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Newstrack
Kingfisher
to launch travel division by July
Given the rise in tourism in India, Kingfisher Airlines is
all geared up to launch its travel division, Kingfisher Holidays.
UNESCO
to issue guidelines for hotels in heritage sites
After this year's budget announced five-year tax holidays
for two, three and four-star hotels near UNESCO-certified
World Heritage sites, UNESCO, the body that analyses and works
for cultural harmony at these sites, has decided to issue
strict architectural guidelines for the properties that will
come up.
MoT
reacts to the recent world economic forum report
World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its second Travel
and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 on 4th March 2008.
Sikkim
wants Bengal to compensate for its tourism 'losses'
If Sikkim has its way, Bengal may have to 'compensate' for
disrupting normal life and tourism in the hilly state due
to frequent 'bandhs'.
Kochi
hosts 2nd Intl Conference on Responsible Tourism
The four-day second International Conference on Responsible
Tourism, the first of its kind in India, held at Le Meridien,
Kochi between March 21-24 witnessed delegates and speakers
from 29 countries giving presentations for initiatives undertaken
at the international, regional and local levels.
Kenya
Tourist Board to work more closely with Indian travel agents
Even though the Kenya Tourist Office has been present in India
for the past three years, it is only now that it has charted
out aggressive plans for the expanding market.
PATA's
CEO Challenge 2008
PATA's CEO Challenge on Climate Change 2008
11th
Five Year Plan recommends 2009 as 'Visit India' year
The Eleventh Five Year Plan, while underlining its marketing
and publicity game-plan for the tourism sector, has recommended
that the year 2009 be declared as Visit India Year
AVIAREPS
chosen as Indian representative for NYC & Co
After ten years of successful co-operation, New York City
& Company has chosen AVIAREPS as its representatives in
India
Globus
& Cosmos launches new Italy vacation brochure
Globus & Cosmos in partnership with ENIT (Italian State
Tourist Board) has launched an exclusive brochure showcasing
their entire selection of 2008 Italy vacations, including
Cosmos, Globus & Monograms
London
wins bid for TAAI conference 2008
VisitLondon won the bid to host this year's Travel Agents
Association of India's (TAAI) annual conference - its 57th
Indian Travel Congress - to be held from September 26 to 29
at Lord's, London
India's
first EcoTourism Society launched
Ecotourism society and WWF looks at creating a course in environmental
law soon
Orbitz
to begin inbound division in 2009
Orbitz Corporate & Leisure Holiday Travels India is in
the process of starting an inbound division. According to
Rupen Vikamsey, its managing director, "At the moment,
our inbound business is supplemented through MICE
GNTO
to target leisure market
The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) wants to
create more awareness about the destination in India and promote
the country as a leisure destination
VCI
Hospitality to foray into travel
Hospitality major VCI hospitality is set to venture into the
travel industry
Kuoni
travel report identifies key trends in India's inbound and
outbound tourism market
The Kuoni Travel Group has released its first study on travel
and leisure markets in India
Marrott's
Travel Express to continue servicing corporate clients
Mumbai-based Marrott's Travel Express, which has been in operation
since 1995, specialising in domestic and international ticketing
and affiliated industries - hotels, car rentals and cruises,
plans to continue its niche in the corporates and MICE segment
VisitBritain
to change its strategy for the Indian market
In order to strengthen its presence in the country, VisitBritain
is busy deploying a new strategy for the market. Having taken
initiatives like visa simplification, it is now focusing on
its new strategy
Swedish
VC Institute to tap India for medical tourism
Sweden-based Swedish Venture Capital Institute (SVCI) is tying
up with hospitals and hotels in Goa and Mumbai to send medical
tourists from the Scandinavian countries of Europe like Sweden,
Norway, Iceland and Finland.
WB
Tourism inks agreement with Mahindra Holidays to promote tourism
in state
Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India (MHRIL), a subsidiary
of the Mahindra group, recently signed a MoU with West Bengal
Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) and Sunderban Infrastructure
Development Corporation (SIDC) for promotion and development
of tourism in West Bengal
Bird
Group diversifies into marine segment with Bird Marine
Bird Marine, the recently-formed division of Bird Group's
Luxury Entity department, has signed an agreement to represent
Italy-based Cranchi and market its luxury yachts in India
Austria
identifies India as a key market
The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) has announced
that India is one of its key markets for tourism.
