The untapped potential of tourism sector in Odisha

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1 RNI:DELENG/2013/52892 DL (ND) -11/6165/ For any editorial query please Posted at NDPSO on 4-7 of every month AUGUST, VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 4, 2017 `100 COVER STORY p.08 The untapped potential of tourism sector in Odisha also read p.16 DESTINATION p.21 TRADE p.24 NTO p.42 Odisha: A collection Empowering ideas India is a priority market of natural beauty by empowering for New Zealand: women at work Dixon AVIATION Oman Air looks to further strengthen presence in Indian market

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4 4 editor speaks f.2 (W9) Press / 2013 Dear Reader, At a time when all of us are grappling to improve our understanding of Goods & Sales Tax (GST), the season of conventions of travel trade associations has begun. The 33rd annual convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is scheduled to take place in Bhubaneswar in September this year. About 1,200 delegates are expected to attend the convention. Themed India Tourism- Time to reinvent ourselves, the convention is going to highlight the challenges and way ahead for inbound tourism in the country. We have featured this month s cover story on the opportunities and challenges for tourism sector in Odisha. The interaction with local stakeholders including tour operators and hoteliers revealed that the state needs infrastructure development and right promotional strategy to position Odisha as a sought after tourist destination. Although there are many beautiful sites in the state, most of those remain inaccessible to the tourists due to lack of connectivity and of other supportive facilities. Please find inside a detailed report. On the other hand talking about Middle East, Oman Air is looking to diversify its segmentation in the Indian market and focus on providing connection to Indian travellers looking to travel to Europe. The airline will also promote its award winning business class in the Indian market to tap the premium segment of travellers. The airline will introduce its third daily flight from Mumbai to Muscat in August this year which will increase its weekly capacity from 154 to 161 flights. The airline has expanded from 128 flights a week in 2016 to 161 flights a week in In 2017, the Governments of India and Oman updated their bilateral air services agreement allowing Oman Air to operate 161 weekly frequencies to India from 126 weekly frequencies before the agreement between the two countries was inked. Read more on Oman Air s plans for the Indian market inside. Our destination feature in this month s issue focuses on the Kashmir valley. The destination has been in the news in the recent past for unrest. However, it remains safe for tourism activities, a message that all of the tourism and hospitality stakeholders need to spread. Rest, find inside your monthly dose of news, views and analysis. Happy Reading! Ravi Arora Editor-in-Chief Ravi Arora Senior Correspondents Nitisha Dubey Poonam Chaudhary Vijay Arora Correspondents Rachita Arora Smarth Kaura Smriti Solkar Desk Radhika Kumar Creative Sumit Gaur IIIustrator Suvankar Nandi Photographers Mukesh Chander, Angad Arora Marketing Manager (Delhi) Imkongsenla Longkumar Sandeep Singh (Assistant Manager Marketing) Marketing Manager (West India) Shalini Gupta Marketing (Mumbai) Piyush Gupta Production & Distribution Vasu Kumar Annual Subscription Rs 1000/- Single copy Rs 100/- Total Number of Pages: 56 (Including Covers) Wonderlust No part of this publication may be repoduced without the express written permisssion of the publishers Advertising, Subscription and sales enquiries to Salt n Pepper Publications Pvt.Ltd F-25, 1st, Floor, Bhagat Singh Market, New Delhi T: , ravi@wonderlust.in Web: Published, owned, printed and edited by Ravi Arora from F-25, Bhagat Singh Market, New Delhi Printed at: Niharika Creations 5764/6, New Chanderwal, Near Malka Ganj, Delhi SERVICES THAT WE OFFER: CAMEL SAFARIES, VILLAGE SAFARIES BY JEEP, CROSS COUNTRY DRIVES, NATURE WALKS, DUNE WALKS, GALA DINNER IN DESERT, SPECIAL CAMPS, WEDDING IN DESERT, CONFERENCES, CYCLE TOUR, SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS, DESERT GAMES, ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES ROYAL DESERT CAMPS A UNIT OF ROYAL DESERT SAFARIES PVT. LTD. Nachna Haveli, Gandhi Chowk, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) , INDIA Tel: , Mob: mail: info@campsandsafaries.com sales@campsandsafaries.com, web:

5 in this issue inside Mandu- A Royal legacy of Parmars, Sultans and Mughals p Odisha: A collection of natural beauty p. 16 Pay tribute to our martyrs by visiting these 12 war memorials p. 20 Empowering ideas by empowering women at work p. 21 IATO announces 33rd Annual Convention p. 22 Ashok Chandra Panda p. 08 The untapped potential of tourism sector in Odisha The Odisha government is targeting a 30 per cent growth in foreign tourist arrivals at around one lakh travellers in the state this calendar year. In 2016, the state hosted 76,361 foreign tourists, most of them from Sri Lanka, Japan, European and South Asian markets. India is a priority market for New Zealand: Dixon p. 24 There s none like Rwanda p. 26 I want Korea to become buzz word for FIT & GIT segments: Kwon p. 30 South African Tourism targets Delhi s Ultra HNHs p. 32 Comfortable stay at the Metropolitan Hotel & Spa p. 33 Verdant valleys and white-mountains make Kashmir a must visit destination p. 34 SriLankan Airlines launches three South Indian routes p. 36 Casual employment: Benefit & Challenges p. 38 SriLankan Airlines to begin new connection to Melbourne p. 40 Oman Air looks to further strengthen presence in Indian market p. 42 AVIATION p. 36 p. 46 p. 52 HOTELS ALBUM SriLankan Airlines launches three South Indian routes Clarks Inn: scripting one of greatest success stories of Indian hospitality A glimpse of TAAI Annual General Meeting India presents great potential for tourism traffic: Mugisha p. 44 EaseMyTrip: The Supporting Partner of IIFA Awards 2017 p. 45 Clarks Inn: scripting one of greatest success stories of Indian hospitality p. 46 A glimpse of TAAI Annual General Meeting p. 52 Appointments p. 54 On the cover: Shanti Stupa at Dhauligiri, Bhubaneswar-Odisha

6 6 ADVERTORIAL mandu Mandu- A Royal legacy of Parmars, Sultans and Mughals Mandu, a city lying 100 km from Indore is the medieval magic of Madhya Pradesh. Famously associated with the legends of Rani Roopmati and Bazadur, the city is an architectural gem, mainly reflecting Afghan architecture. The royal love legend is documented in the folk songs of Malwa sung by the balladeers. High upon the crest of a hill, Roopmati s pavallion still gazes down at Bazadur s palace. Due to its strategic importance of being situated at an altitude of 2000 feet,mandu due to its natural defenses, was originally the fort-capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. It was re-named Shadiyabad meaning city of joy by the Sultans of Malwa in late 13th Centuary. Jahaz Mahal,Hindola Mahal, baths and canals are the reminiscences of this phase of Mandu s past. Each of Mandu s structures is awe-inspiring. Some outstanding like the massive Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah s tomb, which provided inspiration for the master builders of the Taj Mahal s centuries later. For Mughals,Mandu was a pleasure resort and its lakes and palaces the scenes of splendid and extravagant festivities. Mandu is now one of the most sought after destinations of Madhya Pradesh with its mosques and palaces. The fabulous five in Mandu:- Hoshang Shah s tomb-this is India s first marble structure, its beautifully proportioned dome, intricate lattice work lending it its identity. Shah Jahan sent four of his great architects to study the structure and draw inspiration from it. It is said that one of them Ustad Hamid, was later associated with the construction of Taj Mahal. Jami Masjid The hugeness of the structure lends it uniqueness. Its inspiration was drawn from the great mosque of Damascus and was conceived on a grand scale. Its background is dominated by similar imposing domes. The structure of the mosque is surrounded by colonnades. Asharfi Mahal- This structure was conceived as an academic institute by Mahmud Shah Khilji who was Hoshang Shah s successor. A seven storey structure in the same premises was also constructed by him to celebrate the victory of Rana Khumba of Mewar. Jahaz Mahal- Built between two artificial lakes, Munj Talab and Kapur Talab, Mandu is famous for this palace known as Jahaz Mahal. This is a grand reflection of a medieval pleasure resort with its open pavallions, and balconies over hanging the water. On Moonlit nights lend it an out of the world beauty when the silhouette of the building reflects in water. Hindola Mahal- Its sloping side- walls have lent it the name Swinging Palace, which was constructed as an audience hall. Innovative techniques are reflected in the making of its ornamental façade, delicate trellis work in sandstone and its uniquely moulded columns. An elaborately constructed well,champa Baoli which is connected with underground vaulted rooms is also seen by the side of Hindola Mahal. It is known to have arrangements for hot and cold water. Darwazas- Mandu is encircled by a 45 km parapet wall with 12 gateways. Delhi Darwaza is the main entrence of the fortress city, for which the approach is through a series of gateways. Other places of intrest near these monuments are Dilawar Khan s mosque, the Nahar Jharoka,Taveli Mahal, and Ujali and Andheri Baolis. Mandu which is synonymous with the love stores of Baz Bahadur and Roompati, has many architectural witness for the love of this royal pair. One such is the Rewa Kund which was an aqueduct to provide Roopmati s palace with water. Over the time this spot has gained religious sanctity. Baz Bahadur s palace, built in 16th centuary is another of such reminsenc of the royal romance and still another is Roopmati s pavallion. The pavallion was originally built as an army observation post. However it also became the favourite retreat of queen Roopmati as it offered a view of the Baz Bahadur s palace and the river Narmada flowing through the Nimar plains far below. A few more monuments in Mandu need mention for their architectural merit, viz, Nilkanth, the Shiva shrine at the very edge of a deep gorge, Nilkanth Mahal, a palace made for Emperor Akbar s Hindu wife. The most important feature of this palace is the inscription belonging to the time of Emperor Akbar which point to the futility of material world. Hathi Mahal, Darya Khan s tomb, Dai Ka mahal,dai ki chhoti behan ka mahal.. the list is unending at Mandu. Mandu is a treasure for those who like nostalgia. The Echo Point and Sunset Point are the two other points which should not be missed. Due to its location, Mandu experiences monsoon at its grandeur. When it rains continuously for a few days, the clouds come down to embrace this beautiful city. This, amidst of the lush greenery is an ethereal experience. A walk in the rains gives an old world charm. Fort of Dhar- On way to Mandu lies the Fort built by the Parmars, one of the earliest rulers of this region. Sheesh Mahal, inside the Fort, Kharbuja mahal,vishram Bhavan,Madan ki Sarai,Kothari Sarai, Karva Sarai Roza ki Dargah and the other monuments deserve a visit. For all those who like the sweet sour taste, a variety of tamarind, known as Khursani Imli is very commonly found here. Fact File The nearest airport is Indore (100km away), connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune and Nagpur while the nearest railheads are at Ratlam(124km) on the Mumbai-Delhi main line and Indore. Best time to visit is July-March with the monsoons being the best. Madhya Pradesh Tourism s Malwa Resort and Malwa Retreat are your home away from home. Contact / (Malwa Resort) / ( Malwa Retreat)

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8 8 COVER STORY odisha The untapped potential of tourism sector in Odisha The Odisha government is targeting a 30 per cent growth in foreign tourist arrivals at around one lakh travellers in the state this calendar year. In 2016, the state hosted 76,361 foreign tourists, most of them from Sri Lanka, Japan, European and South Asian markets. Wonderlust Bureau Pradipta Mohapatra Saroj Mahapatra A.Talukdar Odisha Tourism is targeting 400,000 international tourist arrivals and 28 million tourists by As per department of tourism, Odisha statistics international tourist arrivals to the state were 66,675 in 2013 and saw a marginal increase in 2014 with 71,426 international tourist arrivals. This accounts for a very small share of total international tourist arrivals in India. This year, Odisha hosted the Asian Athletics Championship that offered the Government a good opportunity to showcase the state at an international level. Potential The new Tourism Policy launched in November, 2016 offers incentives in the form of capital subsidies upto Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore for projects below and above Rs 50 crore. The single window clearance committee has cleared 26 projects under the Tourism Policy which also offers allotment from land bank to private sector for taking up tourism projects. In order to promote Buddhist tourism potential of the state and increase tourist arrivals from the South East Asian countries, the tourism department has been conducting International Buddhist Conclave for the last few years. The state government came up with a master plan for Dhauli, which is famous for its peace pagoda built through Indo-Japanese collaboration. The tourism department is also looking to develop the state s 480-km coastline that includes beaches of Talsari, Chandipur, Dhamra, Paradip, Hukitola, Chandrabhaga, Astaranga, Gopalpur and Puri for cruise tourism. After direct air connectivity with Malaysia, the South Asian countries provide a huge potential for the state tourism. Odisha is also adding 500 rooms in next three years in the star category. Currently, the state has 39,497 rooms under middle to high standard category and 75,152 in the low category. Pradipta Mohapatra, General Manager (Sales & Marketing), MAYFAIR Lagoon & Convention, Bhubaneswar said, The hospitality sector is performing well in Odisha at present although there is scope for further growth. As more focus is being laid on tourism development in the state and the government is pro-actively promoting tourism in the region, it is bound to give a fillip to the hospitality sector as growth of both the sectors is complementary. The government is looking at public-private partnership is setting up 28 smaller properties with 5-25 rooms capacity in ecologically sensitive and interior areas of Odisha. Saroj Mahapatra, Vice President, Pramod Hotels & Resorts said, Tourism in Odisha is on an upward swing. We expect that in the coming The State Government spent over Rs 258 crore during the last three years to improve tourism infrastructure in Odisha where foreign tourist arrival increased by 14 per cent and overall visitors by nine per cent during the period.

