ENTERING THE EIGHTHtravelscapesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/... · 2021. 1. 7. · Tour Operators delegation consisted of 15 tour operators who drove into Goa to experience

JANUARY 2021, PAGES 36, `100 VOL. 9, ISSUE. 1

ENTERING THE EIGHTHENTERING THE EIGHTHWITH A NEW LIGHT AND BRIGHTER VISION

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Dear Readers,

Back in the days, people would ask whether the evolution of digital media signalled ‘the end of print.’ But believing in my instincts and the value we deliver through our work, I would always answer no—the future of print will be extraordinary ideas presented in ever-more extraordinary ways. No matter what, there will always be a niche need for the physical copies of the magazines, as they are a boon when the wifi is patchy or high-priced – and they have an audience that appreciates them. Therefore, standing true to our commitment of providing the best in print, we are proudly completing our eight years of operations with four awards to our name, several print issues circulating in PAN India and the annual gala affair, our very own VETA that stands apart from any award show in the entire travel and tourism industry. We are also proud of the impact that our content has created over these past eight years. Together with the industry’s support and our determination to get bigger and better each year, we further wish to create a strong platform that will help the industry move dynamically forward.

And as you all know that every year, our anniversary celebrations are nothing without your precious wishes, so taking along all the love in yet

another challenging year, we have received some heartfelt blessings from those who have helped us grow exponentially. We promise to carry forward our commitment to maintain strong relationships with our stakeholders, tourism administrators and keep the audiences engaged and inspired and keep them consistently ready for travelling as they get the green light to confidently book their next trip.

Further, as we complete one of humanity’s worst years on record, I sincerely wish our stories of hope and determination inspire you in the New Year. I’d also like to thank you, dear readers, for being part of our 8-year journey. Cheers to the years ahead.

This issue brings news and reports about trade, hospitality, aviation and the latest in tourism worldwide.

We value your feedback and suggestions so please do write to us at [email protected].

Happy reading!

Surpassing your expectations through the journey of eight ecstatic years

Varun MalhotraPublisher & CEO

PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra [email protected]

DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur

AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa

CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann

ART DIRECTOR Rakesh Kumar

ACCOUNTS Chandan Kumar Jha, Swati Jauhari

ADMIN HEAD Dilip Kaur

EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Raja Rari

Editorial & Marketing Office: Versatile Media: 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008Contact: 011 - 45530380/83 • [email protected] information in TravelScapes is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.Owned and published by: Varun Malhotra, Editor & Publisher, EB-63, Maya Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi - 110064 and printed at in-house facility.

TravelScapes

4 travelscapesonline.com JANUARY 2021

CONTENTS

5 ..................................................................................................................................MoT20 .............................................................................................................................Trade24 ..................................................................................................................Hospitality29 .................................................................................................................... Outbound31 .........................................................................................................................Aviation34 ...............................................................................................................On the Move

REGULAR UPDATES

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JANUARY 2021 VOL. 9, ISSUE. 1

WALL OF WELL WISHES

GLOBETROTTER

28 A STROLL THROUGH THE AMAZING ALLEYS OF ANTALYAWhat adds to the peerless experience of visiting this classically beautiful city are some of the most eloquent resorts, clear sunsets, beautiful and serene beaches, the narrow, colourful lanes of the seaside antique town wrapped around the old harbour and more alike. Here, we list the personally experienced top five experiences that add to the absolute magnificence of Antalya GUEST COLUMN

LOOKING AHEAD

19 “WE ARE CONVINCED THAT FREEDOM TO TRAVEL WILL RETURN”Shedding a light on what still needs to happen to create a future-fit tourism in 2021, Rakesh Bansal, CEO, Amadeus India and sub-continent, connects the dots and suggests the ways that can work highly in favour of rebuilding travel-ler confidence

14 ODISHA TOURISM TO GO VOCAL FOR LOCAL IN 2021Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Minister of Tourism, Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha unveils the focus driven campaigns that the state is gearing up for in 2021 while he also brings a spotlight on the state’s game-changing model of community-based ecotourism and the strategies on how Odisha is planning to maintain the consistency in promoting responsible and sustainable travel

