trekking, river rafting, parasailing, paragliding, bungee jumping etc.

India saw a steep rise in number of foreign travellers a month after the government allowed tourist visa on arrival (TVoA) scheme enabled by electronic travel authorization (ETA). Last November, the government launched the scheme for visitors from 43 countries. Prior to it, only the normal TVoA scheme was in operation for 12 countries. According to the data released by tourism ministry on Monday, 14,083 TVoAs were issued in December, against 2,700 in December 2013, a growth of 421.6%. read more...

Railways is planning to introduce a special train from Kolkata to offer tourists a spiritual tour of key Buddhist circuit cities spread across the region where the religion originated thousands of years ago. The train will benefit tourists looking to visit Kolkata as also the states popular for their Buddhist pilgrimages, a senior Railway official told PTI. Among the Buddhist tour circuit cities are Bodh Gaya, Dungeshwari Caves, Kesariya, Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda,Kushinagar, Sarnath and Varanasi.

In fact, a proposed separate AC gallery at Indian Museum here to showcase the urn said to contain the ashes of Lord Buddha and other relics associated with his life is further going to aid the initiative for the introduction of the special train, the official said. The Bharhut Gallery at the museum showcases several Buddhist artefacts, among them the gateway of a Buddhist stupa complete with sculptures and carvings depicting scenes from Lord Buddha's life. read more...

Gujarat government has decided to start issuing liquor permits to foreign as well as domestic travellers arriving at Vadodara and Bhuj airports. "Foreign, domestic tourists and other visitors, landing at Vadodara and Bhuj airports, will just have to approach the tourism department counters set up there to seek liquor permits. The process will start from next week as orders have already been issued in this regard," Sanjay Kaul, Commissioner of Gujarat Tourism Department, said today. The department had initiated a similar move a few years back at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. "Now, in addition to Ahmedabad, airports in Vadodara and Bhuj will be added to the list, taking the total number of airports in Gujarat to three from where the visitors will get the liquor permits on arrival," Kaul said.

Gujarat has a total prohibition policy and liquor permit is issued to individuals only on the health ground. As per the new move, the visitors can get necessary forms, and file it along with the permit fee with Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) officials at the airports. "A foreign passenger only needs to submit a photocopy of the passport, while domestic travellers will have to give their identity proof. Once the licence is given, they are free to buy alcohol from any authorised liquor shops across the state," the official said.

Courtyard by Marriott, the world's 8th largest hospitality brand*, reaches its 1,000 hotel milestone and celebrates on a global scale. The pinnacle of the festivities will be on March 31 when the Courtyard Walla Walla will be designated as the 1,000th hotel. On that same day, all Marriott Rewards guests checking into any Courtyard worldwide will receive 1,000 points as the brand's milestone gift, an estimated 50 million points.
"We are extremely proud of how far Courtyard has come. By listening to our customers over the past 30 years we have been able to continually evolve to meet their needs," said Callette Nielsen, vice president and global brand manager, Courtyard. "Our global expansion and robust pipeline is proof that we provide the experience that travellers want. That is why it is important to share our success with them." Boasting the largest global rooms pipeline in the Marriott portfolio, more than 50 percent of which is outside of US, Courtyard expects to be in 40 countries by summer and is in all 50 U.S. states. The brand celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013 and is Marriott's second largest revenue generator.

Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced. Intuitive services and design accommodate guests' needs for choice and control.

The Kochi Marriott Hotel is located in the Lulu Mall complex, one of India's largest shopping malls, 9km from the main city centre. It offers 274 rooms, including 'vice presidential' and 'presidential' suite options. Dining options at the hotel include two restaurants, one of which specialises in Keralan cuisine, plus a wine and whiskey bar. There is also a spa, fitness centre, swimming pool and 720m² of meeting space.

"Kochi Marriott Hotel is an exciting addition to the Marriott Hotels portfolio," said Rajeev Menon, Marriott's area vice president for South Asia. "We believe the city of Kochi has tremendous potential for business and hospitality growth, making it an obvious choice for the Marriott Hotels brand. The Kochi Marriott Hotel will set new standards in offering guests a dynamic hotel experience. " The Kochi property becomes the fifth hotel under the company's flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand in India, following existing properties in Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad and Jaipur. And it becomes the second Marriott International property in Kochi, joining the Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport.