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10 10 COVER STORY odisha Rupali Nanda Ashok Chandra Panda Srikant Mishra years will see a growth in terms of number of hotels and resorts added, facilities provided and services rendered. All other destinations in India have been explored by FIT, MICE and Corporate segments. The only destination remaining untouched is Odisha. The State Government spent over Rs 258 crore during the last three years to improve tourism infrastructure in Odisha where foreign tourist arrival increased by 14 per cent and overall visitors by nine per cent during the period. The Government of Odisha s current Tourism Policy is one of the most progressive policies amongst all states in India. However, this needs to be promoted and informed amongst investors and major national and international hotel chains. We have the destinations and products that are saleable but the infrastructure is not developed yet, said A.Talukdar, Vice President, The Crown- Bhubaneswar. For archaeological tours, Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark are much in demand as the destinations showcase the rich culture of Odisha. According to the travel trade in the region there is scope for good textile tours in western Odisha and for village tourism too. The segments that are doing well for Odisha tourism sector include Buddhist Circuit, Tribal circuit and Golden Triangle (Bhubaneswar Source: Ministry of Tourism, Government of Odisha Konark Puri). We are expecting to grow and do better in the years to come. We seek help from all inbound operators to sell Odisha as a destination for MICE, leisure, wedding, beach, wildlife and medical tourism, said Mahapatra. Rupali Nanda, Director, Chalo Chale Adventures and Holiday said, The demand of Odisha in international markets has witnessed a steady growth in the last couple of years. Last year the growth of inbound tourism was 14 per cent but this year we are expecting a growth of 20 per cent in international arrivals due to recent improvement in flight connectivity within India followed by launch of an international fight services to Kuala Lumpur offering seamless connections to South East Asia, Far East and Oceania region. The recently concluded Asian Athletic Championship also provided a great opportunity to showcase our potential. The Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar received international tag in October The Biju Patnaik International Airport has an annual handling capacity of 30 million passengers. Tourist arrival in the state has gone up from 98,66,810 in 2013 to 1,29,19,260 in 2016, recording a growth rate of nine per cent per annum. In the year 2016 we adapted a new comprehensive tourism policy to plan our future growth. The connectivity to Odisha is improving with more international flights. Very soon there will be direct flight from Bhubaneshwar to Sharjah as well, said Ashok Chandra Panda, Tourism and Culture Minister, Odisha. Gagan Sarangi, Managing Director, Dove Tours Private Limited and IATO Chapter Chairman in Odisha said, This year the demand from international markets is good. We have started getting business queries from major source market like Germany, Italy and France. After experiencing a tough time with very low footfall of foreign tourists, this year we are again quite Last year the growth of inbound tourism was 14 per cent but this year we are expecting a growth of 20 per cent in international arrivals due to recent improvement in flight connectivity within India followed by launch of an international fight services to Kuala Lumpur offering seamless connections to South East Asia, Far East and Oceania region.

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12 12 COVER STORY odisha Ranjan Mishra hopeful for a good tourist season. Taking a cue from Rajasthan, the tourism department has decided to organise Odisha Travel Bazaar in October to market the state s tourism destinations before tour operators from the country and abroad. The businessto-business event will continue for three days and the government expects the footfall of at least 200 delegates, including tour operators and hoteliers from the country and overseas during the maiden programme. Odisha Travel Bazaar in being organized in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & The Odisha Tourism drew flak for the drop in the number of foreign tourists to the state in 2015 despite spending huge funds in infrastructure development and promotional campaigns in the run-up to Nabakalebara festival. While a total of 71, 426 foreign tourists visited the state in 2014, their footfall in the state came down to 66,971 in Pronab Sarkar Industry (FICCI). Challenges In spite of immense opportunities, the tourism and hospitality sector in Odisha is yet to realize its true potential. The Odisha Tourism drew flak for the drop in the number of foreign tourists to the state in 2015 despite spending huge funds in infrastructure development and promotional campaigns in the run-up to Nabakalebara festival. While a total of 71, 426 foreign tourists visited the state in 2014, their footfall in the state came down to 66,971 in As per tourism and hospitality stakeholders except attractive tourist spots like Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar, Odisha lacks satisfactory infrastructure be it transport or accommodation. There is an insufficient number of hotels and rest houses of international standard in the vicinity of tourist spots. Lack of proper promotion is another challenge cited by few Mayfair Convention Centre, Bhubaneswar tour operators. The shortage of hotel rooms seems to be one of the biggest challenges for the tourism and hospitality sector in Odisha. We need more number of 3-4 star hotels in major cities of Odisha. The tourism policy of the Government of Odisha is one of the best in the entire country and I am sure in the coming days, it is going to attract huge investment in the hospitality and tourism sector, said Sarangi. Srikant Mishra, Managing Director, Alternative Tours said, Most principal agents promoting Odisha have this standard question, has the situation improved on the ground for safe movement of our clients? I think the tourism department should adequately inform source countries that Odisha is safe to travel. Further, the district level administration should show keen interest and play a proactive role in promoting the products in their district. The ministry of tourism should aggressively promote Odisha in international markets. All the infrastructural developments are in the coastal part of Odisha. The focus is always on Bhubaneswar and Puri. Ironically maximum international tourists who visit the tribal areas find infrastructure to be very basic and minimum. Same is the situation in the case of wildlife parks. Apart from hotels there are no road side amenities for miles when you drive long, added Mishra. Major towns and cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rayagada should be developed as the tourist friendly hubs where day excursions to the off-beaten tracks around these towns are conducted to woo both domestic and international tourists, said Nanda. Some of the stakeholders shared that the fact that foreign tour operators lack knowledge about Odisha and its tourism products is one of the key challenges for them. So, they find it

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14 14 COVER STORY odisha Udayagiri, Puri difficult to include Odisha in an itinerary that includes other Indian destinations, though infrastructure concern is still the biggest challenge. The major challenge for the tourism and hospitality industry is inadequate infrastructure. Although there are many beautiful sites in the state, most of those remain inaccessible to the tourists due to lack of connectivity and of other supportive facilities. The problem needs to be overcome by building the required infrastructure which needs huge infusion of funds. Similar is the case of hospitality industry that requires favourable government policies and enabling incentives, said Mohapatra. Growth of hospitality business needs consistent tourist flows as well as incentives from the government. Facilities like subsidised land and power, better connectivity are needed for more properties to come up. State government on its part should take initiatives to attract more tourists to the state that will spur demand for accommodation and subsequently boost hospitality sector, he further said. I strongly feel that the Ministry of Tourism should aggressively promote destination like Odisha to create awareness among foreign tourists. Most of the foreign tourists who have already visited North and South India are looking to explore new destinations like Odisha but the problem is due to lack of proper promotion and advertisement, tourists are not aware of the true tourism potential of Odisha. Every year the ministry organises a number of FAM trips for foreign tour operators and journalists to visit India but there is hardly anyone visiting this part of the country, said Sarangi. Ranjan Mishra, Managing Director, Eastern Voyage said, This year the demand from international markets has not been so good so far. We hope that thing will improve later this year. Odisha is comparatively a new destination for the international markets and hence needs aggressive promotion from the ministry of tourism (MoT). The MoT needs to include Odisha also in its annual calendar. Eco tourism and tribal tourism are the segments that we are trying to promote. We want support from department of tourism. A lot of issues are being based because of introduction of Goods & Sales Tax (GST). There is a need to educate the present Government on the importance of tourism and the way it can help to increase revenue. IATO Convention: The 33rd annual convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is scheduled to take place in Bhubaneswar in September this year. The convention is expected to help the state grow international bhitarkanika-tourism-avijit-saha arrivals. About 1,200 delegates are expected to attend the convention. Themed India Tourism- Time to reinvent ourselves, the convention is going to highlight the challenges and way ahead for inbound tourism in the country. Pronab Sarkar, President, IATO said, There will be post convention tours which we expect will be attended by many delegates. Earlier, we organised IATO convention in Bhubaneswar in 2008 but since then the state has changed, so we want to educate tour operators on the latest offerings so that they can promote the same among their clients. It will help to market the destination in domestic as well as overseas destinations. We expect significant increase in business post the IATO convention. However, IATO in general works closely with few tour operators but there are so many other tour operators as well who are working aggressively to promote Odisha, hence, the association should try to work closely with all the stakeholders in the state, said Mishra of Eastern Voyage. Odisha also in its annual calendar. Eco tourism and tribal tourism are the segments that we are trying to promote. We want support from department of tourism. A lot of issues are being based because of introduction of Goods & Sales Tax (GST).

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16 16 FEATURE destination Odisha: A collection of natural beauty Odisha is famous not only for its monuments or temples, it has many places to visit and explore. There are prolific artists and craftsmen and beautiful beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and natural landscape that add to the beauty of the destination. Wonderlust Bureau Konark Sun Temple Odisha is a unique and fascinating land which is not much explored by tourists. Odisha is home to three mighty rivers and to the largest fresh/salt water lake in Asia, to dozens of the most sacred places of pilgrimage in India, and to hundreds of thousands of small, traditional villages, in which almost all of her 26 million people live. Only four cities have more than one hundred thousand inhabitants, and Odisha s urban and rural populations alike share a strong sense of the holiness of their beautiful land and of their enduring links with the past. Hathidwara and Vyaghradwara and these names refer to lion, horse, elephant and tiger. Konark Sun Temple: Once you visit Konark Sun Temple, you will see the most creative architecture of Odisha. This temple was built in 13th century by King Narasimhadeva. There are several smaller shrines situated in the neighbourhood of the Sun Temple. In them are found Rameswar, Chitreswara, Tribeniswara, and Utpaleswar, all Siva-lingas; and Ramachandi Rudrani, Khileswari, Charchika and Chitreswari, various forms of Goddess Durga. Legends embodied in the Kapila Samhita, the Madala Panji, and the Prachi-mahatmya, take the sanctity of Konark back to mythical times. The legends of these late texts are an obvious adaptation of a much earlier tradition as recorded in the Bhavisya Purana and the Samba Purana. PLACES TO VISIT Odisha has a lot to attract tourists from different age groups be it natural beauty or architect. Here are few places which is most popular among tourists: Jagannath Temple Puri: Being one of the Char Dham s, Jagannath Temple is very famous. Lord Jagannath accompanied by Subhadra and Balabhadra bring joy and spirituality among the devotees. The design of temple can be found to be in pyramid shape. The temple has four entrance gates: Singhadwara, Ashwadwara, Crocodile at Bhitarkanika National Park

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18 18 FEATURE destination fishing, thus, revolving around forests. Even the large tribes like Santal, Munda, Oram and Gond, settled agriculturists, often supplement their economy with hunting and gathering. While farming, they make use of a very simple technology and a simple division of labor often limited to the immediate family. But they lose out because their holdings are small and unproductive, lacking irrigation facility due to a hilly and undulating terrain. Chilika Lake Chilika Lake: Chilika Lake is one of the famous lake of Odisha. It is the Asia s largest saline water lagoon with water spread ranging from 1165 sq km in the rainy season to 906 sq km in the dry season, nestled in the heart of the coastal Odisha. Chilika is known as one of the most important wetlands in the world because it has different varieties of birds. This lake provides colorful avian charms in a thousand different hues presented by over 160 species in the peak season between November and February. There are birds-white bellied sea eagles, ospreys, golden plovers, sand pipers, flamingos, pelicans, shovellers, gulls, including migratory ones flying great distances from Iran, Central Asia and Siberia. It will attract your all focus and you will feel the natural beauty which you have never seen before. Puri Beach: Odisha has this famous beach where devotees flock the place for a purification dip. The beach has continued to be a sacred venue for an endless number of pilgrims coming to pay homage to Lord Jagannath. Because of annual Beach Festival which takes place in November this place is becoming more popular and it has become a favourite haunt of both Indian and foreign beach lovers. Located at a mere distance of 35 kms from the Sun Temple and 65 kms from Bhubaneshwar, the beach is an ideal place for an introvert holiday maker for the scarcity of crowd here. Bhitarkanika National Park: Every traveller wants to take some special memories with them. If you visit Bhitarkanika National Park you will get lifetime experience. It has beautiful flora and fauna. Extending over more than six hundred square kilometres, it is one of the very few evergreen repository of most luxuriant mangrove vegetation in the world. More than sixty varieties of mangrove plants are found here which provide home to a variety of rare and endangered species. The pneumatophores, better known as breathing roots, stand like sentries of the land. TRIBES Odisha has the largest number of tribes, as many as 62 that constitute an impressive 24 percent of the total population of the state. These tribes mainly inhabit the Eastern Ghats hill range that runs in the north-south direction. More than half of their population is concentrated in the three districts of Koraput (undivided), Sundergarh and Mayurbhanj. Subsistence oriented economy of the tribes here is based on food gathering, hunting and Jagannath Rath Yatra SHOPPING Collecting souvenir for your family and friends is a most important part of a trip. If you wish to buy something, so Odisha has many things to offer. You can choose mementoes and souvenirs from this treasure trove suiting your budget. And the choice can be made from the exquisite silver filigree work of Cuttack to the gaily wall hangings from Pipli, from the intricate paintings from Raghurajpur to the glorious hand woven fabrics from Sambalpur. Bring a sand sculpture from Puri or get a patta chitra, this gift is going to be cherished forever by the receiver owing to its magnificence. The markets of Odisha offer something for everyone. HOW TO REACH Odisha has regular flights landing at the only major airport of the capital city namely Biju Patnaik Airport which connect it to all the major cities of the country such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Raipur. There is also good connectivity through train. You can take express and super express trains from Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati and Trivandrum to Bhubaneswar plying to and from on a daily basis.

