Kamakura Festival

www.tourismindia.travel www.tourismindiaonline.com Reg. No. KL/TV (N) 432/2012-2014

Vol. 16 No. 09 Thiruvananthapuram January 2014 Pages 24+4 Price: (India) Rs.50 (Overseas) US $5 £3 Dh10

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Etihad Taiwan Hilton Garden Inn

Emirates airline, an Official FIFA Worldwide Partner, announced that

Brazilian football legend Pelé will be one of its Global Ambassadors.

Coinciding with the highly-anticipated FIFA World Cup™, hosted this summer in Brazil, Emirates has partnered with Pelé on its global campaign to showcase the connections that Emirates creates between people, places and passions around the world - through its sponsorship of sports, as well as its operations as an airline.

The partnership was announced at a media conference in Dubai, which brought Pelé to the home of Emirates airline. As part

of the agreement the two parties will work together on a number of initiatives over the coming months. This announcement marks the second time the airline has worked with a

Global Ambassador to complement its FIFA World Cup™ campaign, the first being Franz Beckenbauer during the 2006 tournament in Germany. Partnering with such prominent

sports figures, like Pelé, allows Emirates amplify and bring to life the many ways sports inspires and unites people and ideas around the world.

HH Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Emirates Airline said: “Pelé is a global icon. He is recognised, respected, and an inspiration to people around the world. He represents the best values of ‘the beautiful game’ of football, not only because he was a great player, but also because he uses the power of sports to connect people – with each other, with communities, and with opportunities. In many ways, Pelé stands for the same values that Emirates does. He is the ideal choice for our Global Ambassador and we are thrilled that we will be partnering with him.”

Emirates is also linked to Pelé through the airline’s sponsorship of the Cosmos team in New York City, where he is honorary chairman. Announced in 2013, the New York Cosmos sponsorship marked Emirates’ first foray into football in the USA.

Pelé said: “Emirates is one of the most outstanding brands in global sports today. Having just flown on Emirates’ A380 from Zurich to Dubai, I can say from personal

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Kerala Tourism is conducting an online painting competition for children

worldwide in memory of Edmund Thomas Clint, a prodigy who created more than 25,000 works of art before he died one month short of his seventh birthday.

Clint’s prolific output consisted of

paintings and drawings – created mostly on used paper with charcoal , pencil, ball-point pens, crayons and watercolours - that depicted Kerala’s rich cultural heritage, especially its religious festivals and temple art forms.

Clint, the son of Mr. M T Joseph and Mrs.

Chinnamma Joseph died on April 15, 1983 of kidney failure, but his masterful works continue to astonish art lovers and critics for their vibrancy, depth and maturity.

The Clint Memorial International Children’s Painting Competition was formally launched by Kerala’s Minister for

Tourism Mr A P Anil Kumar in the state capital at a function attended by Clint’s parents and Tourism Secretary Mr Suman Billa.

“We hope this competition will become a lasting memorial to Clint, the magical talent who was with us for such a short time. It is

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• KeralaTourism to conductClintMemorial InternationalPainting Competition

• TopfivewinnerswillgetfreeKeralatourpackage

Global art contest for children in memory of Indian prodigy

MTB Kerala

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experience that it is also an outstanding airline. It would be great if Emirates would fly the A380 to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup™! My flight was very comfortable and it was delightful to be onboard with their helpful and friendly staff. And with such an international mix of passengers, Emirates is

truly a global airline just like the global game of football. Emirates is a proud supporter of sports around the world, and I am honoured to be its Global Ambassador.”

Pelé first visited the UAE in 1973 when Santos - his club at the time - played against Dubai club Al Nasr. He passed through

Dubai twice after that – his most recent time being just over five years ago.

On this visit to Dubai, Pelé also remarked on the tremendous growth of the city and its achievements. He said: “Dubai has made a name for itself on the international stage. It has changed so much from

when I first visited in the ‘70s. I see a thriving city with great infrastructure for tourism and business, capable of welcoming the world and connecting with the world. My wish is that the FIFA World Cup™ will help unleash and showcase this same potential for Brazil.”

Football Legend Pelé is Emirates’ Global Ambassador Contd. from Page 01

a tribute to an artist whose drawings are as awe-inspiring today as they were when he first drew them,” the Minister said. “We also intend to showcase Kerala’s culture and its uniqueness as a destination.”

The competition, coordinated by Kerala Tourism’s IT solutions provider Invis Multimedia, is open to all children between the ages of 4-15 years.

The paintings can be on any theme related to the state of Kerala and the each participant can submit up to five entries online through the Kerala Tourism website http://www.keralatourism.org/clint. There is no entry fee for the competition which will be open from January 15 to May 31, 2014.

Tourism Secretary Mr Suman Billa said the idea of the competition is to let the world see ‘God’s Own Country’ through the eyes of a child. “Kerala is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and it was even more beautifully rendered on canvas by Clint. We want the world to be inspired by Clint and by Kerala.”

Clint’s father Mr M T Joseph thanked the Kerala government for reviving his son’s memory and honouring his prodigious talent thirty years after his death. He and his wife said while they have preserved tens of thousands of Clint’s works on paper,

the prolific child had also used every inch of space on the walls and the floor of their home as canvas. “We hope the world will know Clint better through this competition,” he said.

Children living anywhere in the world can register online for the painting competition. Upon registration they will be sent two e-books – one containing a portfolio of 30 works by Clint and the other with 100 photographs on Kerala to help them learn more about the region and its culture.

Additionally there are more than 3000 video clips on the award-winning Kerala Tourism website for the children to browse through.

The painting should be on paper and created manually. The participants can scan the painting and submit the image to Kerala Tourism website using the log in id they receive at registration.

There are 125 prizes on offer. The top 5 winners (and their parent/guardian) will each get a tour package to explore Kerala along with an economy class ticket to travel to the state.

Kerala Tourism is only the second organisation after the United Nations Environment Programme to conduct a global painting competition on this scale.

Kerala Tourism innovates again Contd. from Page 01

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“There is growing inequality, discrimination and climate uncertainties at the same time as a massive explosion of information. So there is a lot of anger and outrage, not neces-sarily well directed and mostly from young people. They don’t believe in unaccountable, non-transparent government. I have a huge amount of hope from young people who are rejecting fear and pessimism” opined by” Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary-General of Amnesty International in London. While delivering his views during the sixth World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda-the world’s most extensive brainstorming event- ended recently at Abu Dhabi, with business, government and civil society leaders warning of the dangers of inequality, instability and the weakness of global institutions, but offering optimism for the future. “Inclusion and jobs-that is the number one issue for us,” said Mr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank. “We have seen a rolling back of multilateralism. Low-income countries that entertain the hope of growing out of poverty through the Doha Round [of global trade talks] are dispirited. The same thing with climate change and migration.

“Climate change is on many people’s agendas today. It is cross-cutting. We need to work

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together to come up with integrated, innovative solutions. If we fail in the next two years, we risk losing a huge opportunity in front of us now” said Ms. Changhua Wu, Director, Greater China, of the Climate Group, People’s Republic of China.

The Internet is in crisis, especially with recent revelations about the extent of surveillance of individuals, he cautioned. The open governance of the Internet could be under threat. “How can new and better stakeholder models be created? We need to make these multi stakeholder models work. Ensuring the future of the Internet and its open environment is another global priority that requires a cooperative approach, added by Mr. Rod A. Beckstrom, Chief Security Adviser at Samsung Electronics, USA.

The world is changing faster than we think, with lot of uncertainties, challenges and possibilities. Tourism Industry and governments can play a major role in this fast moving global scenario. The big question is “Are we ready for that”? Let’s hope for the best in the New Year. Have a wonderful and productive 2014.

Despite negative signals from the global economy, the number of

foreign tourist arrivals in the country in 2013 showed an increase of about 4.1 % over 2012. During the period January- November 2013, 68.48 lakh (Provisional) tourists visited India against 65.78 lakh in 2012.

Foreign exchange earnings from

Inequality, Instability and Weak Global Governance Lead to Pessimism, Leaders Warn

tourism in rupee terms during 2013 were Rs.1,05,836 crore (Provisional) with a growth of 12.0% over the same period in 2012.The foreign exchange earnings during (Jan. to Dec.) 2012 was to the tune of Rs.94,487 crore.

FEE from tourism in terms of US$ during January to December 2013 were

US$ 18.133 billion with a growth of 2.2%, as compared to US$ 17.737 billion with a growth of 7.1% during January-December 2012 over the corresponding period of 2011.

Domestic tourism continues to be the main contributor to the sector providing much needed resilience. The domestic tourist visits during the year 2012 are estimated to be 1036 million (Provisional), showing a growth of 19.9% over 2011.

The Riverwalk Merchants Association presents Wine Walks the third Saturday

of every month along the Truckee River, and on neighboring streets in the Riverwalk District, Reno City in Nevada, USA from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. You must be 21 or older to participate in Wine Walks. Visit any participating Riverwalk District merchant on Wine Walk day and for a $20.00 wine tasting fee and a valid photo I.D. you will receive a wine glass, wristband and a map of the merchants pouring wine. Enjoy some great wine and help a good cause.

Take a stroll along the Riverwalk and savor Reno’s exciting urban renaissance. You’ll find shopping, restaurants, bars and taverns, entertainment, lodging, even a whitewater park – all in a safe, fun, friendly area that celebrates Reno’s arts, culture, and history 365 days a year

Shopping, noshing, grabbing a drink, taking in a show or just soaking up the scenery, you can do it all in the Riverwalk District. It’s a haven for those looking for a little retail therapy, thanks to no less than three dozen shops, boutiques, galleries, specialty retailers and salons. You’ll also find dining options ranging from cozy

coffeehouses to French cuisine to riverside grills and more. If an evening of drinks sounds good to you, take your pick of the Riverwalk’s saloons, lounges, wine bars, even a hookah bar and more. No matter how dressed up or down you want to get, you’ll find the perfect spot to unwind.

Then there are the entertainment options. From eclectic theater groups to the incredible whitewater kayak park to the riverside paths and parks, you won’t run out of things to do. In fact, part of the Riverwalk’s popularity is the many events you can enjoy here, including open mic and acoustic nights and wine and art walks, held on the third Saturday of every month, where you can purchase a wine glass to sample wine while you shop.