ENTERING THE EIGHTHWITH A NEW LIGHT AND BRIGHTER VISIONFrom initiating the operations for a single magazine to bagging “the best travel trade publication” and becoming the pioneers of the media industry, the success story of TravelScapes is worth sharing! It all started in 2013 as a dream of a visionary, Varun Malhotra, who had a keen insight for business development, innovation in his hands and passion in his eyes to drive the organization through nothing but success. Giving the encouragement to his progressive views and unique vision, Pranav Khullar joined the journey and then there was no turning back. Today, the views of the industry about TravelScapes speak volumes as the work we have done, the content we deliver have created value and unique quality standards. Today, while we are proud of standing on the pinnacle of success, we look back and thank those who were an incredibly important part of this journey. As the New Year starts with new aspirations, newer opportunities and much refreshed concept of tourism, we are extremely fortunate to begin 2021 with the valuable wishes from the stalwarts of the industry.

JANUARY 2021 travelscapesonline.com 5

UPDATEMoTTravelScapes

There will be no public New Year celebrations in Shimla, Kullu, Kangra and Mandi as the Himachal Pradesh government has

extended night curfew in the four districts till January 5 to contain the spread of COVID-19. The decision to extend the curfew was taken in a state Cabinet meeting chaired by CM Jai Ram Thakur, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj. The curfew will be in place from 9 pm to 6 am in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu districts, Bhardwaj said. Earlier, the state government had decided to impose night curfew from November 23 to December 15.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is all set to start the "Divine Maharashtra" tourist

train operations from January 8 to cover the prominent religious and heritage tourist destinations in central India.

Siddharth Singh, Spokesperson, IRCTC, in a statement said, "IRCTC, a Railway Ministry PSU, will start the state of art AC Deluxe Tourist Train "Divine Maharashtra" tour from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station on January 8." The train will start from Safdarjung Station on January 8 and end on January 12.

"The Divine Maharashtra tour will cover the prominent religious and heritage tourist destinations in central India. This tour will showcase two important Jyotirlingas i.e. Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple in Maharashtra's Nasik and Ghrishneshwar in Aurangabad, Shirdi Sai and Shani temples and UNESCO World heritage site Ellora caves in four nights and five days tour," Singh added.

He said this new deluxe tourist train has a host of features including two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor based washroom functions, foot massager. Singh said the Maharashtra Divine train has been designed in line with the Government's initiative "Dekho Apna Desh" to promote domestic tourism. The tour package cost starts at INR 24,120 per person for domestic tourists. All necessary health precautions will be taken during the tour.

The package cost is inclusive of train fare, all onboard and off board meals, hotel stay/ arrangements at Shirdi (two nights), guided excursions with English-speaking tour escorts in air-conditioned buses, monument entry fee and travel insurance for the passengers. He said government or PSU employees can avail LTC facility on this tour as per their eligibility based on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Tourism Minister of Telangana, V Srinivas Goud launched TS-Industrial Project

Approval and Self-Certification System (TS-iPASS) service to quickly process the issuance of various licences, clearances and certificates required to come up with hotels, resorts, travel agents, tourism events and other activities.

The portal, set to bring a major boost to the hospitality and tourism industry of the state, was inaugurated in the presence of Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries; Srinivasa Raju, Tourism Secretary and B Manohar, MD, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC).

Speaking during the launch, Goud said, “If an entrepreneur plans to set up a hotel, he needs to obtain clearances and approvals from 15 departments, including fire services,

pollution control board, municipality, etc. All that cumbersome process is now history. Applicants, including those setting up hotels, resorts, travel agencies and event management companies can now apply for permissions in the TS-iPASS portal through an online single-window system, which is user-friendly.”

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India organised the domestic tourism

road show in Goa through its India Tourism office in Goa. This event was organised in collaboration with Goa Tourism and Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG).

This B2B event and second in series of domestic tourism Roadshows in the Western and Central Region that the Ministry of Tourism has planned to conduct since the COVID–19 outbreak was inaugurated by Rupinder Brar , Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism .

This roadshow featured fruitful engagement between tour operators from Maharashtra and Goa. This event was one of the series of roadshows being organized in the Ministry of Tourism’s Mumbai Office (Western & Central Region). Maharashtra Tour Operators delegation consisted of

15 tour operators who drove into Goa to experience the Road travel which is now gaining popularity as travel is unlocking across the country. 30 members of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) participated in the roadshow.