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20 20 NEWSTRACK attractions Pay tribute to our martyrs by visiting these 12 war memorials War memorials are dedicated to the martyrs who lost their lives fighting for the nation. It s a reminiscence of the courage of our soldiers; a reminiscence of their sacrifice. Paytm Travel and Wandertrails brings a list of top 12 such war memorials that you must visit to pay a tribute to the great souls. Wonderlust Bureau INDIA GATE Memorial to Undivided Indian Army soldiers who died during World War I between 1914 and 1921, the India Gate, is located at the heart of India s capital city, New Delhi. About 2.3 kms from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it is located on Rajpath. India Gate is a war memorial dedicated to honour the soldiers and pay tribute to those who died or were injured during the war. CHANDIGARH WAR MEMORIAL Chandigarh War Memorial is perhaps the largest War Memorial of the country. A total of 8459 names of the deceased soldiers are inscribed in this war memorial since Located in the beautiful Bougainvillea garden of Chandigarh, the war memorial was inaugurated by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on 17th August, TAWANG WAR MEMORIAL A splendid monument, Tawang War Memorial, stands tall amidst the snow-capped peaks at Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh. The memorial was built as a tribute to the martyrs of the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Locally known as Namgyal Chortan, the 40-feet high war memorial is constructed as a stupa. The memorial reserves names of 2420 Indian soldiers engraved in gold on 32 black granite plaques. DARJEELING WAR MEMORIAL Located in Darjeeling, West Bengal, the War Memorial stands as a quite reminiscence of the Gurkha martyrs of Darjeeling, who forfeited their lives for the country in the operations and wars that took place since independence. In 1976, Manish Gupta, the then Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling, constructed the War Memorial to pay a tribute to the 76 brave sons of Darjeeling who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation. With photography strictly prohibited, you can catch its glimpse while on the famous Darjeeling Toy Train, as it goes round this place on a circular path. WAR MEMORIAL, IMA, DEHRADUN The war memorial located within the boundaries of Indian Military Academy was inaugurated in 1999 to honour those brave soldiers of the Indian Army who sacrificed their lives, fighting for the country. The face of the main structure replicates the Chetwode Tower. Names of several officers from the academy who have laid down their lives are inscribed here. The sanctum sanctorum has a bronze statue of a Gentleman Cadet carrying a sword. KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL, DRAS Also known as the Vijaypath, Kargil War memorial is a war memorial located in Dras, in the foothills of the Tololing Hill. The memorial is located about 5 km from the city centre across Tiger Hill, Kargil. The memorial is in the memory of the soldiers and officers of the Indian Army who were killed during the 1999 conflict between India and Pakistan. The memorial has a huge epitaph with names of all the officers and soldiers who died in war. VICTORY AT SEA MEMORIAL, VIZAG Victory at Sea War Memorial was built in the year 1996 to pay homage to all Indian Martyrs who lost their lives during the 1971 War with Pakistan It is located near Ramakrishna Beach near to the Submarine Museum and consists of a tri-service representation of artefacts on the seafront. A T-55 tank symbolising the land component, and a fighter plane embodying the power in air, are displayed here, among other exhibits. EME WAR MEMORIAL, BHOPAL The EME War Memorial, Bhopal, is first of its kind in India as it has a light and sound facility to narrate stories of bravery of the nation s valiant soldiers, who lost their lives fighting for the nation. An Interpretation Centre has also been set up on the premises, designed as a semiopen congregation space with an information display system, providing a preview to visitors. India Gate WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI Formerly known as the Cupid s Bow, the Victory War Memorial in Chennai was originally erected to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces in World War I and later became the victory memorial of World War II in memory of those from the Madras presidency who lost their lives in the war.

21 NEWSTRACK trade 21 Empowering ideas by empowering women at work A tête-à-tête with Paresh Parihar, MD & CEO at Qtech Software, on the revolutionary ideas this travel technology company is implementing to create an empowered, gender-diverse workforce. Wonderlust Bureau Q. We noticed that the company tagline is empowering ideas. How does Qtech empower its female employees? A. Our strength and ability to empower ideas comes from empowering our people. Almost 40% of our current workforce is female, many of whom are in senior positions. Qtech is proud of the fact that the highest employee position of COO in the organisation is held by a woman. Our philosophy to a great product and exceptional customer service lies in empowering our people, and we strive to create an environment where everyone in the organisation has the decision-making capability to perform their tasks effectively. By ensuring that we are an equal opportunity employer, we are able to bring to the table skills and performance irrespective of gender, simply by focussing on the potential of the individual. A lot of the measures we have adopted stems from our Indian culture and upbringing. In our culture, the woman enters a new house first. A lot of the deities we worship are female. At Qtech, it is our endeavour to ensure that women have their rightful say in matters related to the company and have their place as the equals they are. Q. A lot of research has been written on the abilities that women bring to the workplace. What qualities do you see in female employees that are taking Qtech ahead? A. Multitasking is one of the great abilities that our female employees bring in. As resources that can juggle project management, team building and their individual daily tasks, the women at Qtech are maximising the use of their time. Women value teams and team building. Our female employees build team relationships to a point that the team functions like a family unit. Their relationship building and listening skills help them lead their teams to find solutions to complex problems, all the while still making every team member feel that their contributions have been valued. This also helps drive innovation across the board, by encouraging contributions from all members of the team. This nurturing quality helps us multiply the effort that a single individual Paresh Parihar with his team can put in though strong teams with diverse individual qualities. All our women tend to be empathic listeners. This helps them learn about other people, understand their capabilities and point them in the right direction. It s what makes them natural leaders who can understand any concerns or points of view that other staff may have. They have an innate ability to interpret these inputs, keeping all the points of view in mind and then creating an effective response that will be appreciated and useful to both their colleagues and the organisation as a whole. Q. How does Qtech mentor women in the company to take up bigger roles? A. All employees, regardless of gender, have a mentor in their reporting managers. Women and indeed all employees are encouraged to interact with customers where possible and get into a role where customer facing interaction yields tangible results on both our Travel ERP product OTRAMS, as well as the various projects it is implemented on. This is not just restricted to work, but also to every activity that we conduct in the organisation. We have a riders club - Qtech on Wheels, that does group rides to places outside the city a few times a year, and we are very happy to see that women in the organisation participate in these rides wholeheartedly. Even our sports tournaments see some very good friendly competition that brings out the best in everyone. This is the result of an empowered workplace where everyone feels the need to be a part of the collective whole, not just at work but also as part of the Qtech family. After all, the fabric of the company is the sum of its people and practices. Q. Does the gender diversity at Qtech contribute to significant differences in the way the company performs? A. As a software company, all roles at Qtech are gender neutral. Performance-wise, there are some qualities that women possess that can bring out a significant difference in the way people perform. We have seen that our women employees are phenomenally committed to the tasks and projects that they are involved in. They invest in their tasks not just intellectually, but also on an emotional level and this is what makes all the difference to the project. Their commitment to their teams is what brings their teams closer and makes them stronger. At Qtech we have always strived to create an environment that creates a sense of respect for each individual, regardless of their gender. At the end of the day, we want to maintain a workplace that is equal for all and respected by all. Respect for our peers is what encourages each and every individual to contribute to the team, bringing out ideas and opinions that help and will keep helping the company to shape its future as a high performing unit with equal opportunities for everyone s growth.

22 NEWSTRACK trade 22 IATO announces 33rd Annual Convention Recently, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) organised its monthly luncheon meeting where the association announced 33rd Annual Convention which will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 7-10 September 2017 at Mayfair Bhubaneswar hotel. Wonderlust Bureau Pronab Sarkar, President, IATO, said, Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of Odisha expressed his desire at our last convention in Chennai to have IATO s next convention in Odisha and showcase a new Odisha to IATO members. He informed us in advance that the state government will be the main sponsor state for IATO 33rd Convention. He also ensured that members/ delegates get an opportunity to visit some of the tourist sites of Odisha specially tour operators so that they can incorporate packages for their global clients. Rajiv Mehra, Vice President, IATO, said, The theme of this convention is Indian Tourism- Time to reinvent ourselves. The past few years have seen the Indian tourism industry go through tremendous stress. An aged destination brand, low traveller demand, constant assaults from taxation & policy changes, changing distribution systems- so much has gone in changing our industry. He also said, The time has come to take a deep look on how we have been running our industry, our businesses. The time has come to consider the possibilities to reinvent ourselves and start investing in a new future. We must never stop moving. Just as established products and brands need updating to stay and vibrant, you periodically need to refresh or reinvent yourself. Lally Mathew, Co- Chairman, Convention mentioned, The stupendous success of the previous convention has raised the expectations of the members and sponsors. More than 1200 delegates are expected at the three day event and the IATO convention is eagerly awaited by all. Odisha offers products like beaches, pilgrimage, hill station, wildlife, shopping, ayurveda and medical tourism and these are our focus segments. On the sidelines with our convention, we are also organising a travel mart. It is an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase exciting and diverse range of destinations, conference and incentive venues.

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24 24 NEWSTRACK nto India is a priority market for New Zealand: Dixon Recently, Tourism New Zealand organized its annual travel trade event, Kiwi Link India where Indian travel agents, product managers and planners got a chance to interact with New Zealand operators and understand the new developments and market insights in the tourism sector. Wonderlust Bureau Steven Dixon During a conversation with Wonderlust, Steven Dixon, Tourism New Zealand s Regional Manager-South and South East Asia said, Kiwi Link India is one of Tourism New Zealand s biggest trade shows and is very important to us as India continues to be a priority emerging market. The event serves as an ideal platform for us to strengthen relations with our stakeholders in the Indian travel trade He also said, India is a priority market for New Zealand and is demonstrating strong growth. In the year ending April 2017 there were 53,792 Indian visitors to New Zealand, an increase of 14.6% on the previous year. New Zealand sees a good growth from North India and this is the best time to visit New Zealand. Tourism New Zealand has introduced the new, improved version of the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme. The programme features Gold, Silver and Bronze tier structure, which will provide benefits and incentives for members of each tier such as: access to inmarket training webinars and events; Tourism New Zealand s Explore New Zealand Discount Programme; and 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist branded items. Dixon said, The training programme will help the travel agents to understand the New Zealand better and it will affect our tourists percentage. It will enhance knowledge through online and in-person training and provide an opportunity to potentially increase their sales and referrals. Their details will be listed on Tourism New Zealand s website, further adding to their credibility. Things to know Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. In the year ending April 2017, 3.6 million international visitors arrived in New Zealand: an increase of 9.9% on the previous year. International tourism is New Zealand s largest earner of foreign exchange, pumping over $14.5 billion into the economy and directly employing over 188,000 people. Visa procedure: One may forward their application to the TT office in Mumbai or Delhi, which will then be directed to Immigration New Zealand. A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days. Airline connections: Connecting flights to New Zealand are available on Singapore Airlines/ Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines with stop-overs in their respective hubs. New Zealand s international gateways are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Domestic services: You can fly between all New Zealand cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators. India is a priority market for New Zealand and is demonstrating strong growth. In the year ending April 2017 there were 53,792 Indian visitors to New Zealand, an increase of 14.6% on the previous year. New Zealand sees a good growth from North India and this is the best time to visit New Zealand. New Zealand is a perfect destination for honeymooners