Join us every third Saturday of the month from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm when the Riverwalk Merchants Association hosts the popular Wine Walk (the original, and still the best!) along the Truckee River and neighboring streets in downtown Reno.

Getting Here - The Riverwalk District is the area between Arlington Ave. and Lake St. along the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada.

Enjoy a responsible taste of the Riverwalk District… do the Wine Walk!

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Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) executive Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik,

who became the new TAT Governor on 22 December, has issued a broad statement of thanks to all visitors who are presently in Thailand, and all those who are sticking to their travel plans in spite of the present state of political flux.

“I am happy to be taking the helm of TAT at a very important stage of the country’s history,” said Mr. Thawatchai. “I am confident the tourism industry will ride this through. Above all, I would like to thank all the visitors who have retained their confidence in the kingdom and maintained their travel plans. I hope their presence will encourage others to follow suit.”

Mr. Thawatchai will replace Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, who has completed his four-year term. Born in Phetchaburi

province in 1955, Mr. Thawatchai is the 9th Governor of TAT. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of the East, Manila, Philippines, he joined TAT in 1983 and has since held a number of positions both in Thailand and abroad, as follows:

Director of the TAT Central Region Office Region 2 (1995 – 2000)

Director of the TAT London Office (2000 – 2003)

Executive Director of the Central Region (2006 – 2007)

Executive Director of Europe Africa and Middle East (2007- 2010)

Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing (2010 – 2013)

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Thawatchai thanked the TAT Board of Directors for entrusting him with the

responsibility. He said he looked forward to working with all industry partners, both in the public and private sectors, in Thailand and abroad, to maintain the momentum and help travel and tourism meet its targets.

“Tourism is now well established as a leading driver of jobs, economic growth, income distribution and sustainability,” Mr. Thawatchai said. “All my predecessors and the entire staff of TAT have worked tirelessly over the years to build a strong foundation. My job is to build on that and implement the strategies and projects already clearly outlined in the Marketing Action Plan.”

TAT is anticipating visitor arrivals of 26.1 million in 2013, and projecting 28.01 million in 2014. Revenue projections are for 1.1 trillion Baht in 2013 and 1.326 trillion Baht in 2014.

He said he would work on further strengthening alliances with industry partners , boost ing cost -e f fec t ive communications via social media and ensuring that the industry never loses sight of the need for environmental sustainability.

From sculpture, to landscape, Dylan Thomas and the UK’s biggest art prize,

National Museum Cardiff in Wales has a feast of art exhibitions for everyone in 2014 and admission is free!

2014 sees the celebrations surrounding the Dylan Thomas Centenary year. At National Museum Cardiff Sir Peter Blake presents his illustrations of Under Milk Wood (1953). This major body of work is the culmination of a 25-year project and is exhibited for the very first time. The show includes portraits of each of the characters in the cast, watercolours of the dream sequences and collages and paintings of scenes and locations in the fictional village of Llareggub.(now until 16 March 2014).

Ivor Roberts-Jones was one of this country’s finest portrait sculptors and produced some impressive monumental public sculptures in bronze. The Double

Edge: Ivor Roberts-Jones exhibition focuses on his remarkable portraits in bronze of Welshmen who achieved greatness in all walks of life (7 December 2013 - 11 May 2014).

A new exhibition Wales: A Visitation. Poetry, Romanticism and Myth in Art takes inspiration from American writer, Allen Ginsberg’s poem Wales Visitation using works from the Museum’s collection to explore modern and contemporary forms of Romanticism. Ginsberg visited Wales in 1967 and after taking LSD explored the Welsh countryside. His experience inspired his poem Wales Visitation which drew on an imagined Celtic past and the landscape and folklore of Wales. Featured artists include David Jones, Richard Long, Graham Sutherland and Clare Woods. Supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust. (22 February-7 September 2014).

Colwinston Charitable Trust also supports a new installation by Andrea Büttner combining two diverse collections held at National Museum Cardiff – the drawings of Gwen John from the art collections and moss from the herbarium. (22 February-7 September 2014).

One of Constable’s most famous paintings Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows will be on loan to the museum from the Tate Gallery for six months. The display and a series of related events are supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund. (7 March – 7 September 2014)

During his brief and tragic life, the Welsh artist James Dickson Innes (1887-1914) painted a unique vision of the Welsh landscape in an intensely colourful Post-Impressionist style. Marking the centenary

of the artist’s death, the exhibition Landscapes by JD Innes: Beauty Most Wild will shed new light on the work of this unjustly neglected artist. (12 April – 20 July 2014)

A major exhibition Richard Wilson: The Transformation of European Art marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Richard Wilson (1714-1782), perhaps Wales’s greatest artist. Before Wilson, British artists painted the landscape to record its appearance. Wilson showed how landscape paintings could have layers of meaning and convey mood and emotions too. A partnership with the Yale Center for British Art. (5 July – 26 October 2014)

Efforts and Ideals: Prints of the First World War is a display of all 66 lithographs from the 1917 print portfolio The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals, commissioned by the Ministry of Information. They provide a fascinating representation of Britain’s war objectives, military activities and effort on the Home Front, and include some of the best-known British artists of the period such as Augustus John, Frank Brangwyn, William Rothenstein and C.R.W Nevinson. (Sat 2 August-January 2015)

The Artes Mundi 6 Exhibition will be presented for 17 weeks at the National Museum of Art, Chapter and other locations around Cardiff from 25 October 2014. The Artes Mundi 6 Prize will be awarded on the 22nd January 2015. Ten artists from eight countries have been shortlisted coming from the UK, USA, Portugal, Israel, Croatia, Iceland, Brazil and the Netherlands. The winner will be announced in 2015 and receive £40,000.

Entry to National Museum Cardiff is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Your favourite Tourism India Magazine is now available in digital format also.www.issuu.com/tourismindia and www.fieldi.com/tourismindia

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The prospect of Kerala as one of the favorite spots for adventure tourism has hitherto remained untapped to its fullest. MTB

Kerala is an initiative by Kerala Tourism department under the aegis of Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) which aims to lure tourists, travellers and adventure –seekers across the globe to scale, gauge and explore the promising prospects of God’s own country!

The mental toughness of the riders and endurance of bicycles will be put to severe test as one India’s toughest mega mountain event, The Government of Kerala; Department of Tourism has decided to organize the Second Edition of MTB Kerala - International Mountain Cycling Challenge through Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) on February 15th 2014 at Pozhuthana, Wayanad.

Last year, the cross-country event was held on the hill tracks of Thenmala forests while the four cross (a style of mountain bike race) event was held at Kovalam in November. However, this time around, the government has decided to do away with the Four Cross event in a bid to reduce costs.

An adventure tourism is define as an exciting experience, The 1st edition witnessed a bourgeoning success with adventure –mongers across the world pedaling their way through the rock terrains of Gods own country .The second edition will see all the above 120 bikes including foreigners, negotiable step climbers and sharp descents tough hike and bike section covering a distance of 5 km .Five kilometre circuit track with moderate skill level and international Cycling Union (UCI) standard. The track is preparing in a tea plantation, which belongs to Harrison Malayalam Limited (Achoor Estate).

“This is the first major activity entrusted to the KATPS since

the organization’s formation earlier this year. The KATPS, which has been allotted office space at the tourism directorate, held its first board meeting recently,” said Asha Jose, CEO, KATPS. Effort is also on to get the Union CyclisteInternationale, the Switzerland-based governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events, to include the event in its sporting calendar. Last year, international bikers from Sri Lanka, Nepal,

Malaysia, Singapore a n d Brunei had participated in the event.

The top bikers will be reward the total prize money of 10 lakh with 2.5 lakh for the winner in International and 1.5 lakh for the winner in National category.

MTB Kerala - International Mountain Cycling Challenge is promises to be a unique status of being one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences in the India.

Mountain biking racing is get popular relatively late in 1990 and the first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991 in Purgatory, Colorado. There are seven types of competitions in Mountain biking vis Cross country, Short track cross country, Downhill, Super D, Free ride, Dual and four cross. Among the all cross country is the most popular. In 1996, cross country mountain biking events were added to the Olympic Games. Cross country racing is held on a varied terrain circuit, it is normally around 5-8 kilometers and is always a mass start event.

“Queensland on Tour” was organized by Tourism and Events Queensland for

the 8th consecutive year in India, offering participating suppliers a unique platform to showcase their products, educate Indian Trade representatives about the destination and negotiate future business deals. The annual roadshow commenced in Chandigarh on 13th January, travelled to Delhi on 14th January, followed by Kolkata on 15th January, Pune on 16th January and concluded in Mumbai on 17th January, 2014. Realizing the growing potential of Tier 2 cities in India, the trade delegates visited Chandigarh and Pune for the first time.

The multi-city roadshow saw the participation of first time representatives in addition to industry veterans that have serviced the India market for years. The delegation represented a wide range of products Gold Coast Tourism,

Village Roadshow Themeparks, Vibe Hotel, Outrigger Hotel, Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, International Coaches & Tours and Wildlife Tropical North Queensland, each having something unique to offer. The appointment of Ms.Lim Mui Khim as the New International Director South East Asia & India who will handle India was announced.

Joining the brand team as New International Director South East Asia & India, Ms. Lim Mui Khim said, “This is a great initiative which is highlighted by the number and quality from participants of Queensland as well as engagement from the Indian industry. I look forward to working more closely with this market in the future and growing the number of Indian visitors to Queensland”.

Talking about the overwhelming response received from the Indian market, Chad Croft, Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort said, “Coming back to India with Tourism Queensland and visiting these cities has been very beneficial and welcoming. It is very hard to cover the number of agents we do during the Tourism Queensland mission if we are doing sales calls on our own. The agents have been incredibly friendly and accommodating in their support and attendance of the event. We will return to the tourism Queensland mission in India again.”

Queensland, Australia has seen a 22.2% growth in arrivals from India with 37,000 Indians visiting Queensland till September 2013. The growth of tourist arrivals from India has propelled a huge interest from Queensland’s tourism industry.