J. Ashok Kumar, Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of Goa informed about the release of new Tourism policy of Goa in November, 2020 which aims on shifting from Coastal to Hinterland Tourism in the State. He also informed about the state having a dedicated agency for Beach Clean – up and forthcoming initiative of having a dedicated Police Force for all beaches.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation made a presentation on the limitless options for holiday makers in Goa and especially the new tourism products being developed by the state.

Himachal extends night curfew in four key districts

IRCTC’s new Divine Train to cover all religious, heritage sites in Maharashtra

Telangana Tourism unveils online portal for single-window clearance

Ministry of Tourism organises Domestic Tourism roadshow in Goa


UPDATE MoT TravelScapes

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of M/o Culture has removed the cap on the

number of visitors to its Centrally Protected Monuments/ sites. This is as per the latest communication on the updated SOPs for Centrally Protected Monuments/ sites, issued by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Dec 18, 2020 to the Regional Directors and Superintending Archaeologists.

However, the total number of visitors to be allowed per day may be decided by the concerned Superintending Archaeologist/SA (I/c) with the concurrence of the respective District Magistrate, who is the chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee of the district.

The SOP further states that selling of physical tickets may be resumed where there are problems in QR code and network. Sound and light show may be resumed.

The communication also states that all centrally protected monuments and sites shall continue to be bound by the COVID related protocols issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Culture as also any specific orders of the State and/or District administration.

ASI lifts cap on number of visitors to its Centrally Protected Monuments

In another push to tourism at the birth place of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, the Union

government will launch a 'Ramayan Cruise Tour' on the Saryu River in the holy city soon.

The project was reviewed by Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, at a meeting for the implementation of cruise service. "It will be the first-ever luxury cruise service on the Saryu river in Ayodhya. It aims to give a mesmerising experience to the devotees with one-of- its-kind spiritual journeys while cruising through the famous ghats of the holy river," said a statement issued by the ministry.

The cruise will be equipped with all luxury comfort and facilities along with all essential safety and security features at par with the global standard. The interiors of the cruise and the boarding point will be based on the theme of Ramcharitmanas. The fully air-conditioned 80-seater cruise will have large glass windows for experiencing the scenic beauty of Ghats. The cruise will be equipped with kitchen and pantry facilities for the comfort of the

tourists. The cruise contains bio toilets and hybrid engines system for the ‘zero effect’ on environment.

Tourists will be taken on the ‘Ramcharitmanas Tour’, of 1-1.5 hour duration, featuring an exclusively made video film of 45-60 minutes duration, based on Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas, covering the period from the birth of Lord Ram to his Rajyabhishek. The entire tour will cover the approximately 15-16 Km distance. The tour will be followed by Saryu Aarti, in which every member will be able to actively participate.

Govt. to launch ‘Ramayan Cruise Service’ on the Saryu River

The Kumbh Mela will be held for 48 days in Haridwar next year instead of three and half months, Uttarakhand Urban

Development Minister Madan Kaushik said."The Uttarakhand government will issue the notification for the

Kumbh Mela in February instead of January 1", the Minister said."Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations have been made for

main baths to be held in March-April. Devotees can take royal bath during these 48 days," the Minister said while speaking to ANI.

He added, "Devotees coming to Kumbh Mela will also be allowed till the bath. While the Kumbh Mela had been for three and a half months since years, this time the duration of Kumbh will be one and a half months due to the changed circumstances."

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister has approved INR 17.34 crore for a surveillance system, for which INR 6.94 crore will be released as the first instalment. Along with this, the CM has allotted INR 15.46 crore for purchasing material for setting up a temporary 1,000 bed COVID care centre and INR 6.18 crore will be released as the first installment.

Kumbh Mela 2021 to take place for 48 days instead of three months

Speaking at an ASSOCHAM conference, Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State, Ministry of

Tourism & Culture, said that the tourism industry could benefit a lot from medical tourism in the post Corona period as India has not just proved to be safer vis a vis other places and got a lot of recognition and name in the world for this but is also the most ideal for dealing with post-Corona impacts that people may still carry.

Addressing the session on “Reviving the stressed sectors to support the post-COVID recovery for India” at ASSOCHAM’s virtual conference, the Minister said, “ Corona is almost over now and whatever damage it had to do has happened. During this period our steps brought a lot of good name for the country. Even foreigners preferred to stay back here and felt safe. Now the post-Corona situation is one where our system of medicine, local cure and wellness methods are what could be best suited to deal with it. After corona, medical tourism is expected to rise and we must be prepared for this opportunity.”