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26 26 FEATURE destination There s none like Rwanda Scenic and serene, yet so strong; Rwanda is resilience personified. Photos & Text by Benaifer J. Mirza When you think of visiting a country in the African continent, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Mauritius, and the likes are the typical names that may come to your mind. But how about exploring the rather unexplored? How about visiting a country that is quaint, beautiful, and truly innocent? Rwanda is all this and more. Here s why Rwanda should be your next travel destination: Finding life through death: The 1994 genocidal mass slaughter of the ethnic Tutsi by the politically moderate Hutu can be marked as the ugliest chapter in Rwanda s history. In fact, one can term it as one of the most gruesome episodes and heaviest moments in world history. Lives were lost, dreams were shattered, women were raped, children were orphaned, and, in short, humanity was at its lowest and worst. In all probability, the ones who survived would have wished for death. Living a life without your loved ones; living a life with the ghastly memories of seeing your child, or husband, or mother killed in front of you is like a nightmare come alive. But, the Rwandans mustered the courage to make a new beginning, albeit with a heavy heart. Life was started from scratch without forgetting the scars of the genocide. A visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is a must. It has rooms after rooms of stories of death, despair, and devastation. You may finish touring across the rooms, but the pain will linger on for hours day weeks a lifetime. Visiting the Memorial will not only leave you with immense compassion, but also give you a sense of newfound respect for each and every Rwandan who stands as a testimony of Wreaths laid at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in memory of the ones who left too soon An adrenaline rush meets a scenic view at Nyungwe Forest National Park s Canopy Walkway (Credit: Rwanda Development Board High Commission of Rwanda RwandAir Inspiration Unlimited) the massacre and for their immense strength to begin again. Wildlife and the wonders of nature: Rwanda is blessed with an abundance of nature and wildlife. Nyungwe National Park, which lies in southwest Rwanda, is spread across 1,000 sq. kms. The mountain rainforest is home to as many as 400 species of chimpanzees, more than 300 species of birds, and 75 different species of mammals. Do fight your fears of acrophobia by getting on to the Canopy Walkway. Of course, you ll forget your fear once you re on the canopy; such is the view from here. The Akagera National Park, where you can see the Big Five, may not be the biggest game drive. But the beauty is that there s still

27 FEATURE destination 27 so much biodiversity in a stretch of just 1,200 sq. kms. And, leaving the best for the last the mountain gorillas! These sub-species of the eastern gorilla are extremely unique and can be found only in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is home to these larger-than-life beings. That one hour of being in such close proximities to the mountain gorillas, breathing the same air, watching them doing their little chores feels like a lifetime of an experience. While you may find all the members of the big five in other African countries as well, Rwanda is one of the few countries where you can enjoy the big five as well as the mountain gorilla. Happy faces: Nothing compares to the light and joy that you feel when you see a smile that comes straight from the heart. This is exactly what the Rwandans have to offer in abundance. So, be it mwaramutse, which translates to good morning, or muramuke, which means good night, the Rwandans don t simply say it, they truly mean it. The sites and structures of any country come together to narrate its story, but its people reflect its quintessential character. And, Rwanda, for sure, has a character that is truly unmatched. Rwanda is fondly known as the land of a thousand hills and a million smiles and there s a reason why! So clean and green: Rwanda is spotlessly clean. It is close to impossible to find any litter or mess for miles on end. In fact, plastic bags are banned in Rwanda, and are confiscated when tourists enter the country. It is more than obvious that each and every Rwandan puts in an effort to keep the country clean and beautiful. The morning of the last Saturday of every month sees the Umuganda Day. On this day, the capital city of Kigali sees men and women, young and old, rich and poor in short, everyone coming together to clean the city. This gesture doesn t simply The mighty and magnanimous Gahinga, the Silverback of the Amahoro family show the dedication of the country s citizens towards its cleanliness and upkeep, but also reflects the fact that there is no big or small (in age, designation, or status). It s a sense of collective conscience that is not broken by any petty factors or reasons of divide. Easy, direct flight: The good news is that you can now reach Rwanda in about seven hours. RwandAir, the national carrier of the country, began its India operations in Mumbai in April, and now has as many as four direct flights from Mumbai to Rwanda every week. So, say goodbye to all those break journeys, and reach this beautiful country via a direct flight. In fact, RwandAir, also offers convenient connecting flights to a number of other destinations, including Dar-Es- Salaam, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Entebbe, and many other African destinations at fares starting at as low as Rs. 22,000. So, visit Rwanda to experience its magnificent wildlife, nature, and structures, and, most importantly, to learn a lesson or two on life and love. *Benaifer visited Rwanda on a Fam Trip organised by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), High Commission of Rwanda, RwandAir, and Inspiration Unlimited. The chimpanzee tracking at the Nyungwe Forest National Park is an experience that you must not miss (Credit: Rwanda Development Board High Commission of Rwanda RwandAir Inspiration Unlimited) Pure, innocent joy personified!

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30 30 NEWSTRACK nto I want Korea to become buzz word for FIT & GIT segments: Kwon Michael Kwon has been appointed as the new Director of Korea Tourism Organisation, India Office. He spoke to Wonderlust and shared his future plans for increasing Indian tourist arrivals in Korea. Smarth Kaura Michael Kwon Q. What are your views on the Indian market? A. India is a very high potential growth market. The visitor numbers from India to Korea have been steadily rising but it is currently dominated by business and MICE travel. I want Korea to become the buzzword in the industry when it comes to leisure Free Independent Travellers (FIT) and Group Inclusive Tour (GIT). Q. How has been the tourism growth this year so far as compared to the last year? A. Last year recorded a very good jump with visitor numbers from India to Korea rising from approximately 1.5 lakhs (in 2015) to almost 2 lakhs (in 2016). That is roughly a growth of around 20-25% on a year to year basis. Q. What are the products that you are focusing on to attract more tourists to Korea? A. There are quite a few new themes and trends we are exploring this year. We have already started promoting student group tours to Korea as learning cum activity filled experience. Schools in Delhi and nearby cities are being offered these products which they can consider for their annual study trip for their students. We are also now developing women only themed products for Korea. The country being one the safest countries with unlimited opportunities of shopping, food and entertainment is preferred by a lot of women travellers globally. We want to introduce the same to the growing women traveller market in India. Apart from the above we help travel agents developed themed products for honeymoon, winter sports & ski, shopping and theme parks, etc. Q. What will be your marketing strategy for the future growth? A. Our marketing strategy will be more focused in expanding KTO s digital footprint in Indian market. Korea is a very young country and its trends, music, fashion and technology appeals a lot to the younger generation. And the best way to reach out to the younger generation is by digital platforms. For increasing more awareness we would be focusing a great deal on expanding our digital presence. I want more travel writers, bloggers and social media influences to visit Korea and share their stories across all digital platforms.we will have more roadshows in India and more joint marketing promotions with partner travel agents. We will also be present in the big travel trade fairs which take place in India where we can meet industry people from all over the country. For MICE segment we will be focusing on participating at dedicated MICE events, organizing training programs and meetings for MICE planners at major metro cities and also expanding our MICE Incentive Support program to reach out to more people. Q. Which are the best places to visit in Korea? A. For now we will stick do the destinations that we have already been promoting like Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island in addition with the historical capital city of Gwangju and the Ski Resorts in Korea nearby Seoul. Q. How is the air connectivity between Korea and India? A. Flight connections between Korea and India have improved since December 2016 with increase of direct flights from Delhi from 3 per week to per week. However, just three direct weekly flights from Mumbai remains a challenge. From tourism point of view, I want Mumbai to have daily direct flight connectively and at least one city in South India. I am aware of already some talks between the two countries on this regard and am hopeful of some good news in future. Tourism Fiji organizes multi-city roadshow in India Tourism Fiji recently organised six-city roadshow in the country. A numbers of tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents and media marked their presence at the trade engagement. Nitisha Dubey The Indian cities covered under the roadshow included Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Chennai. Speaking on the sidelines of the roadshow in New Delhi, Matthew Stoeckel, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fiji said Tourism Fiji has seen a 28% growth in visitor arrivals from India for the period between January to June 2017 as compared to the same period last year. Fiji is a sought after destination for honeymooners and couples from India. However, it is a great place for family vacations as well as adventure travel. These are the main segments which Tourism Fiji is focusing for the upcoming years, he added. About the connectivity between India and Fiji, Stoeckel said, Fiji Airways currently operates two direct flights a week from Singapore to Fiji and five direct flights a week from Hong Kong to Fiji. The airline has also signed a code-share agreement with Jet Airways in March this year for hassle free travel from India. He also informed, Bollywood Actress Ileana D Cruz is likely to host an upcoming travel show which will be broadcast in Times Now channel. It will be 30 minutes episode including advertisement. She will share her experience about Fiji. Matthew Stoeckel during the event

31 WelcomHeritage Judge s Court Pragpur, Himachal Pradesh A Heritage Hotel Re ecting the ambience of Anglo-Indian hospitality Pragpur is India s first Heritage Village in the beautiful Kangra Valley at an elevation of 2500 ft. WelcomHeritage Judge s Court is the finest Heritage Country Manors with an ambiance reminiscent of India during the 20th century. Parts of the property are over 300 years old and the splendid Country Manor is 100 years old. The Judges Court offers an experience of rural India at its best as it was during the apex of the Raj. Deluxe Room Fine Dining Lobby Ph: , holidays@welcomheritagehotels.in Website :

32 32 NEWSTRACK nto South African Tourism targets Delhi s Ultra HNHs Recently, South African Tourism concluded the 7th edition of its annual travel trade training sessions. Aimed at equipping travel agents with the best tips to sell the destination, Learn South Africa (Learn SA) is a 17-city training programme which covered urban metros and tier II & III markets. Wonderlust Bureau Hanneli Slabber The sessions were structured to ensure that travelers enjoy many new, exciting, tailor-made itinerary options as a direct result. Learn SA helps ensure that Indian travel agents know how to choose the best quality hotels for their customer s budget and needs. It also teaches them how to choose the best in-destination partners to escort the traveler while on holiday. It also gives them updates about new things to see and do in South Africa and basics like visa and logistical know-how to ensure that travelers are catered to efficiently, said Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager India, South African Tourism. TAAI s endeavor through training programs is to educate travel agents so that it is easy for the staff of travel companies to effectively sell the product. With South African Tourism this is the second time that we have undertaken this training. We are happy that the trade is getting exclusive marketing tips from the SAT team and stakeholders from SA who have come to India, declared Bettaiah Lokesh, Secretary General, TAAI. The preference for holidays in South Africa has been on a rise amongst Indian travelers over the past few years and is expected to continue in was a milestone year for us at South African Tourism in India and we are determined to set new benchmarks for the industry as well as ourselves by making 2017 bigger and better. Our internal target is to welcome more than 100,000 Indian visitors in 2017 and we couldn t be more thrilled to work towards and achieve this target, added Hanneli Slabber. Indian leisure visitor numbers to South Africa surged 21.7% during 2016 to close at an arrivals figure of 95,377 and 8th position among South Africa s international source markets. This is vis-à-vis 78,385 arrivals in also saw the overall spends from India (only in-country on- tour spends excluding flights and attractions, hotels booked in advance) crossed an astounding 1.2 billion ZAR by the year end. All these statistics indicate that Indian travelers are already showing excitement about destination South Africa. Delhi has consistently been one of the key source markets driving tourist traffic to South Africa as one of the top two markets alongside Mumbai. South Africa is keen to keep attracting Delhi s travel enthusiasts and potential is brimming s Top of the Pyramid survey by Kotak Wealth Management features Delhi amongst the top 4 cities which contribute 55% of the Ultra HNHs spread in India. One of the 8 traditional metros in India, Delhi ranks as the country s second richest city with its total wealth expected to be around $450 billion as per the 2017 New World Wealth Report. South Africa is the perfect destination for the well-travelled Delhite with its variety of distinctive attractions, unforgettable experiences, world-class facilities and excellent infrastructure. It attracts both luxury as well as budget travelers. One of Learn SA 2017 s focus areas was to train travel agents about new destinations such Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Port Elizabeth and the Drakensberg region beyond the immensely popular Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg & surrounds and Kruger National Park. These are picturesque areas where travelers can pack in a lot of action into shorter time-spans. Learn SA 2017 had numerous participating South African product suppliers resulting in more choices for the end consumer / traveler. These included inbound tour operators and destination management companies like Thompsons, Africa Incoming, Trav Care, Tourvest Destination Management, Centurion Travel and Tours and Southern Africa 360; hotel chains such as Tsogo Sun and Sun International and African air carrier RwandAir which is introducing exciting fares and deals to India. Over 70 international airlines now fly into South Africa. Efforts are on to increase seat capacity on relevant flight routes ex-delhi. Presently, Delhi is connected to South African cities by Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Mauritius, Jet Airways and Air India which fly via their respective hubs. Travelers have a variety of airlines, connections and consequently, multiple fare options to choose from. The Rand (ZAR)-Rupee exchange rate has been relatively favorable for the India market. Since the South Africa product quote comes in ZAR and not US dollars, Indian travelers are able to buy more experiences and activities for less money thus, making South Africa a value-for-money destination. Tourists enjoying jungle safari at South Africa