Over the years, Tourism and Events

Queensland’s annual road show has received a huge response from the key metro cities visited in India. With a view to achieve a larger footprint in the Indian market, Tourism and Events Queensland in association with Destination New South Wales will also host a series of training workshops in March 2014 in Trivandrum, Surat, Ludhiana and Guwahati for the first time. The annual trade workshops help train front-line staff of Travel Companies on the destination, constantly innovating products and customizing experiences for Indian consumers.

Queensland offers a unique holiday experience with value for money. Indian travelers are attracted to Queensland’s pristine beaches, Iconic landmarks, Wildlife, Rainforests, national parks and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Leisure travelers are now the largest spending segment out of India.

Tourism and Events Queensland is confident that the upcoming ATE 2014 in Cairns will be a huge draw as Cairns and the surrounding regions will be showcased to visiting Indian agents on fam trips. With a view to see increased air capacity into Australia that will benefit Queensland and result in passenger growth contributing to visitor increase, Tourism and Events Queensland will continue working closely with its airline partners on families and co-op marketing campaigns – Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific & Qantas.

Tourism and Events Queensland will focus on Adventure, Romance and luxury in its roadmap to destination marketing. With the number of trade and consumer-based activities scheduled in the forthcoming months, Tourism and Events Queensland hopes to increase visitor arrivals from India by at least 10% in 2014-15.

Cathay Pacific Airways announced its latest investment as part of the airline’s

fleet modernisation programme – the purchase of 21 Boeing 777-9X aircraft from The Boeing Company. The new airplanes, which have a list price of about HK$58 billion, are scheduled to be delivered between 2021 and 2024.

The 777X is Boeing’s newest family of wide-body airplanes that builds on the 777-300ER that is already deployed extensively around the Cathay Pacific network. The 777-9X is a larger twin-engine jet that will have both a larger payload than other twin-engine aircraft and reduced fuel consumption and lower operating costs.

The 777-9X is designed to seat approximately 400 passengers, but this will vary according to each airline’s configuration preferences. The new aircraft’s operating range of 8,200 nautical miles (15,185 km) makes it particularly well suited for Cathay

Pacific’s ultra-long-haul network.Cathay Pacific Chief Executive John

Slosar said: “Cathay Pacific is committed to modernising its fleet to provide a superior experience to passengers while at the same time as delivering cost benefits to the airline and reducing our impact on the environment. The 777-300ER has done a superb job for us – indeed, Cathay Pacific is now the second largest operator of this type – and we are delighted to be an early customer for this next generation of the aircraft.

“The 777-9X promises us improved payload range capability and reduced operating costs, in addition to a significant reduction in environmental emissions. We think it will be an ideal fit for long-haul destinations in North America and Europe, in particular those routes where we carry high volumes of passengers and cargo each day.”

SriLankan Airlines’ expands its reach in Central Asia with its latest codeshare

agreement with Siberian Airlines (S7) which came into effect on 17th December 2013.

S7 Airlines, has its headquarters in Novosibirsk, the 3rd largest city in the Russian Federation, and is a member of the leading oneworld alliance. S7 has a wide network of destinations in Russia and in other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as in Europe. It has the largest domestic reach in the CIS region.

The codeshare will allow SriLankan Airlines’ (oneworld member elect) passengers to Moscow to access key cities such as Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Irkutsk, Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk in the Russian Federation, as well as to Kiev – the capital of Ukraine, utilising S7’s strong network. Similarly, S7 Airlines will place its code on SriLankan’s flights between Moscow and Colombo. S7 Airlines will also code share on SriLankan Airlines’ flights to Bangkok and Male via Colombo.

Highlighting the importance of this agreement, SriLankan Airlines’ Chief

Executive Office, Kapila Chandrasena said “ The Russian Federation and the Ukraine are very important markets for us and we are very excited at the prospect of accessing key destinations in this region together with S7 Airlines, a highly reputed airline serving a global network, particularly many destinations in the CIS region. We believe that this partnership will be of great benefit to both airlines.”

Vadim Besperstov, S7 Airlines’ Deputy CEO for Strategy said: “ We are glad to announce this partnership with SriLankan Airlines. S7 Airlines’ passengers will discover new travel destinations on our code-share flights. We are looking forward to welcoming SriLankan on board of the oneworld airline alliance and offer even more benefits for our passengers and members of frequent flyer programs.”

The city of Novosibirsk is the administrative capital of Siberia and S7 Airlines operates from the Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport (OVB) located in western Russia.

S r i L a n k a n A i r l i n e s n e t w o r k has expanded to 73 destinations in 36 countries.

The Heritage Festival was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Francis

D’Souza, Tourism Minister, Mr. Dilip Parulekar and Chairman GTDC, Mr. Nilesh Cabral on January 7, 2014 at Football ground, Saligao. The inaugural witnessed over 4,000 visitors attending the event.

The festival showcased the state’s rich and unique heritage through stall displays for things intrinsic to Goa: Goan sausages, cashew feni, wood craft, coconut shell craft, crochet and needle work, terracotta, hand-painted tiles, Loka Daij, heritage photo gallery, etc.

Mr. Dilip Parulekar, Minister for Tourism, Goa said, “Every Goan should be proud of their heritage and culture. We are happy to organise the 2nd Annual Heritage

festival near the beautiful Mae de Deus church which is a 125 year old heritage structure. We hope that all tourists witness this festival and enjoy Goa’s rich heritage.”

Visitors also got a chance to watch the Divli-naach, Mando, Goff dance, Ganesh Vandana, tarang and the various stalls at the venue. The Department of Tourism plans to make this event an annual property and expand it to include many more local artists and Goan culture to give tourists a wholesome taste of Goa.

The coming days have lots in store for visitors. Day-2 of the festival will witness the Goan brass band, Kunbi dance, kazaracho dance, zagor, ghode modni and a musical presentation by Mr. Pravin Gaonkar.

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Emirates’ aircraft flew around the world more than 18,000 times in

2013, underlining its position as a global connector of people and places.

Figures show the airline’s fleet travelled more than 751 million kilometres throughout the year. Taking the earth’s circumference at the equator as 40,075 kilometres, this translates into the equivalent of 18,753 circumnavigations.

A total of 164,635 flights were conducted, carrying over 43 million passengers, who enjoyed the finest dining in the skies and the very best in-flight entertainment.

Emirates Flight Catering loaded

nearly 46 million meals aboard Emirates’ flights departing Dubai. A particularly memorable day for the catering team was 20th December 2013 when a staggering 157,308 meals were produced, breaking their previous record of 147,722 on 1st March 2013.

“2013 has been another impressive year for the airline. We continue to raise the bar in the industry with investment, innovation and the expansion of our services globally, bringing unrivalled value for money to the millions who travel with us,” said Mr. Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

Etihad Airways has announced plans to introduce three more destinations

to its core international network in 2014. Continuing the prodigious growth of its first decade, the airline will commence daily services to Rome (Italy) and Jaipur (India), together with four flights per week

Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, launched its first flight to Trivandrum

International Airport on Decd 15, 2013, commencing its operations of five weekly flights between Bahrain and Thiruvananthapuram in India. GF060 took off from Bahrain International Airport at

The newly-established joint Malaysia-Indonesia airline Malindo Air, which

celebrated its new flights, recently between Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Kuching in Malaysia, will operate international flights from KL to New Delhi, India from Dec 30, 2013.

Malindo air is planning to snap bigger

piece of cake from the busy India- Malaysia aviation sector. To achieve this dream run the Malaysian carrier Malindo Air is all set to launch at the end of this month daily flights from Indian Capital city to the Malaysian Capital. The 9 month old airline will launch services from Tiruchirapalli and Ahmedabad in January

to Yerevan (Armenia).The new routes will join a previously

announced daily service to Los Angeles and three flights per week to Dallas (United States), plus daily services to Zurich (Switzerland), Perth (Australia) and Medina (Saudi Arabia), all of which are

scheduled to commence in 2014. The eight new routes will increase Etihad Airways’ worldwide network to 102 destinations next year.

Mr. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “This is part of a measured and strategic

growth plan, which will reinforce the future of the national carrier of the UAE and the vital role it plays in the emergence of Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub.

“Together with our code-share and equity alliance partners, we have created a virtual network of more than 375 destinations. This collaborative model gives us scale and enhanced global market access in constrained regions. But more importantly, it strengthens our customer proposition by offering more choice and better connections across our hub in Abu Dhabi.”

Etihad Airways’ equity alliance airlines presently include airberlin, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Darwin Airline (subject to regulatory approval), Jet Airways and Virgin Australia.

Mr Hogan added: “With ambitious plans to further accelerate our industry-leading growth in the future, the long-term expansion of our fleet is essential. Our future deliveries will allow us to progressively replace existing, less-efficient aircraft, add capacity in existing markets, and launch flights to more destinations, with over 30 new international routes planned by 2020.”

0245 landing in Trivandrum International Airport at 0950. The return flight GF061 departed Trivandrum International Airport at 1045, landing in Bahrain International Airport at 1310. Both inaugural flights operated at full capacity.

of next year. Daily direct flights between Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur are to begin from February, 2014.

“We are also planning to start f l ights from Cochin, Pune, Chennai, Madurai and Amritsar subject to availability of aircraft and permission to operate from those

cities,” Mr. Chandra Rama Murthy, Chief Executive Officer of Malindo Air told reporters at The Lalit Hotel New Delhi.

The airline would operate flights with brand new Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft, which would have more seat pitch in the economy class.

“The introductory, all-inclusive return

air fare for Delhi -Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai-Kuala Lumpur would be from Rs 19,900 when the regular fare is about Rs 26,000,” Mr. Murthy said.

The airline currently flies to nine domestic destinations in Malaysia along with three international ones of Dhaka, Jakarta and Bangkok. It plans to later operate to Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Vietnam.

Mr. Chandra Rama Murthy also said that the airline expects to fly around 2.5 lakh of the estimated 3 lakh travellers who are likely to fly from India to Malaysia in view of the Malaysian government’s ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2014’ campaign to boost tourism.

Announcing the launch, the Malaysian High Commissioner to India, Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad, said that Malindo Air’s decision to start services to these new routes underlined the value and importance of tourism, trade and business links between India and Malaysia.

Mr. Amran Abdul Rahman, Director, Malaysia Tourism, New Delhi also participated during the press interaction.