Rupinder Brar, IRS Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “Domestic tourism is now happening in a more organic fashion as an organised vertical and has a lot of potential. India’s natural heritage has been rated 6th greatest in the world by the World

Economic Forum. In the post COVID recovery, I would like to say that we truly are a blessed land. Having said that, we are not forgetting the global market too.”

Moderating the event, Dr. Subhash Goyal, Founder & Chairman, STIC Travel Group of Companies, said, “After Covid-19, tourism was the first to get affected and will be the last to recover. However, if scheduled international flights are started along with e-visas then it can also be the first to bounce back. With a little financial and taxation support, we could save about 50 million jobs and Tourism and Aviation industry could play a major role in achieving the 5 trillion dollar economy for our country.”

Medical tourism could be big area for growth post-Corona: Patel



The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is initiating the process of commencing operations of the Seaplane

services on the select routes under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) framework through prospective airline operators. The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the Ministry.

Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (I/C) said that initiation of seaplane operations align with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to improve connectivity across the nation and make India as an attractive destination for the tourists.

According to release issued by the Govt, several destinations are envisaged for seaplane operations. The proposed origin-destination pairs under hub and spoke model include various islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, Guwahati Riverfront & Umranso Reservoir in Assam, Yamuna Riverfront / Delhi (as Hub) to Ayodhaya, Tehri, Srinagar(Uttrakhand), Chandigarh and many other tourist places of Punjab & HP; Mumbai (as Hub) to Shirdi, Lonavala, Ganpatipule; Surat (as Hub) to Dwarka, Mandvi & Kandla; Khindsi Dam, Nagpur & Erai Dam, Chandrapur (in Maharashtra) and/or any other Hub & Spoke suggested by the Operator.

SDCL is keen to associate with the interested scheduled / non-scheduled airline operators. The joint development and operation of “Sagarmala Seaplane Services (SSPS)” will be undertaken by forming a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL).

The seaplanes services will be a game-changer providing a supplementary means of faster and comfortable transportation across the nation. Apart from providing air connectivity to various remote religious/tourist places, it will boost tourism for domestic and international holidaymakers. It will save travel time and stimulate localized short distance travelling especially in the hilly regions or across the rivers/lakes etc. In addition to the infrastructural enhancements at the places of operations, it will enormously boost tourism and business activities.

By providing air connectivity to numerous remote, religious/tourist places and unexplored locations near the water bodies will make the journey easier. It will generate employment opportunities and stimulate tourism on these new locations, which will consequently contribute to the country’s GDP in the long run.

Ministry of Tourism’s Regional Office, Indiatourism Mumbai launched its

Domestic Tourism marketing campaign ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ under the theme ‘Explore Incredible India’ with a successful brand activation event in the Reliance Mall , Borivali, Mumbai from Dec 25 to Dec 31, 2020.

In time when destinations in India are unlocking and with objective to woo the Domestic travellers to choose their preferred destination for their upcoming holiday season and weekend holidays, mall visitors of all ages were provided travel information through promotional staff and special promotional packages prepared by local travel agents and Tour operators located in Borivali, Mumbai.

The seven-day event is designed to capture the essence and unique atmosphere of the many holiday options that India offers including the driving holidays, weekend destinations around Mumbai.

The Incredible India Installation in Reliance Mall, Borivali will also showcase the tourism potential of Odisha which is paired with Maharashtra under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative of Government of India. The installation will showcase Sawantwadi Toys and Warli Painting as they are one of the representatives of the artistic identity of Maharashtra. They are tangible pieces of culture that have been passed down generation after generation. And nothing unifies like art.

Addressing the ‘Odisha Tourism Virtual Roadshow- 2020’ held for the tourism

fraternity from Kolkata, West Bengal, organized by Odisha Tourism and FICCI, Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Minister of Tourism, Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha said, “This an opportune time to reach out to the tour operators from West Bengal. Odisha receives 14 per cent of its tourists from West Bengal. The relation between the two states is like two sides of the same coin, with similarities in culture and cuisine. A MoU for joint promotion of tourism between the states will surely enhance the movement of tourists between the states.”

