Lead Story
Travel industry
welcomes Rail Budget 2007-08
The recently announced Union Rail Budget not only brought
cheer to the masses as a passenger friendly budget but also
to the travel industry for its vision.
Newstrack
MOT
extends validity of Mvisa to 3 years
The ministry of Tourism (MOT), government of India has further
enhanced the Mvisa and MXvisa, which it had introduced in
January this year. Mvisa or medical visa was introduced specifically
to facilitate inbound medical tourism.
Destination
development is focus of Karnataka's new tourism policy
The tourism department of Karnataka will announce a revamped
tourism policy in April 2007. The budget of the tourism department
is expected to be increased three folds in the new policy
from the current Rs 60 core.
Maharashtra
tourism policy offers sops to amusement park business
The new Maharashtra Tourism Policy has laid emphasis on the
emerging amusement park sector by way of financial sops and
incentives.
Aviation
India
considered as aviation hotspot at South Asia Aviation Finance
Conference
The South Asia Aviation Finance Conference (SAAFC) held recently
in Mumbai witnessed large participation from eminent speakers
and delegates from various channels of the aviation sector
both from India and abroad and all agreed that India is definitely
the focus zone of the future, especially in the South Asian
market.
Government
may allow private airports
In a bid to enhance regional connectivity in the country,
the government is looking at setting up merchant Greenfield
airports - private airports built on privately-owned lands
within permissible civil aviation parameters.
New
flights may lower US fares
The India-US sector is likely to witness a price war with
Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines planning to introduce
non-stop daily flights to USA.
30 Minute Interview
‘We
are looking at connectivity and network expansion through
agreements with domestic airlines’
American Airlines (AA) recently celebrated its first anniversary
for the Delhi-Chicago non-stop service.
Dan Langford, managing director, customer service (Europe
and Asia) speaks to Sanjeev Bhar about the company’s
plans and his vision for the year 2007
Inbound
State
government aims to put Jharkhand on global tourism map in
three years
The Madhu Kora government in Jharkhand has accorded top-most
priority to tourism promotion. The state plans to promote
all its facets of tourism, be it spiritual or rural, globally.
IRCTC
plans packages for South India
The passenger services and marketing arm of the Indian Railways,
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)
is planning to introduce seven different packages for South
India.
Palace
on Wheels set to roll in Punjab
The Punjab government’s plan to have it’s own version
of Palace of Wheels is finally on track with the Railway Minister
giving the final go-ahead. The Union Tourism Ministry is also
joining in to run the train on the `Incredible India’
brand and incur an initial investment of Rs 31 crore.
Trade Bytes
Le
Passage to India sets up Luxe India
Le Passage to India Tours & Travels has set up Luxe India,
a special leisure holiday division, as part of its growth
plans. Moreover, its joint venture partner, TUI will merge
its sales and marketing activities in 29 countries in the
MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) segment
under a new master brand TUI Event Management.
Cosmos,
Globus launch India's first Europe certification for agents
Cosmos and Globus have started a unique `I Know Europe’
certification programme in India, which brings selling all
of Europe under one umbrella. Currently this training programme
is being held only in Mumbai and Delhi.
Kuoni
Destination Management wins fifth national tourism award
Kuoni Destination Management has once again bagged the National
Tourism Award 2005-2006 for the Travel Agents/Tour Operators
category.
BTI
Sita re-brands itself as HRG Sita India/
Kuoni Travel Group, India has re-branded its business travel
division from BTI Sita to HRG Sita India, a 100 per cent owned
brand of Kuoni Travel Group, India.
Treasure
Tours & Travels to tap medical tourism segment
In a bid to tap the immense potential of medical tourism in
India, which is pegged to hit a whopping Rs 10,000 crore by
2012 according to a recent CII study, Treasure Tours &
Travels is firming up plans to offer integrated medical tourism
services.
Kolkata
tour operator offers religious package on cruise liner
The appeal of a a luxury cruise liner is spreading beyond
the corporate world. A large group of Jain devotees from Kolkata
and other parts of the country will hold a religious meet
onboard a luxury cruise ship this year.
Outbound
‘Best
of Sri Lanka’ campaign launched in India
Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB), together with SriLankan Airlines,
has launched the `Best of Sri Lanka’ campaign for the
Indian market.
Bahamas
set to tap premium honeymoon/ wedding market
As a part of the ensuing onslaught of Caribbean country’s
set to tap the high-end leisure market, tourism officials
of the Islands of the Bahamas recently visited Mumbai and
New Delhi.
Tourism
Australia to open dedicated office in India
The rapid growth in the Indian outbound market has prompted
Tourism Australia (TA) to open an office in India to take
advantage of increasing tourism opportunities.
ENIT
declares India as ‘focus country’ for 2007
India has been declared as the `focus country’ by ENIT
(the Italian State Tourist Board in India) for the year and
has planned a series of initiatives to promote and market
the destination in India.
‘You
just cannot miss out on the tourism jewels of Israel’
Israel is a complete tourism package, says Daniel Zohar Zonshine,
Consul General of Israel - Mumbai (who is also a licensed
tour guide of Israel). In conversation with Reema Sisodia,
he speaks about the destination, its specialties and his plans
for tourism promotion in India.
Channel Chat
ETAA
launches its 2007 directory in Mumbai
Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) recently held
its trade event in Mumbai, which was sponsored by the Department
of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), government of Dubai.
Uplink
E-travel
agencies: The new paradigm
These are definitely exciting times for India and rightfully
so since our economy is doing well with strong signs of growth
in all key sectors.
Abacus
launches Abacus SmartPrice in Indian market
Abacus International has announced the launch of its new product
for the Indian market called Abacus SmartPrice, which is regarded
to be a new airfare pricing system that claims to boost agents
competency.
Satnam
Computech upgrades its software solutions for travel agents
Satnam Computech, developer of accounting software packages,
has upgraded its software solutions for the travel industry.
Misc.
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