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In this Edition.... |
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Where you can find us next - GITB
2013, IMEX 2013
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Festival
Alert - Holi (Festival
of Colors)
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Destination News - Kerala invites air taxi operators for tourists,
Eco-tourism centres in Gujarat in for a facelift,
Incredible India Campaign boosts tourist arrivals, Delhi Tops
International Tourists List, No word on promotion in budget....and more
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Hotel News - Hotel industry gasping
for breath, Taj launches 100th property in India, plans to push 200
by 2018, IHG signs 13 hotels in India in 2012; creating 2,600 jobs....and more
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Aviation News - AirAsia gets
Ministry of Corporate Affairs approval for Indian JV name, India, US
to ink accord for aviation security soon....and more
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Indian Recipe of the month - Prawns
in a Dark Sauce
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Where you can find us next... |
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To meet us at GITB, Jaipur, click here and email us your details |
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To meet us at IMEX, Frankfurt, click here and email us your details |
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Festival
Alert... |
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Holi (Festival of Colors)
Every year, thousands of Hindus
participate in the festival Holi. The festival has many purposes.
First and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season,
spring. Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good
harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of
enjoying spring's abundant colors and saying farewell to winter. It
also has a religious purpose, commemorating events present in Hindu
mythology. Although it is the least religious holiday, it is
probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. During this
event, participants hold a bonfire, throw colored powder at each
other, and celebrate wildly.
The main day, Holi, also known as
Dhuli in Sanskrit , or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated
by people throwing scented powder and perfume at each other.
Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival, also known as Holika
Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi), after which
holika dahan prayers are said and praise is offered. The bonfires
are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad
accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried
him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee
of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his devotion.
Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in South India.
Holi is celebrated at the end of
the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month
Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in
the later part of February or March.
Creative Travel will be closed on March 27, 2013 on the occasion of
Holi & on 29th March, 2013 on the occasion of Good Friday. |
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| Destination News..... |
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India |
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Kerala
invites air taxi operators for tourists
In an effort to pep up tourism, the Government of Kerala in the
southern coastal India has invited private operators to start
helicopter taxi services in the state.
"We welcome all those interested in operating helicopter air taxis
to link tourist destinations in Kerala," Balakrishnan said in the
assembly when asked what steps had been taken to promote tourism in
the state. "All facilities will be provided by the government," he
added. The biggest impediment to growth in Kerala tourism is poor
infrastructure, with a lot of time being wasted on travel on bad
roads.
E. Najeeb, head of Air Travel Enterprises said the state government
should chip in by occasionally hiring helicopters to make it viable
for an operator. "The demand is there, but for those with just one
helicopter, it may not be viable," he added.
Right now, important tourist destinations have landing facilities
for helicopters, and at places such as Thekkady and Munnar, resorts
too have helipads. And with the real estate sector also taking off
in the state, a few leading builders have now started to prepare
landing facilities at their projects. Balakrishnan's statement comes
at a time when Kerala saw an 18.41 percent increase in foreign
tourist arrivals last fiscal, and 7.7 percent in domestic
holidayers. |
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Eco-tourism centres in Gujarat in
for a facelift
The eco-tourism centres (ETC) at forest reserves that are emerging
as tourism hotspots in central Gujarat may soon go through a major
facelift. Private entrepreneurs have come forward to develop these
centres in partnership with the state government.The centres are
managed by the eco development committees (EDC) comprising locales,
who depend on the forests for their livelihood. |
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Incredible India Campaign boosts
tourist arrivals, no word on promotion in budget
The Incredible India campaign increased the foreign
and domestic tourist arrivals in India since its inception, said
Union Minister for Tourism K Chiranjeevi in Lok Sabha on Monday. As
per the Minister, from the year 2002, the year in which Incredible
India brand line was launched, to 2012, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)
to the country increased from 2.38 million to 6.65. |
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Delhi Tops International
Tourists List
The National capital, Delhi, is the
most preferred Indian destination among the international travelers.