West Bengal and Odisha share many cultural similarities. To promote tourism exchange between the two states, Odisha launched three road trip itineraries that are

mapped out in detail to give the tourist a truly immersive experience. The first road circuit, ‘Deep into the Mangroves’, from Kolkata to Bhitarkanika via Bichitrapur Sanctuary & Chandipur (4N-5D), covers key destinations, Bichitrapur Mangrove Sanctuary, Talasari Beach, Chandipur’s Receding Beach, Aul Palace and Bhitarkanika National Park along this route.

The second road trip circuit, ‘The Trail of Cascades-Keonjhar’, from Kolkata to Keonjhar – 500 km (3N-4D) covers the Bhimkund Waterfalls, Sitabinji Caves’ fresco paintings, Terracota craft village at Ghatagaon, Gundichaghai Waterfalls, Sanaghagara & Badaghagara Waterfalls and Kanjipani Ghati.

The third road trip circuit, ‘Tiger trails and Royalty’ from Kolkata to Similipal – 470 Km (3N-4D).

Govt plans to launch Seaplane Services with potential airline operators

India Tourism Mumbai enchants mall visitors with brand activation event

Odisha launches road trip circuits between its key cities & Kolkata


"Even after I get to hear so many views about the print going down the drain after digital media taking the lead, I still stand strong to the fact that print magazine beats even the internet and social media in surprises and supreme satisfaction. Talking about our very own product, TravelScapes, the unmatched covers, high resolution photographs and contemporary writing has always ensured that we stood out in the crowd, rising to where we are today, the Best Travel Trade Magazine in India with a readership of 2, 00,000 plus despite the digital revolution. Moving forward, we will constantly strive to beat our own high standards and continue to bring you reliable content that is both easily understood and abiding by the trends of a new normal."

"Over the years, tourism sector has become the engine that drives economic growth, improves quality of life and creates further opportunities in the travel related fields. And we are proud to say that TravelScapes has become one of those fuelling engines. To reach at this zenith of success where we have been recognized as the award winning magazine and have our own very successful award show (VETA) ruling around the capital, it surely takes perseverance and flexibility, of course. But primarily, it takes teamwork. Today, we acknowledge all of our team members and their efforts and especially, we thank all our dear readers. If it weren't for all of them, we wouldn't celebrate today. Their contribution has been, still is and certainly will be crucial to everything that makes TravelScapes a vibrant reality and a monthly affair loved by all!"

Varun Malhotra, Publisher & CEO, TravelScapes Magazine

Pranav Khullar, Director, TravelScapes Magazine

ENTERING THE EIGHTHWITH A NEW LIGHT AND BRIGHTER VISIONFrom initiating the operations for a single magazine to bagging “the best travel trade publication” and becoming the pioneers of the media industry, the success story of TravelScapes is worth sharing! It all started in 2013 as a dream of a visionary, Varun Malhotra, who had a keen insight for business development, innovation in his hands and passion in his eyes to drive the organization through nothing but success. Giving the encouragement to his progressive views and unique vision, Pranav Khullar joined the journey and then there was no turning back. Today, the views of the industry about TravelScapes speak volumes as the work we have done, the content we deliver have created value and unique quality standards. Today, while we are proud of standing on the pinnacle of success, we look back and thank those who were an incredibly important part of this journey. As the New Year starts with new aspirations, newer opportunities and much refreshed concept of tourism, we are extremely fortunate to begin 2021 with the valuable wishes from the stalwarts of the industry.

TravelScapes


Subhash Goyal

Anil Parashar

Thoyyib Mohamed Cholada Siddhivarn Suneet Goenka

Chairman, Stic Group & Hon. Secretary, FAITH

President & CEO, ITQ

Managing Director, MMPRC Director Tourism Authority of Thailand

Group Managing Director, Red Apple Group

I am delighted to know that Versatile Media is celebrating its eight years of publishing a beautiful and informative magazine known as TravelScapes. I am very happy and proud to know that it has nearly 36,000 issues circulating all over India and has bagged four awards since they established. Today, Travelscapes has become one of India's trusted travel trade news sources. It provides good source of information on Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Aviation industry. On behalf of all the organizations, I represent and my personal behalf, I would like to compliment Varun Malhotra - Publisher, Pranav Khullar and the whole team of TravelScapes for their eighth Anniversary issue and wish them all the success for many more years to come.