“We are delighted to be strengthening Gulf Air’s network and boosting our Indian operations. The addition of Thiruvananthapuram to our network supplements the airline’s product offering, increasing customer convenience – which is our ultimate goal. Importantly, with both our first inbound and outbound flights operating at full capacity it is clear that we are meeting passenger demand - we are starting as we mean to go on!” Mr. A.Hussain A.Rahman Hussain, Gulf Air Country Manager, India commented at the event. India is one of the key markets for Gulf Air and the airline shares a historical relationship with the country spanning over 40 years – with the first flight to Mumbai inaugurated in November 1971. Gulf Air recently introduced brand new Airbus A321 aircraft into India which are equipped with the latest in-flight entertainment technology and fully-flat beds in Falcon Gold class. With the new addition of Trivandrum, Gulf Air now flies to five Indian destinations.

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Orange County Resorts, Karnataka bagged two prestigious international

honour for their outstanding hospitality experience which include the only Indian resort to be selected by Natioanl Geographic traveler as 25 World’s Best

Eco Lodges and The PURE “Most original marketing campaign 2013” award.

This year being the 125th anniversary of the National Geographic Society, the National Geographic Traveler (US and

Canadian Editions), selected the ‘25 World’s Best Ecolodges 2013’. The Orange County, Kabini in Karnataka is one among them and, additionally, the only resort selected from India to be part of this prestigious collection of Ecolodges.

Lifescapes, by Orange County Resorts also won ‘Most Original Marketing Campaign’ award in the PURE AWARDS 2013. PURE Life Experiences is the finest Experiential Travel fair in the world. Over 500 hand-picked, experiential travel companies from across the globe delivering experiences ranging from Space Travel to swimming with the ‘Great White’, converge at Marrakech each year to showcase their exclusive products to buyers from around the world. Participation in this travel trade show is purely by invitation only.

A c c o r d i n g t o M r . C h e r i y a n Ramapuram, Executive Director of Orange Country Resorts, this recognition is an endorsement of their commitment to the local environment, culture and communities. It is also a fitting tribute to

resort’s Spirit of the land ethos around which the resort theme their products and offerings.

Orange County’s Spirit of the land philosophy, which aims at showcasing the ‘Spirit’ of a destination in terms of its nature and culture, finds its most intimate expression in its resort at Kabini, where guests are drawn into the vibrant social tapestry of the local Kadu Kuruba tribe, while having a wildlife experience like no other. Visitors explore Nagarhole National Park (Kabini) in search of the elusive Bengal tiger. The region hosts the largest congregation of Asian elephants in summer, along with housing other flagship species (such as the leopard and wild dog). Rustic mud-and-thatch huts at Orange County, Kabini built in ethnic style of the indigenous Kuruba tribes belie more luxurious interiors while also minimizing the environmental footprint. The lodge helps showcase the Kuruba heritage using interactive story¬telling sessions, cultural performances, and coracle rides.

Come March and ‘God’s Own Country’ will become the capital of travel

bloggers across the world.In a pioneering initiative, Kerala

Tourism has launched an unprecedented online campaign to bring the world’s best bloggers to the state for an on-the-road experience. The ‘Kerala Blog Express’ will

be a two-week-long road journey from the south to the north of the state on a branded luxury bus.

Twenty-five top bloggers from around the world will be selected for the road journey in an online voting on a website (www.keralablogexpress.com) specially created by Kerala Tourism.

The website, launched recently, has already received over 100,000 visits, with some of the top travel bloggers from India and international countries entering the race for the final selection. The bus journey will begin on March 1.

Travel writers, photographers and bloggers, who already have their own blogs, were eligible to enter the selection. The registration for the ‘Kerala Blog Express’ journey ended on January 10.

The profiles of the participating bloggers are available on the Kerala Blog Express website for voting, by the general public. The followers of the participating bloggers on social media like Twitter and Facebook are also eligible to vote. The online voting will be completed on January 15 and the bloggers with the highest votes will earn seats on the Kerala Blog Express, following a final review by a judging panel of the tourism department.

“This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country to attract the travel blogger community for a first-hand experience of our land, its geography and culture,” said Mr. A P Anilkumar, Kerala Tourism Minister.

Entries have been received from as many as 80 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, Germany, Canada and Indonesia. Some of the world’s best-known travel bloggers like Venezuela-born Marcello Arrambide whose Wandering Trader is one of the most popular travels blogs on the internet, Romanian Cezar Dumitru whose extensive travel experiences have been recorded on his Imperator Travel

website are taking part.Several of the writers participating in

the race for the 25 seats on the Kerala Blog Express have featured in the National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller and Lonely Planet.

“For two weeks, our state will be transformed into the capital of travel bloggers,” said Mr. Suman Billa, Kerala Tourism Secretary.

The Kerala Blog Express will travel through destinations like Alappuzha, Kovalam, Varkala, Kumarakom,Thekkady, Munnar , Wayanad, Kochi and Bekal during the two-week journey. The selected bloggers will also be able to participate in activities like boating in the backwaters, experience Ayurvedic treatment, watch Kathakali performances besides giving bath to the state’s famous captive elephants.

“These bloggers have millions of followers around the world, for whom their word is final as far as global travel is concerned,” said Mr. S Harikishore IAS, Kerala Tourism Director . “Imagine the blogging about Kerala, whether it is about its nature-blessed destinations or cuisine or culture, during the two weeks of their journey through the state,” he added.

Several participants have already blogged about the impending experience. “Kerala Blog Express would be a stepping stone to experience Kerala nature along with other travel bloggers,” said US-based bloggers Veronica and David James in their new post after entering the contest.

Tourism Malaysia launched the most awaited Telly Calendar 2014. Shot

extensively in Malaysia, this was the first international shoot of the Telly Calendar. The calendar features 12 popular small-screen actresses, including Divyanka Tripathi, Pooja Gor, Barkha Bisht and Krystle Dsouza.

The first look of the calendar reveals that Marinating Films has created the best look for the small screen beauties at awe-inspiring locations in Malaysia. Speaking of Tourism Malaysia’s association with the Telly Calendar, Mr Manoharan Periasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia said, “Malaysia has always been popular among Indians and with VMY 2014 (Visit Malaysia Year 2014) activities in full swing, we are looking at innovative ways to reach out to the discerning Indian traveller. Having seen the popularity of television celebrities in India especially in the Tier II and Tier III towns, we felt the Telly Calendar was an interesting route to take Malaysia to their millions of fans; introduce them to the beauty and diversity of the country.”

“Also Malaysia has the best of both worlds, modern architecture and an ample share of natural scenic beauty. This added to

the excellence in the shoot of the calendar.” Mr Anand Mishra, Director, Marinating

Films, said, “We were looking for the perfect frame for our calendar. Known for its picturesque and natural attractions, Malaysia was a unanimous choice for Telly calendar 2014. This time around the celebrities have explored the varied locations; from metropolitan cities with ultra-modern buildings to rural landscapes and culture of Malaysia to add to the extravaganza of Telly calendar shoot.”

Captured within the beautiful outdoors which are also tourist hotspots such as Sunway Lagoon, I City, Botanical Garden, Merdeka Square, Putrajaya Mosque, the shoot also gave the television bahus a chance for some sightseeing while touring the city. The making of the Telly Calendar has been aired on some of the most popular Hindi entertainment channels showcasing Malaysia as a desirable destination.

A New Year and an all-new set of images in incredible locations of Malaysia…Brace yourself to witness the captivating avatars of our television bahus in the Telly calendar 2014.

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Kerala Tourism has become the first tourism board in the country to open

official pages on the social media in foreign languages. To reach out to the French and German-speaking audience, the state tourism department has launched two new Facebook pages, in the two languages.

The pages contain details of the destinations in French (www.facebook.com/KeralaTourismeOfficiel) and in German (www.facebook.com/KeralaTourismus) to help visitors in their preparations, and to enable others to understand the experience offered by ‘God’s Own Country’. The official Facebook page of Kerala Tourism is hugely popular among global travellers. Started in 2009, the Kerala Tourism Facebook page today has 85,000 fans.

France is the second biggest foreign market for Kerala after the United Kingdom. Nearly 100,000 French tourists had visited the state last year. Germany is also a key

market for Kerala as the country ranks on the top of the list for foreign tourists arriving in the state for Ayurveda treatment.

“It is very important for us to communicate in various languages of the world,” said Kerala Tourism Minister Mr. A P Anilkumar. “There are people around the world who love Kerala and it makes a lot of difference when we reach out to them in their own language,” he added.

The official French and German pages of Kerala Tourism on Facebook are interactive and reader-friendly with photographs and descriptions, giving glimpse of key destinations across the state from the backwaters and the popular hill station of Munnar to the elephant camps in Konni. The Facebook pages, however, are not just about destinations. The Kerala Tourism has also taken the initiative to spread the knowledge of Ayurveda, the age-old tradition that has its roots in Kerala, among travellers seeking wellness and

Tintin is celebrating his 85th birthday this coming 10 January, and Brussels

Ice Magic-which is entirely dedicated to comic strips - is taking part in the festivities. Thus from Friday 10 January to Sunday 12 January, every visitor arriving at the ticket desk with a Tintin album will receive a €2 discount on the entrance price. On Saturday 11 January, mega-fans dressing up as one of the many Tintin characters will be allowed free entry to the ice-sculpture festival. Even ‘Snowies’ will be welcome.

Extraordinary temperatures on the Brussels Paleizenplein/Place des Palais!

Winter has well and truly arrived in Brussels, with temperatures recorded on the Paleizenplein/Place des Palais ranging from +100C to - 120C! This is all down to Brussels Ice Magic. Until 9 February, in an eco-thermal pavilion 1100 m² in size, visitors have the chance to discover a fantasy world entirely devoted to comic strips. 420 tons of ice has been sculpted

Dr. Tej Vir Singh, professor and Founding Director of the Centre for

Tourism Research & Development (CTRD) in India, has been named winner of the 2013 UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge. The Award honors outstanding members of the academia for their significant contribution to the development of tourism education and research.

Dr. Singh, the Founding Editor of Tourism Recreation Research, the oldest and highly respected, international tourism journal in Asia, is a pioneer in introducing extensive tourism research in the region. A specialist in Himalayan tourism, Dr. Singh has produced several books on tourism and many papers on tourism development and its impacts.