A recent report released by an online hotel booking portal reveals
that the Delhi ranks top most amongst the list of places
international tourists want to visit on their holiday to India. The
report released by Hotels.com shows Delhi on top of the
international traveler's list followed by the financial capital
Mumbai. Goa, the most popular beach destination stood third in the
list. Industry experts said that the Delhi and Mumbai bagged the
first place also because they are the transit hub for international
travelers. |
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Tourism Minister launches Find
What You Seek campaign at ITB Berlin 2013
In order to promote India as a
year-round destination as well as a country for individual
travellers, Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India launched
Find What You Seek campaign at ITB Berlin 2013 in Germany. This is
the second global launch of the campaign. MoT had launched the same
campaign at World Travel Market (WTM) in London last year.
While announcing the launch at ITB Berlin 2013, Dr K Chiranjeevi,
Minister of State with Independent Charge for Tourism, Government of
India, said, India offers visitors from all over the world travel
tailored to their individual needs. India's attractions include
World Cultural Heritage sites, palaces, beaches, mountains and
adventure trips, as well as wildlife, culture, festivals, religion,
shopping, conferences and events. He opined that there is a special
focus on health and wellness tours in India. This is where we have
become highly popular and offer outstanding value for money. The aim
is also to promote India's countless festivals and the increasing
number of Ecotourism destinations. The intention is to further
consolidate India's position on the international market as a place
to visit 365 days a year, Chiranjeevi said. And to Find What You
Seek is at the heart of it all, he added. |
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IATO, TGFI sign Code of Best
Practice for 2013-15
The Indian Association of Tour
Operators (IATO) and the Tourist Guides Federation of India (TGFI)
have signed the first ever Code of Best Practice for strengthening
professional relations. We have signed a new agreement for 2013-15
with TGFI. This has taken months of intense negotiations and
deliberations and we feel what we have arrived with is now fair and
acceptable," said Subhash Goyal, President, IATO.
Both associations will instruct its members to adhere to laid-down
principles in the spirit of cooperation. Mechanisms will be set up
to address complaints based on this. Much in line with our existing
Legal & Grievances committee, an IATO-TGFI monitoring committee will
be set up for close coordination and to ensure healthy relationships
between guides and tour operators, said Rajeev Kohli, Vice
President, IATO. |
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India considering extending
VoA to German tourists: Tourism Minister
Dr Chiranjeevi inaugurates India
Pavilion at ITB Berlin
Inaugurating the India pavilion in Hall 5.2b at the five-day
International Tourism Bourse (ITB) at Berlin, Germany yesterday, Dr
K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State with Independent Charge for
Tourism, Government of India, said that a proposal to extend Visa on
Arrival (VoA) to German tourists is under active consideration of
the Centre. Germany is an important source of market for India. During
2011, over 240,000 German tourists visited India and we are looking
forward to further increasing the tourist traffic between the two
countries, he said. The Minister said, foreign tourist arrivals to
India constitute only 0.64 per cent of the world tourist arrivals
and foreign exchange earnings account for 1.61 per cent of world
tourism receipts. He said, This is a matter of concern for all of
us in the Ministry. Our endeavour is to increase India's share to
one per cent of the world tourist arrivals by 2016." |
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| Hotel News..... |
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India |
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Hotel industry gasping for
breath
India's
hospitality industry saw a 15%-20% drop in tariffs in 2012 due to
the global economic slowdown and an expansion in supply, hammered
down further by an increase in air fares.
The net income for hotels in the
country dipped by 3.1% in the year, even though the topline improved
by 7% over the previous year, on account of increased overhead costs
and high borrowing costs.
The year 2012 was certainly uniquely challenging, with our industry
having to contend with the adverse impact of sluggish growth in the
Indian economy, a tepid economic recovery in the US and the
financial crisis in the euro zone, said MD Kapoor, secretary
general, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India.
Occupancy levels, however, remained unaffected at about 60%,
industry experts said.