It is always a pleasure to applaud the excellent work of information harbingers as TravelScapes, especially, in times of pandemic situation when the world stopped for a while; however, our industry communicators continued their high spirits of delivering industry information and relevant content. Hope you will keep us all engaged and informed in the years to come, opening avenues for wider exchange and dialogue on key industry matters, issues and concerns. Many congratulations on your 8th year anniversary. Wish you greater outreach and engagement.

Over the last few years Maldives has rapidly ascended to the top of the list of the most preferred holiday destinations for Indians. What was once perceived as a ‘dream’ destination is now more accessible than ever, more talked about and increasingly more visited, registering a staggering 433% growth in Indian tourist visits between the months of September and October 2020. Sure, we can accredit this to its jaw-dropping landscape, close proximity, easy flights, aspirational value etc, but an undeniable role has been played by media stakeholders who have brought Maldives closer to Indians. On its 8th anniversary, MMPRC presents its gratitude to Travelscapes for its quality editorial coverage, exceptional reportage, commendable turnaround time and relentless support. Wish you all the best and may you continue to thrive.

Heartiest congratulations to the entire team at TravelScapes. Here's wishing you and your entire team many more years of unparalleled success and unrivalled corporate services. Congratulations on this special day.

Happy anniversary!

Congratulations on your milestone 8th Anniversary! Wishing Varun & Team TravelScapes the very best always. You have definitely raised the standards of Tourism Publications with great reporting, Stories and extremely good quality of physical prints making the read totally worth our time. Wishing you all more success in all your endeavors.

WALL OF WELL WISHESTravelScapes


Dev Karvat

Ajay Bakaya

Kush Kapoor Pronab Sarkar Jyoti Mayal

CEO, The Karvat Group

Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts

CEO- Roseate Hotels & Resorts

President, IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators)

President, TAAI (Travel Agents Association of India)

TravelScapes is definitely one of the magazines that I look forward to reading every month. What sets it apart is its delivering of a fine blend of education and entertainment from the Travel and Tourism industry with breathtaking images from around the world. Congratulations on completing eight fruitful years. My team and I wish you the very best for your future endeavours!

Our heartiest congratulations to the TravelScapes magazine for completing eight long successful years in the industry! It’s one of the go-to magazines for all the update on travel, hospitality and tourism industry. We hope the magazine reaches even greater heights in future and hope it keeps entertaining passionate readers as it has been doing with each passing day. We wish TravelScapes many more years of success and growth.

We’ve been associated with TravelScapes for quite some time now and I appreciate their personalized services and commitment towards providing us with some outstanding media opportunities in this competitive space. It’s an absolute pleasure working with you all and I would like to thank you for being a part of us. Roseate Hotels & Resorts wishes TravelScapes and their entire team a very happy anniversary! We wish you many more years of unparalleled success and best of luck for all your future endeavors.

IATO appreciates your whole hearted support to the Tourism Industry and TravelScapes magazine has come of age. It has anchored itself in its pursuit of glory. The 8-year saga has seen your meteoric rise. The 36,000 issues circulating PAN India, the 4 awards etched with your name and the well acknowledged quality brand engagements have catapulted TravelScapes as India’s most trusted B2B travel trade news sources. It is indeed an honour to be part of your stupendous journey. The momentum that you have generated in the minds of your readership has given you the pride of a place in your space of endeavours. I wish TravelScapes a tsunami of success, even greater accomplishment in the years to come and reach the pinnacle where your peers will dare.

On behalf of my entire team at TAAI, I would like to convey my heartfelt congratulations on this significant 8th anniversary of TravelScapes. Over the years, your publication has forged an impressive path, attaining widespread recognition and becoming an ideal forum for the promotion of tourism and valuable takeaways for the industry stakeholders. Looking ahead, we are sure that your publication will continue to play that vital role as the travel trade magazine that will encourage the entire tourism, hospitality & aviation industry to be the best and resilient, especially in the phase of recovery after COVID-19.I wish you many more creative achievements and success in all your endeavours. May the entire team of Travelscapes continues creating credibility.