Karnataka
Tourism to focus on improving infrastructure in 2008
The prime focus for the department of tourism, Government
of Karnataka for the current year 2008-2009 will be to attract
more investments in order to create better facilities and
improve connectivity at tourist destinations.
Grevin
pays tribute to Bollywood courtesy travel partner Cox &
Kings
In a bid to promote itself in India, the Grevin wax museum
in Paris has added a new addition to its gallery in the form
of popular Bollywood actor, Shah Rukh Khan, whose wax statue
is expected to be unveiled at Paris next month.
FTL,
OAIS launch cab fleet exclusively for women
Orix Auto Infrastructure Services (OAIS) and IL&FS have
formed a strategic alliance with For-She women taxi service
to launch a taxi service exclusively for women and their families.
'Ireland
is no longer the appendix of the UK'
With Tourism Ireland promoting itself aggressively on Indian
shores, Indo-Irish relations are also improving.
Snippet
30 Minute Interview
'All
tourism-related matters should be handed over to the state
governments'
Known as a 'do-er', Sheila Dikshit, chief minister of Delhi
government who begins her second term in office is committed
to making Delhi a truly global city that every Indian will
be proud of. By Jyoti Koul
'We
are targeting 600,000 Indian visitors to Thailand for 2008'
Indian travel agents should be encouraged to sell quality
and high-end services in Thailand, believes Chattan Kunjara
Na Ayudhya, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT),
who abides by the same policy. By Reema Sisodia
'We
are currently working on reducing the visa issuance time'
Kazakhstan which formed its Ministry of Tourism and Sport
in the year 2006, is extremely confident of its products which
are being offered increasingly in many new markets, including
India. Speaking at the second annual India - Kazakhstan Tourism
Fair held in Delhi, Kenzhekhan Abuov, deputy director, ministry
of tourism and sports of Republic of Kazakhstan provides a
clearer picture. By Anupama Sushil
Channel Chat
British
High Commission to enlarge its partnership base
The TOTO (Tour Operator Totally Online) programme, initiated
in 2007 by the British High Commission, under which five leading
Indian tour operators were identified to handle UK visa processing
procedures, will now expand its trusted partnership membership
to include other tour operators in the country.
Uplink
Abacus
launches Abacus ClientBase in India
Abacus Distribution System India, launched Abacus ClientBase,
a specialist solution to assist travel agents to generate
customer loyalty and manage customer relationships in Mumbai
on 19 March 2008
Hotel Talk
Pevonia
India to tap the growing spa market
Pevonia India, the Indian arm of the US based company Pevonia
Botanica, is set to tap the growing Indian spa market and
will soon set up a spa academy
Expedia's
local version to embrace all hotel segments
Online travel giant, Expedia, announced its entry into the
country with an India centric website, www.expedia.co.in,
which is supported by a customer care center staffed with
Hindi and English speaking agents.
South
City-Merlin Consortium inks agreement with KMDA for 'Logistics
Hub'
Kolkata-based consortium of South City Projects and Merlin
Group has inked a development agreement with Kolkata Metropolitan
Development Authority to set up an IT Logistics Centre at
the Salt Lake Electronics Complex, the IT hub of the city.
Royal
Garden Hotel targets Indian outbound market
The upscale London-based Royal Garden Hotel has for the very
first time expressed its interest in the outbound India market.
Aviation
Raghu
Menon gets Air India top job
After much speculation, Raghu Menon, special secretary and
financial advisor for the ministry of civil aviation, has
been appointed chairman and managing director of Air India.
SriLankan
Airlines announces Interglobe as its new GSA
SriLankan Airlines, has appointed Interglobe Enterprises as
its General Sales Agents in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat
and Goa.
Jet
Airways enhances regional connectivity with new ATR aircraft
Jet Airways has enhanced regional connectivity between Ahmedabad,
Indore, Bhopal, Raipur and Hyderabad cities with its new,
state-of-the-art ATR 72-500 aircraft in an all economy configuration.
Qatar
Airways deploys Boeing 777 on Mumbai route
Qatar Airways has introduced its state-of-the-art Boeing 777
aircraft on the Mumbai - Doha route.
Event Round-Up
Partnering
hospitality
Travelguru recently hosted the first Partner Summit for hoteliers
in Mumbai to educate hoteliers about the benefits of online
distribution
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