33 ADVERTORIAL hotels 33 Comfortable stay at the Metropolitan Hotel & Spa The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa is a Five Star Deluxe full service hotel located in the heart of the business and commercial hub of New Delhi, and provides easy access to most of the corporate and financial centres, ministries, embassies and the International Trade Fair grounds. Now nicknamed as THE MET, the smart and swanky hotel provides a peek into the future of hospitality. THE MET, a member of Great Hotels Of The World, Luxury Collection is a fine blend of style and substance and welcomes guests to a fresh atmosphere with vivid, minimalist, urban, stylish designs, and let them slip into smoothest place with warm and thoughtful service. Liberally sprinkled with both business essentials and travel comforts, THE MET is the perfect destination for finest living for an international business and upscale leisure traveler as it is conveniently located in the heart of business and commercial hub of New Delhi. THE MET houses renowned restaurants to mesmerize guests with eclectic options to choose from distinctive dining and wining experiences. To the global gourmet, THE MET offers the award winning Sakura, India s first authentic Japanese restaurant, Chutney, Bar + Tandoor, offering diners an indigenous fusion of pan Indian cuisine, Zing, the all-day world cuisine restaurant featuring an international platter set to tantalize the taste buds and Zing GourMET Shop to entice sweet tooth with delectable offerings. The hotel also has NeoVeda Spa, based on the concept of new ayurveda. This epitome of luxury encapsulates the time-honoured powers of ayurveda with a modern influence to heal and restore, relax and invigorate mind, body and spirit. THE MET is home to Craft House, a fashion lifestyle store, which offers creative ensemble of apparel, exclusive range of Indian handicrafts, pashmina, jewellery, ayurvedic spa products and the most unusual and unique Indian tea selections. with its exclusive range of Indian handicrafts, pashmina, jewellery, ayurvedic spa products and the most unusual and unique Indian tea selections. Guests can also have an artistic experience at art gallery, Art Spice that promotes contemporary art and showcases art exhibitions of some of the finest artists from different generations across the globe. In addition, THE MET has state-of-the-art Business Center, stylish Banquet Halls and Meeting Venues, enhanced Health Club, and Swimming Pool to provide the extras that our corporate business traveler expects. Come, LIVE MET SMART at this prestigious property in New Delhi, India. For a complete description of The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa, New Delhi, India please visit com Contact Details - The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa Bangla Sahib Road, New Delhi T: E: info@hotelmetdelhi.com

34 34 FEATURE destination Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar Verdant valleys and white-mountains make Kashmir a must visit destination For all those adventure loving people who wish to enjoy camping at a hill station, Sonmarg is the ideal destination. Tourists flock to this small hill resort in heavy numbers to see the enchanting natural beauty and snow clad peaks. Wonderlust Bureau Known as the Meadow of Gold, Sonmarg is set amidst a valley of flowers and lakes. The word Sona literally means Gold in Hindi, and this golden beauty covered with white snow is most attractive in the spring. The exotic flora of the region is nurtured by the Sindh river. Sonmarg is the gateway to Ladakh. The dense forests of Sonmarg comprise of sycamore and alpine flowers, silver birch, fir and pine. The place is frequently visited by nature lovers in the search of tranquil peace and soothing natural beauty. The stunning blue water lakes and grasslands are the other attractions. The enchanting beauty of the towering snow clad mountains is a real treat to the eyes. Accommodation You can find a number of hotels and lodges of various types and budgets in Sonmarg. Most of these are operated in summers only. If you visit Sonmarg in winters, you can hire cottages or guest rooms. Sonamarg is a place of enthralling beauty. Three lakes viz Kishensar, Vishensar and Gangabal can be viewed from Nichnai Pass. Twenty Kms east of Sonamarg is Zoji-La Pass at 3540 mtrs which leads into Ladakh Plateau. Sonamarg is in Srinagar District on the Srinagar Leh Highway approximately110 Kms from Srinagar. The nearest Airport is in Badgam Distt. This Airport is connected with major cities of India. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu and from there National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir valley with India. Every sort of transport to suit every budget from Buses to Taxis ply on this Highway. It takes around 10 to 12 hours to cross this mountainous road which crosses some beautiful spots and the famous Jawahar Tunnel linking Kashmir Valley with India. Bus service is available from Srinagar which leave at fixed time from the Srinagar Bus stand. Taxis and other sort of transport can be hired from Srinagar at pre-fixed rates. Assistance is available at Tourist Reception Centre Srinagar. Sonamarg has a number of Hotels and lodges of various types which are open only during summer months. Accomodation needs to be booked well in advance from Srinagar. Sonamarg offers lots of recreational activities. Trekking can be undertaken to Thajiwas Glacier which is very beautiful. Sledging at the frozen Glaciers is also offered by locals. Sonamarg is also the base camp to Amarnath Cave for the route of Bal Tal. Alpine Skiing is also available at high altitudes. A popular trek from Sonamarg to Pahalgam can also be undertaken. Watlab If you want to experience the real Kashmir then a trip to Watlab is a must for you. Watlab is situated on the Sopore-Bandipore road, about 56 km from Srinagar and 8 km from Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir. As you move away from the well-traversed areas of the valley, slowly and steadily, you will get to see the Kashmir you have never seen before. There, unfolding before you will be Watlab in the Kashmir valley of India. Apart from the untamed beauty, Watlab in Kashmir is famous for its hilltop Muslim shrine. The shrine was built in the memory of Baba Shukurddin, a Muslim mystic. This place offers you a beautiful view of the Wular Lake, stretching out as far as the eye can see. The picturesque villages edging around the

35 FEATURE destination 35 lake further enhance the scenery. Also adding a touch of color to the landscape, are the fields of paddy nearby. As far as the accommodation at Watlab is concerned, there is a forest rest house situated amongst beautiful apple orchards. Doodhpathri Doodhpathri is a beautiful meadow with emerald grass that looks like a green carpet. A beautiful river dancing and reverberating with the wind flows in the middle of the meadow, lending it a splendid charm and vibrancy. The place looks very beautiful and pleasant. Doodhpathri is a recent inclusion in the Jammu Kashmir s tourist map. This is the reason that the place is not overcrowded and not many tourists visit here. However, it has become a real hit among the local population, who find it a welcome step. Travelling to the area can be hectic, but the place is worth the trouble. The local government is taking steps on fast track basis to make the access easier and comfortable. Work is going on to connect Doodhpathri with all the concrete roads. Once completed, it is believed that the place will be at number three of the most preferred tourist destinations of the valley. As already mentioned, travelling can be hectic. You need to take a bus to Budgam from Lalchowk Srinagar, from where you can catch a vehicle to Khansahib. From Khansahib stand you can get a cab for Doodhpathri. Weather of the place remains moderate. The best time to visit is during the spring and summer months from May to September. The place is primarily for sightseeing as it has not been developed completely as yet. Kokernag Basically, the real name of Kokernag is Bindoo Zalangam, as recorded in the revenue records. It is situated at a distance of about 17 kms from district headquarters. Kokernag is a collection of many small springs and their collective appearance resembles to the claws of a Koker (cock). Kokernag is the largest fresh water spring of Kashmir and its water has many curative and digestive properties. Kokernag is eight miles from Achabal and famous for the curative properties of its beautiful springs. Kokernag has some historical importance also. Kokernag has been mentioned in Ain-i- Akbari, where in it has been mentioned that the water of Kokernag satisfies both hunger and thirst and it s is also a remedy for indigestion. Tulip Garden Tulip Garden in Kashmir is Asia s largest tulips garden and there is a likely hood that it can become the world s second largest too. The tulip garden which is in Srinagar is commonly Doodhpathri, a place full of greenery known as Siraj Bagh and is located on the banks of the famous Dal Lake. When viewing the garden you are able to see the large variety of colors of the flowers, and there are over 60 varieties of early, mid and late blooming tulips. The tourism authorities in the state said they are using the festival to promote the state as a preferred destination. The garden at the foothills of Zabarwan overlooking the famed Dal Lake has about 60 varieties of multicolored tulips. Siraj Bagh, which has become home to tulips in Kashmir, has a unique and feasible topography that suits different varieties of flowers. It has slopes suited for different varieties of fruit plants and wilderness suitable for wild flora and bushes. Tulip, which has its origin in Persia (Iran), was introduced in Europe in 17th century, where it had been developed in different varieties. Holland is the largest producer of tulips, which inhabits the mountain areas extending from Europe to Central Asia. The plantation of tulips begins from September, before the start of winter season. Warwan The Valley of Warwan, falling in Kishtwar district, is situated in the upper reaches of Himalayas at an altitude of around 7000 feet above sea level. It is bound by Kashmir Valley on one side and Ladakh on the other and remains completely cut off from the rest of the world for around 7 months in a year. Just three hours drive from the renowned tourist place of Kokernag in South Kashmir s Anantnag district takes one to a place where hope is the only key for survival. A 50 kilometer bumpy drive is adventurous for a tourist but for the local residents the distance has kept them away from even the basic amenities of life. A dog guiding a herd of sheep can be seen in the canyon below the Margan Valley, and often nomads on horseback greet visitors. Some of them even pose for photographs that too without any charge. Kashmiris condemn Amarnath attack The attack on a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims on the night of July 10 in Anantnag has evoked unequivocal condemnation from the people of Kashmir. Civil society groups called for a sit-in protest at Pratap Park in Srinagar s Lal Chowk to condemn the attack.

36 36 NEWSTRACK aviation SriLankan Airlines launches three South Indian routes SriLankan Airlines has recently launched new services to South India s three cities, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Coimbatore. The airline will be offering a four-times-a-week service for these routes. Wonderlust Bureau Lamp lighting at the airport With these additions, SriLankan will operate 126 flights per week to 14 cities in India, with existing services to Chennai, Trichy, Trivandrum, Mumbai, New Delhi, Gaya, Madurai, Varanasi, Kochi, Bangalore and Kolkata. Travelers to and from Hyderabad can now enjoy SriLankan award winning hospitality onboard with its ultra-modern fleet of Airbus aircraft which possess the most sophisticated in-flight entertainment systems and superior comforts. Accordingly SriLankan has deployed its brand new A320neo and A321neo aircraft on its routes to South India. SriLankan s new service would also allow travelers from Hyderabad to enjoy Sri Lanka s many tourist attractions and experience for themselves the reasons why the island is fast becoming one of the most highly sought after tourism destinations in the world. The launch of new services by SriLankan to Hyderabad would boost connectivity for the business community by providing all industries in Hyderabad, one of the largest industrial centres in India, enhanced opportunities for rapid and seamless transport of all types of cargo throughout SriLankan s network. SriLankan s global route network now spans 105 cities in 47 countries. As a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance, SriLankan also offers its passengers connectivity to over 1,000 cities in 160 countries that are served by its oneworld partner airlines. SriLankan Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Siva Ramachandran said, We are delighted The flight schedule is as follows: From To Departure Arrival Days of operation Colombo Hyderabad 0700 hrs. (local time) 855 hrs. local time) Hyderabad Colombo 0950 hrs. (local time) to extend our services to Hyderabad, which we believe will be an important addition to our global network. This new service reflects SriLankan s continuous commitment in consolidating the Asian market and offering travelers seamless travel experiences with great comfort. He also said, Travelers to and 1145 hrs. (local time) Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday from Visakhapatnam can now enjoy SriLankan award winning hospitality onboard. This new destination addition to our network indeed reflects SriLankan Airlines commitment in serving Asian region offering travelers seamless connectivity on board of our brand new A320neo and A321neo aircraft.

37 NEWSTRACK aviation 37 Welcoming of Siva Ramachandran The flight schedule is as follows: From To Departure Arrival Days of operation Colombo Coimbatore 1330 hrs (local time) Coimbatore Colombo 1535 hrs (local time) 1435 hrs (local time) 1645 hrs. (local time) Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday The flight schedule is as follows: From To Departure Arrival Days of operation Colombo Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Colombo 0710 hrs. (local time) 1010 hrs (local time) 0910 hrs. (local time) 1215 hrs (local time) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday SriLankan Airlines expands to highest number of destinations SriLankan Airlines recorded an exciting milestone recently as it launched a new four-times-a-week service to Coimbatore. This took SriLankan s online destination count to 41, the highest ever in Sri Lanka s aviation history. With the recently launched routes to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, as well as the seasonal flights to Gaya and Varanasi which will resume in August, SriLankan will soon be operating 126 scheduled flights a week to 14 destinations in India serving more Indian points than any other international airline. This regains SriLankan the title of the foreign airline with the largest reach into India a solid and distinct advantage that will help SriLankan s commercial efforts and its quest to become a regional carrier of note. In addition to opening these new routes, SriLankan has also implemented several other network changes from 15th July in line with its strategy of adapting its route network to align with the current market realities. These include; New daily non-stop flights to Guangzhou, China (eliminating the previous Bangkok stopover) New five times a week non-stop flights to Hong Kong, China (eliminating the previous Bangkok stopover that had operated for decades) Flights to Bangkok, Thailand increased from daily to three times a day, to cater to the demand and to enhance network connectivity Flights to Delhi, India increased from daily to 11 times a week SriLankan s destination count is set to increase further from the upcoming winter season, as it launches new daily non-stop flights to Melbourne, Australia. This represents SriLankan s re-entry to Australia after a hiatus of sixteen years. The airline has already seen very strong forward bookings on this route which gives confidence that it is the right choice. Further expansion of services on strategically important routes are also planned for the winter season. Two new A320neo aircraft and the first A321neo aircraft have joined SriLankan s fleet during the year, with two more A321neo aircraft due to join before the end of the year. It is worth noting that SriLankan was the first airline in Asia, and only the fourth airline worldwide, to take delivery of the A321neo aircraft. The A320neo family aircraft incorporate the latest technologies including new generation CFM- LEAP engines and sharklet, wingtips both of which enhance fuel efficiency while delivering superior levels of comfort to passengers. They are 15% more fuel efficient than the previous generation A320 family aircraft and deliver almost a 50% reduction in noise footprint. SriLankan completed the recently ended Financial Year 2016/17 with an improved financial performance and a reduction of its Unit Cost. Since the beginning of the new FY 2017/18, SriLankan has recorded a reversal of the declining yields that it had witnessed in the prior year, all signs pointing that SriLankan is heading in the right direction.