“I would like to commend Dr. Singh´s lifelong dedication to tourism research and his pioneering the concept and practice of sustainability in the field of tourism. His work has inspired many other academicians to develop their own research in the field, contributing greatly to the advancement of tourism education and of the tourism sector as a whole,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

As the Founding Director of the Institute of Himalayan Studies and Regional Development at the University of Garhwal, Dr. Singh started the first Himalayan tourism training course. In 1988, he established the CTRD, a non-government

therapeutic solutions. The Kerala Tourism already has well established Facebook pages on Ayurveda in English((www.facebook.com/KeralaHomeOfAyurveda) and German (www.facebook.com/KeralaHeimatDesAyurveda). The English page, considered the most comprehensive Facebook page on Ayurveda, has more than 100,000 fans while the German page has over 4,500 active fans, mainly based in German-speaking countries.

“In the technology-driven world of today where information can be made available on mobile phones and computer screens, the choice of language plays a significant role, especially to reach out to a wider audience,” said Kerala Tourism Secretary Mr. Suman Billa IAS. “Language should not be a barrier in connecting with people,” he added.

Kerala Tourism Director Mr. S Harikishore IAS said the new initiative was part of the department’s efforts to substantially increase foreign tourist arrivals. “Europe is a major market for Kerala in the tourism sector and we will take all the necessary steps to cater to the different countries and regions in the continent,” he said.

Last month, Kerala Tourism had organized road shows in Paris and Barcelona besides participating in the leading travel

by 25 international artists into the most extraordinary and well-known comic heroes from both Belgium and abroad.

More than 60,000 visitors have so far already been able to enjoy a unique, winter atmosphere. A striking arrangement of comic strip characters and scenes, with some of them larger than others. Certain ice structures reach up to 7.5 meters in height, including among others Marlinspike Hall, where Tintin and his four-legged friend ‘Snowy’ have been depicted in ice.

At the weekend of 24 January, it is the Smurfs who come under the spotlight.

Brussels Ice Magic is open every day uninterrupted from 11 am to 10 pm (11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays), until 9 February 2014.

www.BrusselsIceMagic.be – info@BrusselsIceMagic.be

Reservations and online tickets: www.BrusselsIceMagic.be/tickets

organization devoted to the cause of tourism academics and research, with a special focus on India. Under his leadership, the Centre started an outreach programme that included education, training, research guidance, consultancy, curriculum design, and tourism programme initiation to several Indian universities, management institutions and colleges. Today, the CTRD is recognized for the generation and publication of valuable research on recreation and tourism, and is well-known as a leading organization for developing and disseminating scholarships in tourism in India.

T h e U N W T O U l y s s e s P r i z e for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge will be presented during the UNWTO Awards Ceremony to be held on 22 January 2014, within the framework of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain.

industry fair, Top Reza, in France in September. Kerala Tourism’s campaign to promote Ayurveda, titled, ‘Kerala, The Home to Ayurveda’, among international travellers was launched last year at the ITB, Berlin, the world’s top travel and tourism industry event.

Kerala Tourism has won several national and international awards for its website. The Kerala Tourism’s Twitter account is the most followed among tourism boards in the country with more than 20,425 followers. The state tourism department has also launched official accounts in multiple social media platforms such as Instagram (http://instagram.com/keralatourism), pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/ktofficial/) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/keralatourism) for taking its social media efforts to the next level. These new accounts are also being welcomed wholeheartedly by the netizens with the Instagram account already posting more than 200 followers and the Pinterest over 150.

A contest is currently conducted by Kerala Tourism on pinterest asking people to create pinterest boards titled “GreatBackwaters” and display Kerala Backwaters related pins on them. Ten winners with best Kerala backwater related pinterest boards will be given exciting prizes.

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With Spring on its way, nature is slowly unfurling its bounty all over

the lovely island of Taiwan. As flowers burst into their colourful glory and trees again wear a green blanket, there is no better time to visit the beautiful island of Taiwan. Visitors now have the chance to enjoy Mother Nature as she preens and reveals herself in all its glory and abundance.

Check out the beautiful Alishan Scenic Area in Chiayi, where pretty pale pink cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring. The beauty of seeing the cherry blossoms is further enhanced with a ride on the quaint Alishan Forest Railway that is a not to be missed experience.

Located very close to Taipei City, Yangmingshan is an ideal place for visitors to view Taiwan’s natural beauty in full splendour. Here you can see a wide variety of fresh flowers such as cherry blossoms, azalea, camellia and peach blossoms. The annual Yangmingshan Flower Festival kicks off in 2014 in the second week of February and will continue enchanting visitors till the end of March! The 2014 Yangmingshan Flower Festival will be in full swing all around Taipei City — at Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Shuangxi Park, Lin Yu-tang House, Floriculture Experiment Center, Qianshan Park, and Yangming Park. If you want to behold the lovely Cherry Trees, visit the Wulai Township (in Taipei County) where from February to April, various cherry trees blossom along the winding

mountain roads, valleys and rivers. Avid bird-watchers can have the chance to spot rare species of birds against the backdrop of the cherry blossoms.

The pavement on both sides of the winding Huanshan Road approaching Wulai Falls is lined with cherry trees, and the Wulai Naruwan Spring Resort Activity Village before the Falls already has cherry blossoms blooming all around it. Another favourite is the Sun Moon Lake which is always a very romantic location to be in, but during this time gets an added dimension thanks to the cherry blossom season! The Aboriginal Cherry Blossom festival includes a series of events centered on the hundreds of mountain cherry trees which line Sun Moon Lake and the over 2,000 cherry trees in the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.

The Cherry Blossom Festival activities, never fails to attract tourists a large number of tourists from all over Taiwan and from abroad as well who come to view the cherry blossoms and take part in the lively celebrations. Every year, as a major part of this festival, an “Evening Cherry Blossom Activity” is sponsored. During this event, a lamplight is placed on each of the cherry trees, creating a romantic and poetic appearance of a colorful cherry blossom veranda. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village’s large-scale evening cherry blossom festivities have already become one of Taiwan’s most popular and enjoyable cultural activities that draws people in large numbers!

Apart from the Cherry Blossom Festival, we have chalked out some must-do things for you to do while in Taiwan! From Eclectic Shopping, Fascinating Museums, Bustling Night Markets, Gardens in Full Bloom, Exciting High-Speed Rail Trip – Taiwan will give you a taste of it all!

What you should not-miss in Taiwan! The High Speed Rail from Taipei -Zuoying (Kaohsiung), E-Da World (Integrated resort), British Consulate of Takao at Xizi Bay and Dream Mall Shopping Centre

Kaohsiung – Taichung: Stock 20 Art Gallery, Laughtea Teahouse, Art Museum Eco Parkway, Bubble Tea experience, Jingming 1st Street shopping Area, Fengjia Night Market and Love River Cruise Tour

Taichung - Sun Moon Lake: Sun Moon Lake Tour, Farmosan Aboriginal Culture Village (Cable car from Sun Moon Lake), Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area/boat cruise on Sun Moon Lake/Ita Thao

Commercial Area, Taichung: Yumay Theme Park and

Lunch in Taichung CountyTaipei: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall,

Ximending/The Red House, Jiufen Old Streets, National Palace Museum, Taipei 101 Commercial Area (Observatory on 89th floor)/Xinyi Commercial Area and Wufenpu Shopping Area

Taiwan is located in the western Pacific Ocean 160 km (100 miles) off the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland and is a convenient gateway to Asia for the Indian traveler. A number of airlines such as China Airlines, Jet Airways, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways fly directly or with a stopover in to Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport from the Indian metros of New Delhi and Mumbai. The average flight time between India and Taiwan is of about 6.5 hours; and Taiwan is 2.30 hours ahead of India

The Gateway Hotels & Resorts, part of the Taj Group, announced the launch

of The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata. This will be the first Gateway branded hotel in Kolkata and the second Taj hotel after 24 years post the launch of Taj Bengal in 1989. The Gateway Hotels & Resorts caters to the upscale segment and has expanded its footprint in Eastern India with this launch. With the opening of this hotel, The Gateway Hotels & Resorts now has 24 hotels in its portfolio.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Raymond Bickson, MD & CEO, Taj Group of Hotels said, “We are extremely proud and delighted to announce the opening of The Gateway Hotel E M Bypass in the beautiful city of Kolkata. It has been 24 years since our first hotel, The Taj Bengal was launched

which is now an iconic landmark in the state. We are confident that The Gateway Hotel will not only maintain but strengthen our leadership position in the state in terms of providing a distinct service offering and experience to the new age business and leisure traveller.”

“The launch of The Gateway Hotel in Kolkata will mark our 107th property in the country and 124th globally” added Mr. Bickson.

Ms Deepa Misra Harris, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces said, “The Gateway

Hotel & Resorts is one of Taj’s young brands. Designed for the modern nomad, Gateway provides consistent, courteous and crisp service for business and leisure travellers seeking contemporary and refreshing experiences. This will be the third new Gateway Hotel to be launched this year after Hubli and Chennai. We are happy that Kolkata will now experience the Taj service and hospitality through two of its brands.”

Mr. Prabhat Verma, Chief Operating Officer, The Gateway Hotels & Resorts said, “The launch in Kolkata is a proud moment for us and essential to the brand’s growth strategy of catering to the new age business traveller. Kolkata being an important commercial and cultural hub will fit well into this strategy and we promise to bring a fresh flavour and style to hospitality in the city. With the immense growth and development potential in the state of West Bengal, the hotel will exceed our guest’s requirement whether they are staying with us for leisure or business.”

Standing conspicuously on the arterial Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, The Gateway H o t e l E M B y p a s s K o l k a t a w e l c o m e s you to the heart of the modern, progressive city of Kolkata. The hotel is optimally located at the junction of Rashbehari Connector and within close proximity to the

city’s IT hub and principal business districts, making it the sanctuary of choice for the urban nomad.

The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata has 197 spacious rooms; each offering serene views of the city of Kolkata. Designed to reflect modernity with a contemporary touch, the hotel provides

guests 24/7 hospitality that never fails and allows guests to experience flexibility and freedom to be themselves.