While
occupancy level has not been very badly off, the room rates have
dropped, said Jyotsna Suri, chairperson and MD, Lalit Suri
Hospitality Group, adding that operational costs have gone up due to
inflation and interest rates.
The hotel industry dropped tariffs
despite foreign tourist arrivals in India during 2012 rising by 5.4%
to 6.64 million compared to 6.3 million in 2011.
Supply has expanded significantly in
2012 and this has somewhat impacted tariffs. Due to the increase in
air fare, tourists have also resorted to cutting down on their
duration of stay to suit their travel budget, said Rahul Pandit,
CEO, Lemon Tree Hotels. |
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Hotels in Delhi told to comply
with green norms
The Department of Environment, Government of Delhi has claimed that
five-star hotels in Delhi are consuming about 15 million litres of
water per day and discharging about 10 mld, much more than the
international standards for consumption in five-star properties,
according to a TOI report.
To stem this violation, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and
the environment department organised a workshop for hotels on
recently. "The emphasis of this workshop was to conserve natural
resources. Hotels are among their biggest consumers and also major
waste generators," said a senior official.
DPCC has issued several guidelines and orders on installation of
STPs for treatment of waste water. Green hotel guidelines issued by
DPCC include use of treated effluent for non-potable purposes,
installation of solar water heating systems, use of biogas plants
and rainwater harvesting. |
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Taj launches 100th property in
India, plans to push 200 by 2018
The Taj Group has launched its 100th hotel in India
with 208-room Vivanta by Taj, in the Millennium City of Gurgaon. Developed by HB Estate
Developers and managed by the Taj Group, Vivanta Gurgaon is the 26th
Vivanta-branded hotel in India, and the first one in Gurgaon. |
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RCI to add 15 resorts every
year
Vacation ownership or Timeshare, as a concept, is growing at the
rate of 18 per cent year on year with Indians preferring the idea of
home away from home or vacation ownership to relax and taking to
travel like never before (domestic tourism growing at 13.8 per
cent). |
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IHG signs 13 hotels in India in
2012; creating 2,600 jobs
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) this week announced it has
signed 13 new hotels in India, boosting its existing pipeline in the
country to 47.
Click here to read more... |
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The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to
enter India in summer 2013
The Ritz-Carlton
Hotel Company, L.L.C., will mark its debut in India with the opening
of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore in summer 2013. The 277-room property
will include The Ritz-Carlton Club, a private floor accessible only
by elevator key and offering light fare and dedicated concierge
service throughout the day.
India represents the next great international expansion opportunity
for The Ritz-Carlton, said Victor Clavell, Vice President - Asia,
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. We are pleased that our
initial presence will be in Bengaluru, a city whose thriving economy
has made it the Silicon Valley of the nation. Nitesh Estates, a
Bengaluru-based developer, has committed to building a world-class
hotel in the heart of the city's central business district, he
added. |
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JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi
Aerocity to start operations in April 2013
To focus primarily on MICE segment
Despite the uncertainties related to clearances pending with the
Civil Aviation Authorities in terms of New Delhi Aerocity
hospitality projects, the management of the 523-room JW Marriott
Hotel New Delhi Aerocity is optimistic about commencing operations
from April this year. According to Balan Paravantavida, General
Manager, JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, the property is
slated to host a couple of big conferences and conventions in April
and May and does not see challenges as far as operational
clearances are concerned.
He said that the hotel will start operations with 300 guest rooms
and all other facilities, except the Quan Spa, and the Japanese
restaurant. While the 10,000-square-feet Quan Spa will be ready in
May 2013, the two-level Japanese restaurant by Akira Back, Celebrity
Chef from Las Vegas, will become operational from mid-July. Along
with 300 guest rooms, initially the hotel will open the 300-seat
all-day dining restaurant - K3; a patisserie - The Delhi Baking
Company (DBC) |
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Swissotel Hotels & Resorts
opens 2nd property in India
Launches Swissotel Goa
Swissotel Hotels & Resorts recently opened its second property in
India - Swissotel Goa. The 135 guestrooms and suites are designed
and proportioned among eight, three-level buildings, which are set
within a tropical garden featuring idyllic lily ponds and a
courtyard pool area. Rooms depending on category feature modern
design elements.