38 38 OPINION human resource Casual employment: Benefit & Challenges In the present globalized and competitive commercialized environment, casual employment has been substantially recognized in the service industry, whereby different companies employ workers on a temporary basis for their own convenience in fulfilling important necessitates. Angad Arora Though casualisation has especially helped small-scale hospitality businesses in minimizing labour costs while enhancing productivity, organizations can even lose casual employees to other competitors. In Australia alone, more than two-million citizens are recruited casually, accounting for largely women and 40 per cent casuals aged between years old, which following Spain is known to have the second biggest casualised workforce worldwide. In the Australian Hospitality Industry, approximately 70% of the workforce are casually employed along an on-required functionality, which is completely standardized and acknowledged as a significant scheme for companies in having the numerical flexibility for equating the employee s supply to the required organizational demands, completely based upon the busy seasonality. For example, the Shangri-La property in Sydney, unlike all their other properties worldwide, includes a heavy figure of casual workers, which would have strong entailments for adapting to the ethnical variations with the required employee training and motivation. Moreover, having the hospitality industry being very broad and subjective in its nature, there are several common advantages and disadvantages for the employers and casual employees in different circumstances. The major two advantages for the casual workers in the workplace are firstly, being paid in wages on an hourly basis with the available penalty rates which is higher than the permanent employees since they are not eligible for any paid leaves without enjoying employee-benefits and secondly, possessing the tractability of working wherever they would prefer with their available time, that is exceedingly useful for people bearing child-care obligations alongside with older people and university students for earning extra income and gaining some experience in an interested particular field. On the other hand, some disadvantages for casual employees includes: ineligibility to paid leaves, inaccessibility to the staff rostering without having the awareness in the changes brought by the management and making it harder for predicting the work patterns, not knowing the regularity of the total working hours that brings financial instability for generating a steady income, problems in securing the job and being undefended from getting sacked and lastly, restricted staff training for a substantive career foundation with slight/no knowledge about the workplace that directly impacts the job performance. For the employers, the advantage of hiring casualised employees in the workforce includes: reduced labour expenses since casuals are not reserved for any companybenefits forming part of the peripheral working group under the Atkinson s flexibility model and being paid in wages with getting rescheduled at any given period, maintaining enough flexibility and calling them as and when required, especially during the busy weekends for matching the company s expectations. Furthermore, states the major reason why businesses employ casuals temporarily is for balancing the fluctuating workforce mainly due to employee absenteeisms or shortterm demanding workloads, where casuals can be utilized effectively in saving time and therefore, will simultaneously maintain healthy, electropositive relationships with every staffing agencies for long-term constancy. Having casualisation providing relief on a short-term basis itself, there are even few disadvantages associated with employers when hiring casuals. Firstly, since these employees have minimal presence in the organizational environment, they will definitely lack the knowledge in the services along with their individualistic commitments towards the organization, and thus cannot be very heavily dependable by companies in the long-term circumstances. Moreover, the impact of staff turnover can have disastrous implications on the organizational productivity, resulting in the company s overall allegiance and brand deprivation, losing on the invested capital/ time and therefore, employers should carefully manage their long-term jeopardies by carefully recruiting and train casuals within the workplace along with perpetually innovating them with an organization s incorporated knowledge and rewarding them in maintaining the organization s cultural environment. In conclusion, even though problems continue existing, however, creating a healthy and sustainable workplace environment would require employers and casual employees for simultaneously making the effort in understanding one another s expectations by establishing stronger employee-employer relationships through setting goals, delegating tasks, communicating efficiently with encompassing equivalence and finally, motivating members in achieving productivity standards and grounding commitment. Therefore, casualisation has been effectively utilized by companies and continues dominating the Australian Hospitality Industry, where employees and employers represent two sides of the same coin.

39 NASHIK TRAVEL MART Travel Agents Association of Nashik In Association with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation 7 SEPTEMBER 2017 Presents NASHIK TRAVEL MART SEPTEMBER 2017 NASHIK FAM TOUR 8 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2017 Please Register Yourself On / nashik-travel-mart / taannashik@gmail.com Venue : Hotel Express Inn, Nashik WINE RELIGIOUS ADVENTURE YOGA NATURE Supported By : Nashik Hotel Owners Association Inaugurations Ceremony 7th Sept. 4pm. onwards

40 40 INTERVIEW aviation SriLankan Airlines to begin new connection to Melbourne In an exclusive interview with Wonderlust, Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Manager- Northern & Eastern India, SriLankan Airlines shared his new plans to organise roadshows in Punjab and Rajasthan, where he wants to promote the carrier. Nitisha Dubey A. All the routes are performing well. Especially Mumbai and Delhi are doing very good. We have three flights a week in Kolkata, where we are planning to add one more flight. Q. What are the factors that differentiates SriLankan Airlines from rest of the carriers? A. As of now, we are the largest international airlines in terms of frequencies to Colombo. We have 14 frequencies and 125 weekly flights. So, we are the largest in terms of points of operation from India. We are able to give multiple destinations out of India. Especially it will be useful for MICE groups, wedding groups, they can come from multiple places in India to SriLanka. Now, we also have Airbus neo aircraft, so our passengers are very much appreciating our onboard products and services, which cater well to Indian travellers. Chinthaka Weerasinghe Q. SriLankan Airlines has added three southern Indian cities- Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam -- to its network from July this year. Are there some expansion plans for the Northern India also in the pipeline? A. We have increased our flights to Delhi. From seven flights a week to 11 flights and now we are planning to have double daily. From December, there will be 14 flights a week from Delhi. We are also planning to expand our business from Mumbai. Apart from this, we have recently started new flights from SriLanka to Varanasi and Gaya, which is dedicated to pilgrims. We are very optimistic about this route. Q. How is the tourist growth from Indian market for SriLankan Airlines as compared to last year? A. There has been 10 to 15% increase in the growth of tourists for us. for Australian traffic. So, we have tied up with local airlines to carry traffic from Punjab that includes Amritsar and Chandigarh via Delhi to Melbourne. For Melbourne route, we have tied up with Qantas Airlines to give connections to Sydney, rest of the points in Australia and also to New Zealand. We will be having daily flights with immediate connections in Colombo under one to two hours. The flight will be from Delhi/ Colombo/ Melbourne. Q. How are the current routes in West India performing for the carrier in terms of average load factor? Q. Are there some challenges that you are facing in the Indian market? A. Challenges will be always there with new entrants but new is also an opportunity for us to further enhance our product. Q. What is your distribution channel strategy for the Indian market? How are the traditional travel agents contributing to your sales in India? A. We have multiple channels consisting of tour operators, online travel agencies, pilgrim operators, MICE corporate houses, DMC, etc. Almost 70 to 80% business comes from the traditional channels. We will continue to focus on traditional channels because they have given us big support. Q. What are your future growth plans for SriLankan Airlines? A. We are planning to organise roadshows in Punjab and Rajasthan, where we will not only focus on SriLanka, it will be also focusing on our new flights. We are planning to start a new flight to Melbourne in Australia. We will work closely with Victoria Tourism and Australia Tourism Board to promote traffic to Australia as well. This flight will begin from October 29, Punjab is one of the biggest catch meant area

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42 42 NEWSTRACK aviation Oman Air looks to further strengthen presence in Indian market Oman Air is looking to diversify its segmentation in the Indian market and focus on providing connection to Indian travellers looking to travel to Europe. Poonam Chaudhary Paul Gregorowitsch At present 40 percent of Indians are using the carrier to connect to GCC markets. The airline is expecting that its codeshare with KLM Royal Dutch airline between Muscat and Amsterdam and new opening to Manchester in May will help it to tap this market. We look forward to welcoming many more Indian air travellers aboard our aircraft as Oman Air continues its current ambitious fleet and network expansion programme across destinations. Gulf airlines operating in the Asia Pacific region usually work on similar strategies to lure passengers, but Oman wants to change the track, Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO, Oman Air said on the sidelines of his recent visit to India. The airline will also promote its award winning business class in the Indian market to tap the premium segment of travellers. The CEO said that unlike their competitors that are using A 380s to fill their aircraft with 5000 pax, Oman Air s focus is on projecting itself as a top quality airline in India to take on other Middle East Carriers which are at present popular for European Connections. He also said that new passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport will be operational by the end of this year and the airport is not crowded which allows them to serve guests one-on-one a USP it is banking to take on the competition. The airline will introduce its third daily flight from Mumbai to Muscat in August this year which will increase its weekly capacity from 154 to 161 flights. The airline has expanded from 128 flights a week in 2016 to 161 flights a week in In 2017, the Government of India and Oman updated their bilateral air services agreement allowing Oman Air to operate 161 weekly frequencies to India from 126 weekly frequencies before the agreement between the two countries was inked. Gregorowitsch without naming the destinations said that the airline is looking to connect to three more points in India that will be the regional airports that the Indian government is converting from military basis to public airports. The Indian Government mentioned its intention to have open skies beyond 5,000 km. That is completely done. It announced that the next step will be to have (open skies) within 5,000 km. Oman is within 5,000 km so if the initiatives taken so far by the Indian Government will continue, it is foreseeable that in the next few years where we would knock at the door again because we have added additional aircraft and additional destinations, the airline CEO said. He also shared that the airline is looking to increase its frequency on the only route it serves in China, Guangzhou from the present four times a week to seven times a week. The airline also plans to connect to Beijing and Shanghai. Asked if Oman Air is looking at India s plan to sell off Air India, Gregorowitsch said the airline had no intention to bid for Air India or any of its wings. He said that as the Gulf economies were in crosswinds, the Muscat-based airline would prefer to focus on a strategy that is different from other Gulf carriers. The union cabinet has given its in-principle approval for disinvestment of Air India, after the government s think tank NITI Aayog proposed complete privatization of the national carrier, which is saddled with a debt of Rs 52,000 crore.

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44 44 INTERVIEW aviation India presents great potential for tourism traffic: Mugisha In a free-wheeling interview with Wonderlust, Ivan Mugisha, Country Manager-India, RwandAir spoke about the growth of tourism in Rwanda and opportunities that India offers to the destination. Vijay Arora This is being done with emphasis on the uniqueness of the destination. The experience and kind of offerings still remain the differentiator and this gives us an edge over many destinations. Q. How do you plan to educate Indian trade about various tourism offerings in Rwanda? Are there any plans to float online training program for Indian travel agents? A. India presents great potential for tourism traffic that is why we have already embarked on key initiatives to educate the Indian trade and promote tourism in Rwanda. We have always participated in trade shows in India and will continue to be part of similar platforms being staged across India. Already mentioned are familiarization trips to Rwanda for tour operators and the media plus more such efforts are in the pipeline. Online training programs are a prerequisite and have been tabled by the Rwanda Development Board. It should be rolled out in the near future. Q. How is RwandAir contributing to the tourism sector? A. Rwanda is ensuring tourism growth through increased international air access. RwandAir remains the fastest growing airline in the African continent and recently connected Brussels and London to its ever growing network with China set to be added before the end of this year. Notably, today Rwanda is ranked and recognized by the World Economic Forum as the one of the safest countries, one of the most tourist, business and environmental friendly destinations in the world. Ivan Mugisha Q. How has 2017 so far been for tourism sector as compared to 2016? How many Indian tourist arrivals are you expecting by the end of 2017? A. In general, tourism sector in Rwanda continues to show a positive streak. We registered stable revenue growth over the years and have set a target of $444 million for 2017 from $404 million achieved in We are on track to achieve the desired target given the significant growth in MICE and visitors in the country this year. From the Indian market, we received approximately 12,562 tourists last year and an increment of 10% is projected by the end of this year. Q. How are you creating awareness about Rwanda as a tourist destination in India and taking on competition from destinations like Kenya that are popular among Indian tourists? A. We have began promoting Rwanda as a destination through incentives and partnerships with destination management companies and tour operators for holiday packages. A Media Fam trip was also organized jointly with Rwanda Development Board and the High Commission and group has since done a lot of social media adverts that have gone viral. Q. Connectivity is important to grow a new market. Is there any update on improvement taking place in direct connectivity between the two countries? A. Connectivity is a key and makes it much easier to promote a destination that is why our national carrier, RwandAir launched direct flights between Kigali and Mumbai on April 4, This is going be used as a springboard to boost growth in tourism and trade between India and Rwanda. Q. Is the high end luxury market a target segment for you in India? How do you plan to court this segment? A. Rwanda is a high end tourist destination but with tailor made packages that are reasonably priced to suit all kinds of market categories. However, we continue to strategically position ourselves to attract a bigger share of the high end luxury market through broadened attractions beyond the famous mountain gorillas coupled with upgraded parks, infrastructure and new hospitality facilities to enhance visitors experiences. Q. Any other plans for the Indian market? A. RwandAir has entered into interline agreements with Jet Airways and Air India that will allow passengers book one ticket and connect from all other metropolises, tier-1 and tier - 11 cities of India to RwandAir s network and vice versa. Therefore, we are tapping into the wider Indian market and making travel convenient through guaranteed seamless connections. Attractively priced tickets have been negotiated to this effect to stimulate traffic. We intend to make in-roads here through aggressive advertising campaigns of our products.