Guests can workout at the Active Studio or the swimming pool, Splash or relax at the Spa. The hotel has a spacious 6500 sq. ft. Ballroom - Concord - to host up to 800 guests.

Food connoisseurs can choose from a variety of local Kolkata specialties to satiate their palate at Buzz, indulge in delectable range of freshly made breads, chocolates and pastries at the Deli, or relax over a vast repertoire of drinks at Swirl the lounge.

Buzz offers a perfect cosmopolitan mix of international cuisine and authentic regional home-style delicacies including local Kolkata specialties like Purbo Banglar Khabar. Swirl, located at the lobby level, offers a relaxed and designed ambience with an eclectic lounge space and low seating couches.

For the wellness seeker, The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata offers Active Food – super foods and low-glycemic index food. Focusing on meals that are perfectly balanced to meet their daily nutritional need, the spread includes Dark Chocolate and Whole Wheat Walnut Muffin, Blueberry Smoothie, No Yolk Omelette with Broccoli and Tofu and signature multigrain Gateway Dosa among others.

Kolkata is the financial and commercial hub of Eastern India. Famous for its buildings and museums with Bengali art as well as varied Bengali cuisine, Kolkata is the gateway to the east. The stunning Victoria Memorial, splendid Indian Museum, legendary Nandan and Rabindra Sadan Complex , beautiful Tagore House are just some of the many getaways frequented from the city.

Discover Kolkata with The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata

• Establishes The GatewayHotels footprint in Kolkata

• Launches its second Tajproperty in West Bengal after 24 years

• Increasesoverallportfolioofbrand ‘The Gateway Hotel’ to 24 Hotels

Mr. Manu Sharma, General Manager- The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata, Chef Natarajan Kulandai, Cor-porate Chef of The Gateway Hotel & Resorts, Ms. Renu Basu, Global Vice President- Sales, The Taj Group of Hotels, Mr. Prabhat Verma, Chief Operating Officer, The Gateway Hotel & Resorts along with Ms. Deepa Misra Harris, Sr. Vice President, Sales and Marketing, The Taj Group of Hotels

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According to a recent trend most of the big MNC’s and companies motivate

its employees with exotic off site trips wherein serious conference and discussions happen alongside leisure trips. There was a time when corporate off-site would ask for a loud moan from employees, who saw them as something as a slave to a soldier working on behalf of any company or organisation. But these days’ every Indian and foreign companies have jettisoned to beautiful destinations like Mussoorie, Nainital, Goa, Kerala, Dubai, Australia, USA and many more for their “Working Holidays”. The most favored destinations of the corporate for such trips are hill stations due to proximity of serenity and tranquility and away from the hassle & bustle of the maddening crowd in cities. A number of factors go into the choice of locations, including price, weather and connectivity.

Many of us spend holidays literally surrounded by the same noise, pollution and routine work engagements. But, some holidays can guarantee just the right combination of relaxation, engagement and of course precious time with your fellow group members. What is a working holiday?

Working holidays are all about working abroad or in the same country, earning good money, and travelling around. But not only that, you’ll also advance your career. Working holidays can be done anywhere, for any duration of time, doing anything you want. Say for example you can be a ski instructor in Austria, work behind a bar in Goa, teaching the rural people in the remote village of Punjab or Haryana or become a dive master in South Africa. A working holiday is basically whatever you want it to be. The only thing you have to do is decided where and what you want to do. Organizational Importance of Working Holiday

Working holiday is the golden ticket for travelers; they got a good opportunity to work in different places legally. These days almost every company in the world is wooing employees with exotic off- trips. It’s a good thing for all the organization that they are giving their employees a working Holiday. It gives the employees the opportunity to work and travel. By participating in this programme they get valuable work experience as well as an opportunity to know each other better. There’s a lot of team building exercise happen by this by this kind of trips which at the days end brings lots of goodwill for the firm. And it’s not just the usual multinationals, foreign banks that are flying their teams; home grown corporations are also taking their employees for trips. With these every resort and high end hotels are prepared themselves to provide the best of the conference facilities and also customize according to the specific needs. They are also designing special conference package and offering it to corporate.

Now a day when the employees are changing their jobs frequently, a company sponsored trips once in a year provides a stage for creating right understanding, bonding and also encourages the self-confidence amongst

the employees and the members of the management. Why it is necessary for an Individual

Working holiday is not just about fun and games, it’s a great way to earn experience and improve your curriculum. A survey by gapyear.com and YouGov of over 250 HR managers around the world showed that, • Almost 85% of themanagers saidthat relevant work experience was more valuable to a job-seeker than an average non-vocational degree• 63%ofthemanagersbelievethatagap

year spent volunteering or gaining work experience overseas made a job application stand out in this competitive world.

• 51% said, candidates takinga leave for ayearorworking in abroad or anywhere else tended to get better value out of subsequent education. A constructive gap year involving self-regulating

travel, volunteering or working in other country makes a big difference to the employers in an organisation. The survey showed that a working holiday isn’t just about working abroad in another country but about improving your own skills and experience.

And most important thing about working holiday is apart from working it’s a life-changing experiences for the organisation or the individual involve in it.

Some of the best jobs an individual can go for in working holiday are as follows• Leadingtours• Workinginskiresorts• FreelanceTravelWriting• Waiting/workinginabar• Cooking/workingasakitchenhand• VolunteeringWorking Holiday Visas:

Working holiday visas are a basically a common goodwill understanding between countries involved. Programs like this allow young people to endow their holidays by working, and they promote communal exchanges and understanding between the countries involved.

The majority of working holiday visas is offered under joint agreements between certain countries to encourage travel and cultural exchange. For example, the common agreement between the UK and New Zealand allows people of both the country to work in the other.Working holiday visas are usually:-• Forpeopleagedbetween18-30sometimeitsgoesto

35 also• Mainlyworkingholidayvisasarelimitedtooneyear

but after the completion you can also apply for a second time.

• WorkingHolidayvisasarelimitedtocertainjobsandfor certain lengths of time, usually working in the same job for a limit of six months.Working on a gap year allows an individual or an

organisation to experience living in a foreign country while learning more about that country’s culture and society. It’s an opportunity to really expand an individual horizon and to gain life-time experience. And the interesting thing about the working holiday is you’re getting paid for it too! What more could you want? It is often notice that Post-graduates students often find it so hard to get a job due to lack of experience, so why not get that experience while enjoying in a holiday in another country or in our own country?

Mr. KochharCMD Madhuban Hotels & Resorts

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Kerala will be switched on to a festive mode in the peak tourism season as

the whole state prepares to enthrall both domestic and foreign tourists as well as its own citizens in a nearly month-long cultural fiesta.

Organised by the state tourism department, the ‘Utsavam’cultural extravaganza started on December 29. It will be staged in 60 venues across all the

Almost 44 hours, which is more than the typical working week, are spent

looking after guests’ needs over the holiday season, according to new global research released today. Perhaps not surprising then, that an average of 11% of hosts1 admit they would rather be at work than host friends or family.From changing beds, entertaining, decorating and preparing food and drinks, some of the most time consuming elements when hosting this festive season are:• Preparingmeals-4hours• Cleaningthehousebeforeguestsarrive-

3 hours• Stopping arguments breaking out

among guests - 1 hourThe research by InterContinental Hotels

Group (IHG®) polled over 5,000 people across Europe, the Americas and Asia. It showed that even though 1 in 5 say they like hosting, 15% of people admit to feeling stressed within just 10 minutes of their guests arriving.

Twenty per cent of hosts around the world this festive season also admit that guests outstaying their welcome, is one of their biggest concerns. With an average of 15 people to host per household, this could be expected.Some of the top things that concern hosts most this festive season are:• Hav i ng b ad l y

behaved children in the house- 24%

• Catering for fussyeaters - 23%

• Thecostofhostingguests-23%To help ease the pressure for hosts

around the world this festive season, IHG®, whose family of brands includes Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne® Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Indigo®, has tapped into its vast hospitality expertise to create a new interactive, IHG Guide to Hospitality. Hotels can provide respite

14 districts of Kerala. ‘Utsavam’ (meaning festival in Malayalam), which was launched as an annual event in 2007 to promote traditional performing art forms of the state, will run up to January 19next year.

“’Utsavam’ is an event on a grand scale aimed to sustain and popularize the traditional art forms of Kerala, some of which are on the verge of decline,” said Mr. A P Anilkumar, Tourism Minister of Kerala.

“The festival is for the people of Kerala and our guests from outside the state and country,” added Shri Anilkumar, who inaugurated the event on December 26 at the picturesque Bekal Fort in Kasargode. The inaugural day of ‘Utsavam’ saw the performance of ‘Rhythm of Kerala’, a dance medley based on tribal, classical and folk arts by seasoned artistes.

The first edition of ‘Utsavam’, held from December 2007 to March 2008 drew enthusiastic response from domestic and international travelers, marking a phenomenal debut. ‘Utsavam’ 2007 fetched Kerala Tourism the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in the heritage and culture category in 2008.

“This carefully planned event is also about taking the destination of Kerala to

a higher level, so as to give an aesthetic experience to the visitors, appealing to their intellectual sensibilities,” said Mr. Suman Billa IAS, Kerala Tourism Secretary.

“It is yet another occasion for the local people, travelers and art lovers to be part of an exciting cultural treat of this magnitude,” said Mr. S Harikishore IAS, Kerala Tourism Director.

The programmes of ‘Utsavam’ are staged in different venues spread across all the 14 districts of the state to include the entire population of Kerala. More than 80 art forms will be staged and there will be 280 performances across the districts on all Saturdays and Sundays at 6 pm.