TravelScapes


P P Khanna

Ankush Nijhawan

Munnmunn Marwah Pankaj Nagpal Pradeep Saboo

President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India

MD- Nijhawan Group & Co-founder, TBO Group

COO, Think Strawberries Managing Director, Travstarz Global Group

Chairman & MD, Guideline Travels

Media is one of the means or channels of general communication, information, or entertainment in society. TravelScapes has been contributing to the growth of Tourism through its Electronic/print media by bringing the happening in the tourism industry for information of general public as well as the stakeholders of the industry. The contents of their publications are very interesting, informative and illustrative whether it is about destinations, hospitality sector, personalities or any other topic relating to tourism. It is heartening to know that TravelScapes magazine is celebrating its 8 years of publishing- a great leap! PAN India circulation, awards and a series of successful quality brand engagements, all speak of TravelScapes as India’s most trusted B2B travel trade news sources. ADTOI has been associated with TravelScapes since long and it has provided the much needed assistance in the growth of our Association. On this occasion, we wish TravelScapes all the very best and hope they continue to inspire the tourism industry with their good work.

TravelScapes has been a reliable source for daily updates from the travel industry. I am happy to know that the magazine has completed eight years of successful journalism in the travel industry. 2021 is going to be a year of success and recovery for the travel fraternity. Congratulations to the team on this major success.

In the representation business you are as good as the repute you’ve been able to build for your clients. This compels a symphony of excellent teamwork that manifests through a tremendous outpour of effort. Several specialists come together and synergize to be able to create value. In this scenario where the smallest slip could result in irreparable damage, we find confidence in partners like TravelScapes who have continued to raise editorial standards with their unbiased reportage and razor-sharp coverage. Heartiest congratulations to the entire team at TravelScapes for eight years of unwavering excellence in travel news coverage. Happy to have been part of this journey.

Heartiest congratulations to Varun, Pranav and Team TravelScapes on your eighth anniversary. We have seen the magazine grow from the scratch to being one of the dominating publications in travel media and we both wish you all the very best for an even better future ahead as we move into 2021. All the very best!

TravelScapes has been one of the prominent Travel Trade Magazines which truly voices the opinion and showcases the mood of the Travel Industry. Their content is a balanced mix of industry news, expert opinions along with the promotion of products. We always look forward to the upcoming issue of TravelScapes every month and appreciate their vast research and efforts to put up every news item. Its 8 years and counting for this wonderful team of TravelScapes.

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary.



Manish Dayya

Arzan Khambatta

BA Rahim Naresh Rawal Ravi Gosain

General Manager – Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Hyderabad International Convention Centre

Head, Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism India

Director, One Above Destination Management Services

Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Genting Cruise Lines

MD- Erco travels Pvt Ltd.

On this blissful and charming day of your eighth anniversary, I would like to thank you for being an integral part of the hospitality industry and success over the years. We greatly appreciate and value your work in the travel trade space, may you continue the journey of success with pride! Happy Anniversary!

TravelScapes has been one of India’s most trusted B2B travel news outlets. We sincerely congratulate TravelScapes for completing eight successful years. A special mention for the hardworking and very efficient team at TravelScapes, we look forward to more fulfilling associations in the future. May you have many more milestones in the years to come, Happy Anniversary!

I always say to myself and to my colleagues these words and keep reminding them “don’t be a product be productive” as an employee or employer just don’t follow instructions or follow the trend create a trend and make others follow with it. One company in travel digital world and a b2b magazine that has created a niche, out of the box thought is TravelScapes. My association with Varun, Pranav and their team has been from day one of TravelScapes’ incorporation and I have personally seen them evolving in business differently and creating an image globally. Feel proud of associating with a young and dynamic company like TravelScapes.

Only the best in the industry from a content and presentation point of view can stand the test of time and team TravelScapes, under the leadership of Varun, has cleared this test with flying colors. TravelScapes has always stood as one of the best travel magazines which is why we have been advertising and associated with them since the beginning. You have been able to connect the magazine and brands like ours to likeminded and caring travel professionals. We truly value our relationship and association with TravelScapes and recognize your contribution towards the travel trade which as of now is undergoing its toughest phase. While each one of us will do our best, media partners like TravelScapes will be a key to communicate our efforts to the consumers and trade partners. Congratulations once again for the 8 years and many blessings for the next 25 years.