45 NEWSTRACK events 45 EaseMyTrip: The Supporting Partner of IIFA Awards 2017 EaseMyTrip was one of the brand partners of the very renowned IIFA2017. The International Indian Film Academy Awards (primarily famous as the IIFA Awards) are the set of awards that are presented yearly by the International Indian Film Academy to tribute the actors and professionals of Bollywood. Started in year 2000, the award ceremony is organized in different countries across the world annually. The most recent one was held in New York on July EaseMyTrip was one of the support partners of this IIFA. In the last 17 years, since the IIFA Weekend and Awards started existing, many things have changed, many people influenced, different countries explored and a lot of new audience added. Indian Cinema not just expanded its wings and came across new horizons, but it has also created stronger bonds with new nations. The 18th annual edition of IIFA Weekend & Awards was hosted in New York, USA this July 14-15, 2017 in which EaseMyTrip also made its presence. The IIFA Weekend & Awards are much awaited by the Bollywood fans in the world. Nishant Pitti, CEO & Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com was present in this award ceremony to represent his company. Along with witnessing action-packed weekend showcasing the best of Bollywood, Pitti presented the award for the Best Production Design category for the film Neerja to Aparna Sood & Anna Ipe. Another award presented by him was for the Best Editing category for the film PINK to Bodhaditya Banerjee. Tourism Malaysia organises FAM trip Tourism Malaysia, New Delhi in association with Air Asia recently conducted a familiarisation trip for the bloggers and print media from to highlight an amazing and magical experience in Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu & Kuala Lumpur. The trip was intended to increase awareness and give a different experience of new activities and products.the trip began with tour of Asia s first animation park -MAPS, 7 elements of adventure - Lost World of Tambun, one of the longest cave in Malaysia - Gua Tempurung, and The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat Resortin Ipoh followed by tour of second largest pontoon in the world - Borneo Reef World, North Borneo Sunset Cruise, scenic beauty ofmount Kinabalu in Kota Kina Balu. The trip ended with the experience of Jalan Alor s street food and shopping in Kuala Lumpur. TAAI elects Northern Region Office Bearers (L-R) Gurdevinder Singh, Neeraj Malhotra and Gaurav Dogra during the Annual General Meeting at The Claridges, New Delhi Recently, the Travel Agents Association of India organised its Annual General Meeting, where they announced the TAAI- Northern Region members. Without any opposition TAAI elected, Neeraj Malhotra, Co-founder and CEO, Ganpati Travels as the Chairman- Northern Region, TAAI, Gaurav Dogra, Founder, Planyourholiday as the Secretary and Gurdevinder Singh, Director, Bhagwant Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd. as the Treasurer. During a conversation with Wonderlust, Neeraj Malhotra said, Our main focus will be on the airlines and the Ministry of Tourism. We have started approaching airlines, so that we can clear all issues which we are facing right now. We have organised training and educational programmes for our members so that tourism can boost more. Gaurav Dogra said, We will interact with members on regular basis more often on an individual basis. Whatever issues travel and tourism has we will aggressively try to find solution. There are certain issues like: how can get commission, how can GST be implemented within the business, etc. With the co-operation of our senior members we will make the business more successful. Gurdevinder Singh emphasized, We want to take all tour operators to education tours and training. So that, after getting good sessions they can sell the products better. We will do work with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and we will be holding workshop in the each and every state of India. Because India has a lot of potential. Master illusionist Ahmed El Bayed s Takes Off World Tour Master illusionist Ahmed El Bayed will be in Abu Dhabi during this year s edition of Abu Dhabi summer season, the emirate-wide month long programme of family fun and activations taking place from July 20 to August 20. The maestro has chosen the capital as one of many destinations as part of his Take Off World Tour, which promises audiences a captivating showcase of spellbinding illusions, tricks and stunts.

46 46 IN FOCUS hotels Clarks Inn: scripting one of greatest success stories of Indian hospitality Company s portfolio count stands at 78 hotel properties across 17 states in India and one in Nepal that it has created in a span of just over 11 years of operation Wonderlust Bureau Velvet Clarks Exotica, Zirakpur Standing out Very few hotel companies in India have successfully leveraged the growth potential that Indian market offers. And the list significantly narrows down when we consider home grown hotel companies and brands. In essence, there have been many start-ups but few successes. However, it has been a different story for one company that flaunts its USP as Inns that care attracting independent hotel owners, developers and potential investors to make a beeline to partner with it. India was offering new opportunities of growth and development to hotel companies in its burgeoning tourism and hospitality sector at the turn of the new millennium. The industry saw several new entrants, some home grown and others, including international hotel companies, making aggressive pitch for a bigger slice of the new opportunity. The financial crisis of tested most of their resolves and many caved in. There were, and are, yet others who gloriously weathered the challenges and have come on top. The making of Clarks Inn Group of Hotels sits right at the top of this illustrious league of extraordinary growth stories on India s hospitality horizon. In business for just over a decade now but with a legacy that pre-dates India s independence, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels is one name that has emerged as probably the biggest success story on India s hospitality landscape, particularly in the last few years. 78 and counting! Clarks Inn Group of Hotels is a Hotel Management company that was formed in 2006 in the wake of huge demand-supply gap that existed in the budget and mid-market hotel space. The company ventured in the business the same year with the opening of Clarks Inn Suites Pacific Mall in Ghaziabad in Delhi NCR. It had its share of challenges in the first few years but weathered through the initial years and the phase of global financial crisis that further afflicted the hotel industry, particularly during the meltdown that the global economy suffered. Clear focus, patience, perseverance and hard work began to pay in the later years with Clarks Inn emerging as one of the fastest growing hotel companies in India in the budget market space. What s makes this debut singularly unique is the sheer size and scale and the industry response that the company has been able to achieve in a short span of 11 years that few can boast of. The man on the mission who is scripting one of the most exciting hotel industry growth stories of the times is S N Srivastava, President & Co-founder, along with his boss Anoop Kumar, Managing Director, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels and one of the promoters of Clarks Group of Hotels, one of the oldest hotel companies in India. Under their tremendous leadership, Clarks Inn has been the fastest to reach 50 hotel portfolio. And with the current portfolio of over 78 hotel

47 IN FOCUS hotels 47 properties, and a strong development pipeline, the company is comfortably cruising to clock the 100 hotel milestone by Srivastava, an astute leader with over four decades of experience in the hotel industry helped formed this company over 11 years ago and has led this growth from the front. In a span of just over 11 years, the company manages a portfolio of 78 hotel properties, including 40 in operation, across 17 states in India and one in Nepal. The company witnessed one of its biggest growths so far in 2016 as it signed and opened a total of 21 new properties last year, he informs. New hotels opened and signed in 2016 include Bhagalkot, Buxor, hampi, Mysore, Patna, Shimoga, Sultanpur, Balan, Kanpur, Ara, Faizabad, Katra, Bijapur, Noida, Vasundhara, Kurloon, Greater Noida, Ujjain, Vrindavan and two in Shirdi. Of these, twelve properties that include Alwar, Bhagalkot, Dehradoon, Gangtok, Gwalior, Buxor, Musoorie, Mysore, Panchkula, Shimoga, Sultapura and Ujjain have become operational in In the last few years Clarks Inn has witnessed its presence grow in several key markets where it earlier had one odd property. Today the company has emerged as the leading presence amongst the branded hotel in markets like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Delhi NCR, Himachal Pradesh and the list is growing. Importantly, the company has continued to open new markets all across India where few have dared venture. While well established hotel companies are clearly hesitant in running hotel in unchartered territories and lesser heard far-flung areas and towns, Clarks Inn has clearly shown courage in opening many new destinations like Gadag (Karnataka), Deogarh (Jharkhand), Ara, Buxor (Bihar) and many others such markets where other older and well-established companies have only followed it later. It has brought new business to the market paving way for others in the industry to follow in those markets. Clarks Inn Group of Hotels brand portfolio include five distinguished standalone brands namely Clarks Inn, Clarks Inn Suites, Clarks Exotica, Clarks Residences and Clarks Holidays catering across segments from budget and midmarket segments to the upscale and long-stay accommodation demands. The company has also diversified into long stay accommodation with Clarks Residences and most recently in vacation ownership with Clarks Holidays. S.N. SRIVASTAVA President & Co-founder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels S N Srivastava carries distinction that few can match in the hospitality industry in India. With close to four decades of rich experience behind him, he became the chief architect of Clarks Inn Group of Hotels 11 years ago when Clarks Inn made its first foray in hotel management as a zero investment company. Today, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels has emerged as one of the most successful and fastest growing hotel management company in the budget space in the country and now also readying for an international debut. Under his able leadership, the company today boasts of 78 hotel properties in its portfolio including over 40 in operation spread across India. His unrelenting determination, organizational capabilities, rich and diverse experience across different hospitality verticals has catapulted him into not only a conceiver of one of India s most successful hotel company but also a man on mission-mode who envisions to see the company as one of the world s most recognised, successful and diversified hospitality company. A Law Graduate from Lucknow University, Srivastava also holds Post Graduate Diploma in Travel & Tourism from Institute of Tourism in Gwalior. Fact File: Clarks Inn Group of Hotels 1. Number of Years in Operation 11 Years 2. Total Number of Hotels 78 Hotels 3. Number of Hotel in Operation 42 Hotels 4. Average Room Size 40 Rooms Clarks Inn Suites Gwalior