With the Swissotel Goa, we are complementing our growing Indian
hotel portfolio with an attractive holiday resort. With the
already-opened Swissotel Kolkata and three Swisstels under
development in Mumbai, Noida and Bengaluru, our portfolio on the
Indian Subcontinent is growing continuously, said Meinhard Huck,
President, Swissotel Hotels & Resorts.
An all-day dining restaurant, pool bar, cafe, fitness centre, adult
and children's pools, children's club, as well as conference and
banquet facilities will delight even the most discerning guests. |
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| Aviation News...... |
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AirAsia gets Ministry of
Corporate Affairs approval for Indian JV name
Malaysia-based low-cost airline
AirAsia Berhad has got the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
approval for the name of its Indian venture that is to be called
AirAsia (India) Private Ltd, as per a PTI report. The name of the
new company has been registered in Maharashtra and the approval was
granted by the MCA earlier this month, a senior official said.
The company is now in the process of incorporating itself in India
and completing other formalities of submitting the required
documents and certificates with the Ministry, he said. The filing
process for the new venture is being completed on a fast-track
basis, he added.
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has already approved
investment in the new Joint Venture (JV), wherein AirAsia would hold
49 per cent stake, Tata Sons will have 30 per cent and 21 per cent
stake would be owned by Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt. Ltd.
To be started with an initial investment of USD 14.5 million (about
Rs 80 crore), AirAsia India would compete in the domestic passenger
aviation space. AirAsia and Tatas announced their plans to start the
low-cost airline in India on February 20, 2013.
AirAsia India would also mark the re-entry of Tatas into the
aviation space after about 60 years of JRD Tata-founded Air India
being nationalised in 1953. The company is also in process of
finalising its senior executive team and hiring of other employees
and plans to start operations later this year.
Recently, on social networking site Twitter, Tony Fernandes, Group
CEO of AirAisa tweeted that he has selected the CEO for AirAsia
India and the final call would be taken by the Tatas. AirAsia group
recorded a 13 per cent passenger growth in 2012 with about 33.8
million passengers carried during the year in its Malaysia, Thailand
and Indonesia operations. |
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India, US to ink accord for
aviation security soon
India and the US will soon sign an
information sharing agreement to strengthen aviation security in
both the countries, a senior Ministry of Civil Aviation official
said, as per a PTI report. The draft is ready and once it is
approved by the Indian authorities and the Cabinet, the governments
of India and the US would sign the secret security information
sharing agreement," said Anil Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry
of Civil Aviation, on the sidelines of US-India Aviation Security
Workshop in New Delhi yesterday.
The agreement would cover a large spectrum of civil aviation
security, he said, adding Transportation Security Authority of the
US would be sharing information in areas including individuals,
systems, technology and equipments with India.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, he said
security has become a challenge due to technological advancement as
undesirable people were finding ways to evade security arrangements.
He said India, in cooperation with global partners, has been
implementing various cooperation programmes in the field of aviation
security.
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Indian Recipe of the month...... |
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Prawns in a Dark Sauce
This is a great tomato-based Indian dish from one of
Madhur Jaffrey's books. Serve with rice and steamed
vegetables or fried potatoes.
Click here to read the recipe.... |
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Newsletters Archive..... |
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Contact Us...... |
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Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
Creative Plaza, Nanakpura, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021. India.
Tel: 24679192, 26872257-58-59, 26114281 Fax:
+91-11-26885886 / 26889764
USA Fax: +1-646-349-1614 Europe
Fax : +44-20-7681-1242
Email: creative@travel2india.com Website:
www.travel2india.com;
www.creative.travel
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(prefix a '0' before the number if
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Contact Us...... |
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You may contact us or our any nearest regional sales office. |
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