Located in the centre of the Rajasthan city, the DoubleTree by Hilton Agra is one of the few hotels offering views of the world famous mausoleum. The hotel features 104 rooms and suites, all equipped with 42-inch HDTVs, minibars, rain showers and Wi-Fi.
Facilities include four F&B outlets, including one specialising in Indian Northwest Frontier cuisine, plus an outdoor infinity-edged swimming pool with views of the Taj Mahal, a 24-hour fitness centre, kids' activity room, spa and salon. The hotel also caters to the events sector, with a 357m² ballroom able to handle up to 425 people, plus two other large function spaces handling a total of 275 delegates. There are also two boardrooms and a business centre. "The opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Agra is a significant milestone as it marks the entry of Hilton Worldwide into this prime leisure destination," said Daniel Welk, Hilton's vice president of operations for India. "We look forward to welcoming guests with the award-winning service culture for which the DoubleTree by Hilton brand is known around the world." DoubleTree by Hilton Agra becomes the brand's fifth property in India, following existing locations in Bengaluru, Pune, Goa and Gurgaon.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is expanding its range of guest offerings with the launch of a new kids' club and beachfront bar.
Kandoo Kids is a new 500m² facility, comprising a two-level indoor air-conditioned children's club and an outdoor pool area. It is designed to offer educational activities, with a library, art and crafts area and interactive gaming room for kids aged 8-12, plus a ball pit and craft-making areas for 4–7-year-olds.
The Splash Pool, which opens in late January 2015, will be the first of its kind in the Maldives and features a shallow wading pool, waterslides, water cannons, a spray wall and tipping buckets. Meanwhile, the new Baraveli Beach Bar becomes the latest addition to the resort's food & beverage offerings. Located next to the main lagoon, it serves up a range of cocktails and beverages, a casual dining menu and complimentary water and sun-tan lotion.

Green Earth Hotels launched its first unique resort in Munnar called the 'Munnar Tea Country Resort' in December 2014 . An all-villa/cottage resort overlooking the valley, each villa/cottage has a living room, dining area, mock kitchen area, bedroom, a balcony and verandah.

The smallest of these 33 units is sized 605 sq ft and they come in four different room categories. The resort has been conceptualized with families and honeymooners in mind. Families can stay together in the same villa/cottage with extra beds. Independent scenic villas with privacy make it ideal for honeymooners too. There are also a kids zone and an international spa. A mini conference hall takes care of small meetings and gatherings while the open-air amphitheatre can be used for performances. The property's restaurant, overlooking the valley, serves Indian, Arabic and Chinese cuisines. The resort is situated at Chithirapuram, Munnar, Idukki, Kerala.

Budget carrier IndiGo has started its first international flight from Bengaluru to Dubai and announced the start of two more daily Mumbai-Bengaluru services.

A statement said, IndiGo will fly daily non-stop flights between Bengaluru and Dubai.
The Mumbai-Bengaluru services will start from December 20. With this, the airline will fly 11 daily non-stop flights between Bengaluru and Mumbai.

"These new flights between Bengaluru to Dubai and Mumbai are testimony to our commitment towards connectivity across the country's corners bringing more and more people closer to their dreams and new opportunities," IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh said. Last week, IndiGo had announced the addition of Kozhikode as the 32nd domestic and 37th overall destination in its network.

Extra weekly flight and aircraft upgrade to boost options for West Bengal travellers
On 29 March 2015 the airline will add a 13th weekly flight on the Dubai-Kolkata route. Operating on Wednesdays, flight EK572 will depart Dubai International Airport at 1300 and arrive at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 1915. The return flight, EK573, will then depart the West Bengal capital at 2030 and arrive back in Dubai at 0005.
And also from this date, Emirates will start flying a larger Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the route. Operating as flights EK570 and EK571, the new aircraft will feature 274 seats in three classes, including, for the first time, Emirates' first class cabin. Replacing an Airbus A330-200, the deployment of the B777 will lead to an increase of 250 seats per week on the Kolkata route.
"The additional flight and increased capacity also means strengthening of travel options available not just to Kolkata, but the entire east and north-east India region. Let's hope this capacity addition will help connect even more people to the market, and facilitate greater trade to the region and its economy.

New connection to second largest city in Andhra Pradesh
Air India has increased the number of flights it operates to Andhra Pradesh, with the start of a new daily direct service to Vijayawada.
The new route commenced on 15 January 2015 and will now depart Delhi daily at 0620, before arriving in Vijayawada at 0825. On the return leg, flights will leave Vijayawada at 0900 and get back into Delhi at 1105.
The new service will become Air India' second daily flight from Delhi to Vijayawada, but the first direct service. The other daily flight operates via Hyderabad.
Passengers from Vijayawada will be offered onward connections to international flights departing from Delhi, including routes to Bangkok, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Kathmandu, London, Melbourne, Sydney, Paris, Rome and Milan.
Air India said it will also provide a boost to tourist destinations like Kondapalli Fort, the Undavalli Caves, Kanaka Durga Temple and Bhavani Islands.
Vijayawada has a population of more than one million people, making it the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh.

New meal and in-flight entertainment options launched
Jet Airways has introduced two new in-flight offerings as part of its renewed full-service focus.

A new advanced meal booking service has been added for premium passengers, while all passengers will be offered a new range of Indian shows as in-flight entertainment.
The 'Book your meal' initiative is now available on all of Jet's international flights, allowing guests to pre-order meals online. read more...

A simple and delicious way to make a fragrant Biryani. Eat it with an accompaniment like curd or an potato dish. It is a meal by itself if you want it to be. Click here to read the recipe...