Details available at http://www.keralatourism.org/utsavam/

for stressed out hosts but for those that still prefer to take the challenge head on, the IHG Guide to Hospitality is designed to help by sharing tips from hospitality experts working in some of IHG®’s 4,600 hotels and resorts around the world. Some of the top tips to help ease the holiday woes include:• PracticalHousekeepingtips,provided

by Prolet Gale, Executive Housekeeper at Staybridge® Suites London: When making beds, fill a spray bottle with clear water or even add a drop of your favourite scent. Spray this in the air above a bed in a fine mist and straighten

the sheets. This helps to avoid creases on the bed linen and can enhance sheets with a pleasant fragrance • DIY Food anddrink tips, provided by Mr. Nitin Sharma,

Executive Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage at Crowne Plaza® New Delhi Rohini: Try to make some foods and drink DIY - a cupcake decorating station is great for kids as well as adults and means less work for the host

• Tips for entertaining kids at home,provided by Laura Brogdon, Activities Director at Holiday Inn® Resort Wrightsville Beach: Use any old holiday

cards that were hidden away from last year and create a card game for the children. Cut the tops into even squares, then ask the children to draw pictures on the back - for example two of the same things or two things that go together. Turn them over and start to play this matching game with the whole family According to the research, in some

countries the art of hospitality is practiced at a high level, with36% of hosts in India leaving a chocolate on the pillow for their guests and 34% of those in the USA, saying they like to leave a scented candle in the room for their visitors.

Mr. Phil Broad, Vice President, Food & Beverage, IHG said: “Collectively, our family of brands has 250 years of experience in hospitality, with our teams around the world hosting millions of people every year. A number of the great insights and guidance that we live by at our hotels, can also be used by our guests in their own homes.

Every host should enjoy the festivities as much as their guests, so we’ve created the IHG Guide to Hospitality, to share some of our knowledge and experience and help people have a more relaxed, stress-free holiday period.”

V i s i t w w w . I H G p l c . c o m /HospitalityGuideGlobal to see the IHG Guide to Hospitality and to find out more.

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Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts has challenged budding design students

from across the region to design stylish sleepwear that help to promote a good night’s sleep. As part of the ‘Dressed to Rest’ competition, students must create a design which combines both form and function for the traveller on the road to success.

From

January 6 to February 2 , 2014fashion design students across Asia and the Middle East, are invited to submit a formal sketch accompanied by a description of their design and inspiration via Instagram, by

using the hashtag #DressedtoRest. The submissions from India will

be judged by Theresa Sidhu, Director Brand Management for Crowne Plaza in AMEA, Dr. Manvir Bhatia, Senior consultant Neurologist and Sleep Specialist, Payal Jain, renowned fashion designer and Sanyogeitaa Chadha, Professor and HOD, Department Of Fashion Design, Pearl Academy, N e w D e l h i . T h e number of public votes the design sketches attract on Instagram also will be taken into consideration.

T h e r e s a Pragasam-Sidhu, Director Brand

Management, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts said: “We do our best to make Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts places that are conducive to getting a good night’s rest. We know that a peaceful sleep helps our guests stay on the top of their game, which is why we want to create comfortable and stylish clothing to help them rest and rejuvenate after a hard day’s work.

“With the incredible talent of local fashion students and knowing how competitive the fashion world is, being able to help promote and celebrate up and coming designers is the perfect way to highlight some new and fresh ideas on how to get Dressed to Rest. Our expert partners will help provide insight into fashion and sleep ergonomics to help inspire their creations.”

After the initial round of voting, 10 shortlisted students from each market will be invited to create their designs and bring them to life, with the Grand Winner being announced on 14 March, which is World Sleep Day 2014.

The competition is only open to fashion design students from ESMOD Dubai (UAE), Pearl Academy (India), Sugino Gakuen (Japan), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore), LASALLE College of Arts (Singapore), Raffles Design Institution (Singapore) and any accredited design institutions based in Singapore.

For more information http://statigr.am/contest/pyzw/crowne-plaza-dressedtorest-contest.

Online version of your favourite Tourism India Magazine now updates two times daily.Please log in for latest Travel, Tourism, Hospitality and Airlines news updates…

www.tourismindiaonline.com

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This season get away from the hustle of the city and unwind in the lap of

nature as Madhubhan Resort & Spa, Gujarat introduces their winter packages. There are separate packages for weekdays and weekends, allowing you to rejuvenate with your family according to your convenience.

Mihir Garh, in Rajasthan has been chosen as the outstanding winner of

the Boutique Hotel Awards 2013, London-based international awards, dedicated to recognizing excellence among boutique hotels around the world. Mihir Garh, an

exclusive nine suite boutique hotel, won the title of World’s Best Boutique Hotel, with an upper hand over other luxury boutique hotels nominated from around the world. The property was also named as one of the World’s Best Romantic Retreats.

Rightly earning the coveted title, Mihir Garh - the ‘Fort of the Sun’, the dream project of husband-and-wife owners- Mr. Sidharth and Rashmi Singh, is a palatial boutique fort perched on a single dune amongst the sands of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, around 55 kilometers south west of Jodhpur. Built with a sense of rustic elegance, while tastefully blending the contemporary style, Mihir Garh truly stands out in the midst of the unspoilt desert vistas. The couple also owns the acclaimed Rohet Garh nearby.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sidharth Singh said, “The World’s Best Boutique Hotel Award is a true honor, as it has just reassured us that we are clearly on the right path to serve and delight our guests. I am truly delighted and pleased with this accolade, and we promise to keep up our reputation for excellence in providing our guests with an unmatched opportunity to experience the rich heritage, and culture of this land.”

The suites are spread over two floors, and each suite offers more than 1700 square feet of space, and a private jacuzzi or plunge pool. Numerous alcoves, lounges and common areas commanding a spectacular

view have been designed, to allow guests to experience intimacy and romantic privacy during their stay.

“From the colors used for the interiors, to the careful selection of building material, we wanted to contain the rich tradition of this land. Our inspiration was the rural village architecture of Western Rajasthan. Every nook and corner has been lovingly created by a very talented team. Every single workman involved in bringing Mihir Garh to life, hails from the region and this award is a celebration of their efforts”, added Singh.

Mihir Garh boasts some of the best ‘Marwari’ horses in its stables, also noted as the finest in the country. These majestic horses are definitely the pride of the property and guests across cultures, have often referred to the exceptional horse safaris through the local countryside, as the “highlight” of their stay. There are a variety of treatments available at Mihir Garh’s spa, which combined with Al fresco breakfasts, royal picnics and culinary workshops, compliment the stay, giving a true experience of the World’s Best Boutique Hotel. Completed in 2009, this palatial boutique fort is a true retreat!

Spread over 22 acres of picturesque land, Madhubhan is located in the Charotar region of Anand District and is known as one of Gujarat’s Premium Luxury Destinations.

The winter packages promise a unique experience of abundant luxury, capturing

the essence of true Indian tradition with a lingering Gujarati flavor. The packages come along a host of exciting activities and services such as yoga sessions, swimming coaching, tennis coaching and playing. Tailored to give you ultimate luxury; Madhubhan gives you a complimentary welcome drink on arrival and buffet breakfast and lunch or dinner as per your choice along with evening tea/coffee with cookies.

You can also avail of the rejuvenating

facilities in the Activity and Wellness centres... What’s more, you can enjoy additional discounts on services at the Madhubhan Signature Salon & Rejou – The Healing Spa and laundry services.

The weekday package starts at Rs. 9,500/- per night and the weekend package starts at Rs.10,299/- per night inclusive of taxes.

These packages are valid till 31st March 2014

www.madhubhanresortandspa.com

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New 2014 travel and technology trend research from TripIt reveals travelers

plan to purchase more flight-friendly mobile devices than laptops to stay connected this year

TripIt, the all-in-one travel organizer from Concur, now makes it easier for

The New Year has arrived with some good news for the globe-trotting Indian. Beginning January 1, 2014, the

Government of Malaysia has introduced visa on arrival (VOA) facility for visiting Indians. This announcement is in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY 2014) and the Year of Festivals 2015. The VOA facility is applicable for those travelling to Malaysia from a third country; namely Singapore and Thailand; holding valid visas for the respective countries and having confirmed return tickets to India.

Speaking of this development, Mr Manoharan Periasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia said, “Destinations with ease of visa issuance are popular, and the choice of a holiday destination is most often decided on the factor of ease of Visa approval. Malaysia has always been a popular destination among Indians and with the reintroduction of VOA, we hope to see more and more Indians considering Malaysia even as a short break destination for long weekends and last minute travel plans. In fact, this relaxation in visa restrictions is mainly

for families and groups travelling to Malaysia on a vacation and for businessmen.”

Visiting Indian tourists can avail of Visa on Arrival at all major airports of Malaysia namely Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Low cost Terminal LCCT (KLIA), Penang International Airport, Sultan Ismail International Airport, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah and Kuching International Airport, Sarawak, at a fee of 100 USD or 330 MYR.

Indian market is a significant contributor and has proven to be a strong and viable venture for inbound into Malaysia. With this new announcement of VOA, the Malaysian Government is expecting the number of tourist arrivals to increase significantly.

For more details on the Visa on Arrival facility for Indians travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Malaysian High Commission Office or Consulate or the nearest immigration office or log on to www.imi.gov.my.

travelers to share specific trip details and flight status alerts on the go, with family, friends and colleagues. TripIt’s update coincides with the first in its new series of2014 travel and technology trends research*, which shows an increased appetite for mobile devices on the road.

More travelers plan to buy smart phones and tablets than laptops in 2014, which correlates with the FAA’s ruling allowing gate-to-gate use of mobile devices.

To easily communicate travel plans and stay connected on the go, TripIt users can select an individual trip item-such as a flight, hotel, restaurant reservation, meeting or other activity- and share it via email or text message from their mobile device**. Messages are pre-populated with vital travel details, and users can add personal notes.

“Nobody wants to be stranded on an airport curb at the end of a long trip,” said Dan Hoffer, Head of Product. “Now, you can easily text your arrival time, so your ride is waiting when you land. Our customers have been asking for more flexible and powerful ways to share information and stay connected, and we’re excited to deliver these features in time to make 2014 travel less stressful, more

organized, and easier than before for our millions of users.”

Additionally, TripIt Pro users can now share their flight status alerts with others to keep them instantly informed about delays, cancellations or on-time arrivals.Now, travelers can easily notify a colleague and adjust plans if they are going to be late for a meeting.

Travelers Plan to Purchase Flight-Friendly Gadgets in 2014

According to new research from TripIt, increased mobility- like that provided by TripIt’s sharing update -is a top priority for travelers in 2014. More travelers expect to buy tablets than laptops this year, which signals a shift, as predicted , towards even greater ability and flexibility on-the-go.