48 48 NEWSTRACK short takes Israel Tourism conducts MICE FAM for Indian travel agents Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) recently conducted FAM trip for MICE agents from across India. The group consisted of agents from leading travel companies like Footloose Yatra Consultants, Enchante Holidays, Skyline travels, Travels mantra, Holiday Triangle Travel, Orion Inbound, Tamarind Global, Quantum travels, Byond, Bonton Holidays and WOV travel. The group got to explore various attractions in cities of Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Eilat and Tel Aviv. The FAM trip provided them the opportunity to see places like Yad Veshem- the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Israel Museum, Western Wall, Ein Gedi, Masada, Timna Park and also the sound and light show at the Tower of David. Neelu Samant, Director, Quantum Travels, said, India s rapidly evolving MICE consumer is always looking for fresh destinations and Israel holds great promise with fantastic infrastructure, conference facilities in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and even in Eilat (Red Sea resort town) and Beresheet which is in the middle of a desert. For a country that is so small in distance, the experiences are plenty for delegates, participants and invitees to any event held in Israel. Hassan Madah, Director, IMOT said, Israel is becoming a preferred MICE destination for Indian corporate because of its history, diverse culture, natural beauty, vibrant nightlife and friendly people. Munna Michael paints the Canvas of Jordan When it comes to exotic sites to shoot a film or a song, there are few places around the world that surpass the sites of Jordan. The recent Bollywood Box Office film, Munna Michael has exciting dance videos and a catchy twist but what made the audience s heart throb faster were the enchanting background settings on most of their songs. One in particular, Pyar Ho has visuals that have people transfixed on their screens! The song at the onset opens displaying the much-marvelled stone carved dwelling of Petra, the Rose City. The delightful reddish hue of sandstone amidst the maze of huge stone caverns is the magnificence of Petra. Described as a rose-red city half as old as time and one of the most precious cultural properties of man and a cultural heritage ; this was the place of choice to shoot a romantic song. Better yet, the song flaunts of another captivating site from Jordan; the desert wilderness of Wadi Rum. partnerships and forging new ones. Through these partnerships, we seek to bring Singapore s tourism offerings to our target audiences through creative promotions, and in the process, ensuring meaningful results for both our partners and the local travel trade. Yvonne Low, Executive Director, The Traveller DMC, said The six city roadshows have received overwhelming response and interest. Singapore continues to be a top of-mind destination and we are all fired-up to receive more Indian visitors in the coming months with fresh products and offerings. Asogan Jaganathan, Assistant Head South & West Asia Sales for Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore added All Roadshows across India observed overwhelming response amongst the local travel trade partners and their active participation shows that Singapore is indeed a very popular destination. Specifically for Resorts World Sentosa, these events have given us a platform to discuss business opportunities with existing and new partners, as well as thank them for their fullest support in promoting our products to their clients. Lastly, we would like to convey our sincerest appreciation to Singapore Tourism Board & Singapore Airlines for organizing these roadshows. Air New Zealand launches latest safety video Air New Zealand has teamed up with American actors Katie Holmes and Cuba Gooding Jr. for its latest safety video A Fantastical Journey. The video is an Alice in Wonderland inspired adventure featuring a number of iconic locations throughout New Zealand including the Southern Alps, Otago including Dunedin and the Moeraki Boulders, the Conway River in Canterbury, Wellington, Mt Taranaki, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel, Tolaga Bay north of Gisborne, White Island and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. New Zealand singer and songwriter Gin Wigmore has also recorded her own unique version of the song My Little Corner of the World as the backing track for A Fantastical Journey. Katie Holmes says it s been fun working alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and the Air New Zealand crew to produce A Fantastical Journey. I was really excited to be a part of this project the safety video is creative, magical and funny. The scenery is also beautiful and makes me want to get down to New Zealand! Cuba Gooding Jr. says he wanted to get involved in Air New Zealand s latest safety video as he does a lot of travelling and loves the fun and different approach. They make you laugh, smile and pay a little bit more attention. I ve also enjoyed working with Katie Holmes and Kiwi artist Gin Wigmore her voice is enchanting and soothing, exactly what you need for safety video! Singapore focuses six cities in India Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Airlines Group embarked on a six city roadshow across India, with positive participation from 39 Singapore stakeholders and over 800 in-market travel agents. India continues to be the fourth largest source market in terms of visitor arrivals and third largest tourism receipts generating market for Singapore. To celebrate and sustain this relationship, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in partnership with Singapore Airlines organized a 10-day, six city road show across India and Colombo, Sri Lanka. GB Srithar, said, India has always been an important market for us. For the second time in a row, Singapore received more than one million Indian visitors in As the region s middle-class becomes more affluent, there will be immense opportunities for international outbound travel and tourism, especially among families, working millennial and incentive movements. Through the roadshows, we seek to renew our ties with the travel trade, entrenching existing Air Canada celebrates Canada Day To celebrate the launch of the inaugural Mumbai-Toronto-Mumbai direct non-stop service and Canada Day a grand cocktail dinner was held at the Trident Hotel, Nariman Point on 3rd July 2017.The evening had a Bollywood theme and was attended by corporates, travel operators, diplomats and socialites. The High Commissioner of Canada, HE Nadir Patel welcomed the guests and spoke about the significance of Canada Day and 150 years of Canada. The gathering was also addressed by Duncan Bureau, Vice President Global Sales, Air Canada and Margaret Skinner, Director, EMEAI, Air Canada who spoke about how important the Indian market was and this being the third non stop service within two years, the other being the daily Delhi-Toronto-Delhi service, the seasonal Delhi Vancouver-Delhi service. After the official launch of the new flight the evening was set alight with a scintillating performance by the Shiamak Davar Dance group.

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50 50 NEWSTRACK short takes Pullman announces new opening in Zhouzhuang Pullman, the leading cosmopolitan hotel brand of AccorHotels announces the opening of its latest hotel in China s heritage water town of Zhouzhuang, Jiangsu province. Renowned for its profound cultural heritage and watery views, Zhouzhuang is situated in Kunshan City, Suzhou s Southeast. With picturesque lake views, the hotel is nestled within a 50 acre wetland park and gateway to the century-old water system that joins the Yangtze River. Michel Molliet, Chief Operating Officer, AccorHotels Greater China, said: The Pullman brand was launched in Greater China 10 years ago and over the years, the brand has established more than 30 properties within the region. As AccorHotels new generation of upscale hotels, Pullman Hotels & Resorts offers hyper-connected travellers the best-in-class business and fitness facilities, functional contemporary design and balanced dining concepts. Lucy Lu, General Manager of Pullman Zhouzhuang, said, The opening of Pullman Zhouzhuang is the first international upscale branded hotel in town. The hotel s design is inspired by the architectural elements surrounding the canals, making it ideal for business and leisure travellers from nearby cities like Shanghai. AHP organises 4th Hospitality Excellence Awards 2017 Young hospitality professionals were felicitated for their brilliance in hospitality skills at 4th Hospitality Excellence Awards organized by Association of Hospitality Professionals, along with Prospurs India, at Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, New Delhi. The best among the 200s of professionals were bestowed with awards in the presence of Member of Parliament, Manoj Tiwari, among other top notch names from the Hospitality industry. Manoj Tiwari said, It is really a pleasure to see so many talents in front of you. I am glad that we have people who are willing to grow, and to contribute to the country with their talent. We have always tried to make India a developed nation and create maximum employment. With the young professionals like these willing to put their best foot forward in the Hospitality Sector, I am sure we would soon be able to not just get rid of unemployment but also at par with other countries Rajendra Kumar, President, Executive Committee, AHP said, The prime objective of the hospitality challenge is to offer young hospitality professional, a platform to showcase, exhibit, hone hospitality skills and raise the overall standards of the hospitality Industry. We were glad to see such fervor in the young participants and delighted to know that how ardent these young people are to establish themselves successfully in the industry. Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel to relaunch Link Café Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, Gachibowli recently announced a refreshed menu for its popular café. Link Café will be presenting an entirely new menu, serving a lavish gourmet delicatessen fare along with freshly brewed specialty coffees and a contemporary café menu. It will also offer consumers a range of high end takeaway merchandise as well. Located in the lobby of Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, Link Café will be a 24*7 interactive deli that is perfect for unwinding with your friends, over great food and assorted beverages. With the refreshed menu at Link Café, patrons can expect a variety of lip-smacking appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers and rolls. Delicious café food along with the alluring aroma of fresh coffee, and tea infusions are sure to make it a completely irresistible experience for everyone. Italian, French or Indian Link Café, has compiled a collection of special delicacies that are sure to delight its customers. If you think of enjoying your caffeine with a little kick, a must try is the all new specialty alcoholic coffees, a new addition at Link Café. Rewind and relax as you sip on this great concoction that s sure to suit your taste-buds. Ezeego1.com expands its presence in Mumbai Ezeego1.com, opened a new franchise store at Charni Road, Mumbai, to cater to the growing travel demands in South Mumbai. Managed by Pranit Shah, the outlet will provide a bouquet of travel services from leading travel suppliers from India and overseas. Services like flight tickets, hotels, packages, rail and cruise holidays are provided on a single platform from a diverse mix of travel suppliers offering best in class offerings and services. Neelu Singh, CEO & Director, Ezeego1, said, Distribution is the key to success in the growing travel market and the opening of our new franchise will help us gain a foothold in this market. Our offerings are curated from a slew of travel aggregators and we enable and distribute it through our platform. Ezeego1 will provide the franchisee with an active marketing, technical and store development support. The marketing activity will include print and radio advertising, attractive and preferential commercials. Store development support will include store designing to reinforce the brand s look and feel. ETAA organises seminar on GST Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) North India Chapter recently organised an interactive seminar on GST in New Delhi for its members. The four hour long interactive session was aimed at briefing the members about GST, its structure and various compliance formalities. Yogendra Garg, Additional Director General, Centre of Excellence (NACIN) Central Board of Excise and Customs said that implementation of GST has been a giant step forward and an historic milestone for the nation. The endeavour of the government was to make the implementation as smooth as possible but like any new policy it still may have certain issues and rough edges in its current form as various industries have very specific operating styles and typical issues and agreed that one size may not fit all. He further added that the Government administrative machinery was more than willing to listen to the grievances, concerns and typical operational issues of the travel-tourism and hospitality industry on merit and address them on priority. Gurjit Singh Ahuja, Member National Board ETAA and Chairman ETAA North India Chapter requested members to draft their concerns and forward the same to ETAA North India Secretariat so that a unified representation could be made to the concerned GST authorities in consultation with the ETAA National Board. The members were also briefed on the various taxation structures, compliance procedures and formalities by C.A VIJAY Gupta, an emininent chartered accountant with practice specialisation in the travel tourism and hospitality industry.

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52 52 ALBUM taai A glimpse of TAAI Annual General Meeting Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)-NR recently organised its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at hotel The Claridges, New Delhi. The new team of North Region- TAAI was also announced during the meeting. Tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents, and media were present at the event.

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54 54 INDUSTRY appointments Ravneet Kaur, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) Ravneet Kaur Additional Secretary has been appointed as the Chairperson and Managing Director (C&MD) of India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). She succeeds Umang Narula, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the J&K Cadre. Ravneet Kaur, an IAS officer of 1988 batch, Punjab cadre, was Joint Secretary in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under Ministry of Commerce and Industry prior to this role. Sandeep Dwivedi, ITQ InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ), has appointed Sandeep Dwivedi as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead overall responsibility of ITQ s growing operations including strategic business development and implementing growth strategies. He will focus on continuing to build a strong, customer-focused organization, while increasing efficiency across all aspects of operations. He will also have the responsibility of E-commerce/ Innovation, Products and Network & IT infrastructure. Tej Bahadur Singh, India Sales Associates India Sales Associates, the Luxury Hotels Marketing & Consultancy firm recently announces the appointment of Tej Bahadur Singh as the Head National Sales, for its portfolio of hotels and resorts. He brings over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and airline sales. His last assignment was in the role of Area Manager for leading carrier Jet Airways, looking after Central Indian region covering Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand etc. Michael Kwon, Korea Tourism Organisation Michael Kwon has been appointed as the new Director of Korea Tourism Organization, India Office. He will be heading the India office for next three years. Previously working as the Director of International Tourism Strategy team at Korea Tourism Organization head office, he has all-round exposure across different verticals of KTO like HR, Planning & Coordination, Inbound Marketing & Performance Evaluation. He was the Deputy Director of KTO Chicago office between 2005 & 2007 and has successfully established KTO office in Jakarta in Simarjeet Singh, The Chancery Pavilion, Bengaluru The Chancery Pavilion, Bengaluru has recently appointed Simarjeet Singh as the hotel s new General Manager. His career spans close to two decades of rich and diverse experience in the hospitality industry. His previous assignment was with Hilton Garden Inn, New Delhi, where he significantly helped improve the overall hotel performance. He has held eminent positions with renowned brands like Radisson Blu, Park Plaza and Intercontinental to name a few. In this new role he will provide leadership and strategic direction to the hotel team and will focus on maximizing revenues and creating personalized guest experiences. Sujeet Kumar, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway has appointed Sujeet Kumar as the General Manager of the property. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Sujeet is a highly articulate, innovative, confident and persuasive leader with the ability to relate to diverse cultures and multi ethnic teams. At Sheraton Grand Bangalore, his role will be to capitalize on his extensive experience in the fields of Operations, Sales & Marketing, and strategizing to take the property to new heights while working in tandem with talented senior leadership teams in the hotel. Vikas Kumar, Courtyard Marriott Kochi Vikas Kumar joins Courtyard Marriott Kochi Airport as the Hotel Manager. Prior to his new role, Vikas was the Director of Operations at JW Marriott Hotel, Chandigarh. He brings leadership experience and a dedication to service in his new role as Hotel Manager. Vikas has worked with numerous properties like W Retreat & Spa Maldives, Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park, SheratonGrand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers, Saudi Arabia, Novotel Hyderabad International Convention Centre and more. Sunil Menon, Four Points by Sheraton Sunil Menon has joined Four Points by Sheraton, Pune as an Executive Sous Chef and his responsibilities involves in menu development and maintaining updated and accurate costing of all dishes prepared and sold in the food and beverage operation. Advocate sound financial/business decision making. He is responsible for food Costs, Inventory management, Vendor management, Training and, Hygiene process in the kitchen. He has more than 17 plus years in the hospitality industry, he excels in competitive, challenging and culturally diverse environments. Nupur Dhandharia Mishra, Outbound Marketing Outbound Marketing has appointed Nupur Dhandharia Mishra as Associate Director Sales Corinthia Hotels - Pan India and a shared sales resource for The Meydan Hotel and Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa Southern & Western India. A commerce graduate with IATA certification, she has 10 years plus experience in product sales hotels and holidays with Imagica, Tavelguru.com and Ezeego 1. Puneet Kahlon, Outbound Marketing Outbound Marketing announces the appointment of Puneet Kahlon as Senior Manager PR & Marketing. A graduate in Economics and a post graduate in English, she has over 10 years experience in content development and human resource management. She will be responsible for conceptualising and executing marketing strategies, and managing advertisements, promotions and media relations.

55 Here comes Kaduna our 5th gateway to Nigeria Thrice weekly as of August 1, 2017 Book online and benefit More

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