TripIt’s2014 travel and technology trend research was conducted among travelers in the weeks following theFAA’s gate-to-gate gadget ruling, which expanded the use of personal electronics like smartphones and tablets during the duration of flights (in airplane mode), but excluded laptops.

Smartphones are expected to retain their place as travelers’ top technology tool, with 65% of travelers expecting to invest in a new smartphone this year.Following close behind, more than half (58%) of travelers surveyed plan to buy new tablets in 2014. Less than half (48%) plan to purchase new laptops.

A fantastic world appearing on a snow country evening. Chatting with

children in rooms made of snow.A room made by carving out a mound

of snow is called a kamakura. In Yokote

City, more than 100 kamakura and countless miniature kamakura are made. The candle lights of these snow white kamakura produce a quiet, beautiful spectacle against the darkness. This 400

year old festival is said to have its origins in the traditional event of returning New Year decorations to the gods by burning them, and also in the custom of children chasing away birds damaging crops. Inside the kamakura, an altar is set up to honor the water gods and to pray for plenty of clear water, while sake and rice cakes are offered to the gods. Passers-by are invited by the children, in Akita dialect, to come inside the kamakura and drink some sweet fermented rice brew. Everyone has a good time chatting while eating rice cakes and sweets, which is the conventional way of spending time in kamakura. On the other hand, numerous rows of tiny kamakura stand in the grounds of the Yokote Minami Primary School in the city, with the lights shining from within creating a very romantic scene.

Prior to the above festival, the Kamakura Matsuri is held in Akita Furusatomura, where you can experience stepping inside a kamakura. From the end of January to the end of February, famous festivals of Akita Prefecture are represented here, where you can learn about winter in Akita.

At the Yokote Fureai-Center Kamakura House, kamakura displays can be seen all year round.

www.jnto.go.jp/eng

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Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar K.V. for Tourism India Publications Pvt. Ltd., Printed at Arsha Offset Graphix Sreehari, TC 9/2519-1, Janvilla Lane, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram 695 019 and Published from TC 9/1785, Anandam, Pattanikkunnu Lane, Sasthamangalam P.O,Thiruvananthapuram-695010. Editor: Ravisankar K.V.

The year 2013 had started on a good note for the Department of Tourism (DOT),

Philippines. For the first time in the history of Philippines tourism, the country crossed the 4 million mark in tourist arrivals from around the world in 2012. DOT attributes the increase in the number of visitor arrivals to the success of its tourism campaign- It’s more fun in the Philippines. The country is now celebrating the second anniversary of its campaign early in January 2014.

As on October 2013, the country registered 3,867,386 visitor arrivals and the country still continues to draw a large number of tourist influx from all over the world. The Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippines in a survey stated that the country achieved an increase of 11.9% above last year’s arrival figures for the same period. The country had recorded 3,478,285 arrivals in 2012 in these months. The Indian market generated 42,860 tourists in 2013 as against 30,108 in 2012 showing a 12.47% growth.

In India, The Department of Tourism Philippines (DOT) throughout the year participated in different events and w o r k s h o p s namely TTF & OTM-2013 in Delhi and M u m b a i , W o r k s h o p s i n K o l k a t a , Locations- a B2B Annual

Exhibition & Conference to interact with the Indian Film Industry, Routes Asia, the four-city Road Show organised in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad. One the major highlights this year was the first convention of The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) with Philippines as the host from December 1-4. It was themed as ‘The Changing Face of Indian Outbound’ and attended by around 250 delegates.

Apart from this, Philippines received due recognition throughout the world. The year that was for Philippines. Major international publications agreed on Philippines being ‘hottest’ destination for 2013

Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the awareness of foreigners about the country was heightened by the success of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign in January 2012. The Department of Tourism advertised and conducted marketing campaigns in all major markets like Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, India, Korea and China.

The success of the OTOAI Convention and the marketing initiatives taken up by Philippines Tourism Marketing Office India would certainly see an upsurge in the visitor arrivals in 2014.

Trivandrum, the Capital city of Kerala get its first Hilton brand property in the

state, Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum with 134 guest rooms and suites and 2600 sq ft of event space.

Located near the state secretariat, Punnen Road , statue, Trivandrum Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum will be managed by Hilton Worldwide and Muthoot Hotels & Infrastructure Ventures (P) Ltd.

According to Mr. Guy Hutchinson, Vice President, Operations - India of Hilton Worldwide, “The opening of Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum will be a significant step in Hilton Worldwide’s expansion into prime city centre locations across India. India is a key strategic market for Hilton Worldwide. Presently, we operate hotels and resorts in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Chennai, Vadodara, Pune, Goa, Shillim and now Trivandrum. Over the next eight to 10 months, we anticipate extending our portfolio to include Bangalore, Agra and Jaipur.”

Other amenities consist of Garden Grille all-day restaurant, a bar, outdoor pool, fitness centre and 2,600 sq ft of conference and events space that can accommodate up to 450 people, complimentary internet access, 24-hour business centre and 24-hour Pavilion Pantry convenience mart.

Mr. Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn said: “We are pleased with this opportunity to extend the brand’s presence in India. Hilton Garden Inn has set the standard in the mid-market sector offering an award-winning combination of best-in-class customer service and affordable comfort and convenience. We are confident that

Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum will fast become the first choice of travellers seeking upscale and affordable accommodation in the city.”

“ T h e M u t h o o t P a p p a c h a n G r o u p i s delighted to partner with Hilton Worldwide, a global leader in the hospitality industry, for its foray into Trivandrum and the introduction of the Hilton Garden Inn brand in Kerala and Trivandrum. With the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum, we look forward to providing world-class international standards of hospitality in Kerala”, said Mr. Thomas John Muthoot, Chairman and Managing Director, Muthoot Pappachan Group. “The Muthoot Pappachan Group is a leading hospitality development firm in India. The group owns operating hotels and is developing additional properties. We look forward to working with our partners and ensuring our company’s continued growth.”

Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum will participate in Hilton HHonors, a guest rewards programme that allows members to earn Points & Miles for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at over 4,000 hotels worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group announced the opening of Holiday Inn ExpressChennai

Mahindra World City in the corporate hub of Mahindra World City near Chennai. The property was officially opened on Dec 18, 2013 by IHG’s Mr. Pascal Gauvin, COO India,

Middle East and Africa and Mr. Douglas Martell, Vice President Operations South West Asia alongside Mr. Saurabh Sonthalia, Country Head – Duet India Group, Mr. Naveen Jain, President, Duet India Hotels and Mr. Sangeeta Prasad, CEO – Integrated Cities & Industrial Clusters, Mahindra L i fespace Developers Ltd. This is the second hotel to open under

a joint venture partnership formed between Duet India Hotels and IHG which will see a total of 19 hotels open under the brand.

The 140 room hotel offers comfort, convenience and a great location for business

travellers visiting companies based within the city, which includes global software firms and automotive groups. Additionally, the hotel has easy access to key sightseeing attractions and shopping districts in Chennai, making it a smart proposition for the guests at the hotel.

The hotel has well-appointed rooms equipped with electronic safe, ergonomic desk chair and efficient working station, en-suite bathrooms, a 32-inch LED television with satellite channels, iPod docking station, tea/coffee maker and mini fridge. Other guest facilities include a fitness room and two functional and efficient meeting rooms. Five Spices is a multi-cuisine restaurant which will offer a choice of Asian and Continental cuisine to guests of the hotel.

At the launch of Holiday Inn Express Chennai Mahindra World City, Mr. Naveen Jain, President, Duet India Hotels said, “We are delighted to bring Holiday Inn Express to the city of Chennai, which can easily be described as the commercial hub of south India. Our entry into Chennai is testimony to the immense growth potential for this hotel segment in southern India. We expect the location of the hotel and its smart services

will make it a popular choice amongst the business travellers to Chennai.”

Mr. Douglas Martell, Vice President Operations, South West Asia, IHG commented, “Holiday Inn Express is our key growth driver in India and the brand accounts for over 85% of our growth in the country. We are very pleased to bring Holiday Inn Express, our fastest growing brand to Mahindra World City. I am confident that the hotel will appeal to the fuss-free and value-driven choices of today’s ‘smart’ and ‘savvy’ travellers.”

Ms. Sangeeta Prasad, CEO – Integrated Cities & Industrial Clusters, Mahindra Life space Developers Ltd. said, “We are delighted that Holiday Inn Express, one of the most well-known hospitality brands is opening its doors in Mahindra World City, Chennai today. This is a significant step in our endeavour of enhancing the social platform here as it will cater to both the corporate and the families who are part of this ecosystem. Moreover, it will also be the 1st international hospitality brand in the corridor on this side of the city. We wish the team every success in this new journey.”

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has announced that the number of Indian

travel trade professionals who registered for its Canada Specialist Program (CSP) has crossed the 4500 mark in December this year. Out of the entries received, over 2,000 travel trade professionals have already completed all eight modules required for agents to become a Canada Specialist.

The Canada Specialist Program- an educational tool designed by the CTC to train travel trade professionals about travel

to Canada was introduced to the Indian tourist market when the CTC set up its first representative office in India in 2009. It is an interactive tour with a fun quiz spread across eight different modules. The program presents a plethora of opportunities for the Canada Specialists in India and gives them a chance to learn from the best knowledge sources, meet their Canadian counterparts and get fabulous deals for their personal travel while in Canada.

“We are actively promoting the CSP

in the cities of Delhi and Mumbai besides expanding our reach in newer growth areas like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. In 2014 we will continue with the same strategy and look forward to even better results,” said Ms. Tina Singh, Account Director, Canadian Tourism Commission, India.

On successful completion of all eight modules, the travel agents will earn the Canada Specialist level accreditation and a certificate from the CTC. To pass the CSP

and gain certification, trainees must get a minimum score of 80 per cent on each module quiz. At present, the program is offered in eleven countries (USA, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, China and India).

The CTC is actively encouraging the Indian travel trade to enroll for the program and get the maximum benefit of being a Canadian Specialist. Besides engaging the Indian travel market by introducing products such as the Canadian Signature Experiences (CSE), CTC introduced the CSP to the Indian travel trade to help them understand Canada better. The CTC believes that these training modules will help them achieve growth in sales.

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