It’s always been a pleasure to read TravelScapes Magazine during previous years, I am glad and would like to congratulate team members for completing 8 years and bringing interesting news from Travel, Tourism and Hospitality world. I hope TravelScapes will keep up the content quality and designing for readers in future as well. My best wishes for betterment and successful forthcoming editions

TravelScapes


Rayomand Choksi

Noshir A Marfatia

Pushpendra Bansal

Rajeev Kohli

Regional Director (Responsible: India, S. Asia, GCC, Iran, Japan, Australia, New Zealand)

Senior Vice President - Sales & Marketing, The Fern Hotels & Resorts

COO Lords Hotels and Resorts

Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel

The Mt Titlis team joins me in wising TravelScapes a very happy 8th birthday. From a young fledgling it has grown into a powerhouse of information and news of the aviation and the travel and tourism sector. Our relationship with it has always been very professional with a high delivery standard. The management and editorial team have always been cooperative and proactive. We wish it a smooth and successful journey in the coming years and long may it continue. The accolades and awards it has been given are well deserved and may TravelScapes continue to prosper.

On this milestone occasion, my heartiest congratulations to Varun, Pranav and the entire TravelScapes team, on completing 8 years of publishing. Both TravelScapes and MICEInsiders provide comprehensive industry coverage and insights, and the annual VETA Awards have become one of the leading platforms for recognizing hospitality stalwarts and hoteliering achievements. My colleagues Mohit Sharad and everyone else at The Fern Hotels & Resorts join me in wishing the team at TravelScapes continued success and higher accomplishments in your onward journey. More power to your pen!

I am delighted to hear the news that your magazine has completed eight years and has reached this position .We are proud of our association as you show case the very best from travel and tourism in your publications. TravelScapes has forged an impressive path, attaining widespread recognition and becoming a reputed Travel Trade Publication. The intellectual team of TravelScapes boasts a high level of professionalism, vast practical experience, and its own singular conception of content creation. Congratulations to you and your team once again and best wishes for your future success, good fortune, and the attainment of new triumphs.

Congratulations Team TravelScapes. How time flies when you are having fun. I have seen you grow over the years and mature as publication and as a team. Never stop dreaming big and never stop innovating in how you deliver the views and news of the industry. All the best!


TravelScapesLOOKING AHEAD

By Gagneet Kaur

Under the dynamic leadership of the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik and praiseworthy efforts by the state tourism authority- Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), Odisha is excelling across all the sectors with tourism standing at the forefront as its major focus. Tourism has always been one of the key areas for the state and that is the reason we observed Odisha Tourism Development Corporation coming forward as the early adapters to the pandemic protocols and one of the key innovators who used the opportunity to revive the state’s tourism through any and every means.

“Central to unveiling ‘India’s best-kept secret’ is to enrich the experience, towards which each of our initiatives is oriented,” Panigrahi says and continues listing the focus areas and special campaigns that are aimed at helping preserve visitors’ confidence in quality.

Eco Retreat The most outstanding outcome has been the Eco Retreat, Eastern India’s foremost glamping festival. Up till 28 February 2021, Eco Retreat Odisha has been stepped up to five unique locations – Bhitarkanika National Park, Daringbadi Hill-station, Hirakud Reservoir, Konark’s Ramchandi Beach and Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Offering luxurious stays with a host of activities included in its itineraries, Eco Retreat Odisha has received a bumper response, with the last two weeks of December witnessing 100% occupancy.

Odisha By Road campaignThe most enjoyable route to discovering Odisha’s hidden jewels is through the state’s excellent road network. The Odisha By Road campaign offers tourists diverse itineraries ranging from two to five nights, through beaches, forests, hill-stations, tribal hinterlands, waterbodies, cities and promising experiences in cuisine, heritage, adventure, ethnic encounters, arts and handicrafts, leisure, wildlife and ecotourism.

Experiential ActivitiesHolidays in Odisha promise to be unprecedented in 2021, with the introduction of several niche experiences. Key among them is cruise tourism in the state’s beautiful wetlands – from the iconic Chilika Lake and Bhitarkanika backwaters to the Mahanadi River and Hirakud Reservoir. The Tourism and Forest & Environment Departments will jointly conduct the 3rd National Chilika Bird Festival from 08 to 10 January 2021 for birders in Mangalajodi and add-on itineraries including Chandaka Dampara Sanctuary and Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

Local at its bestVisitors to Odisha will also get to go local, with the state government set to launch a scheme to encourage

homestays in key locations to personalise Odia hospitality – offering tourists unique cultural experiences while dwelling in local family homes. Cuisine will be among the best aspects of travel to Odisha, with OTDC’s foray into premium fine-dining in Odia Cuisine under the brand name of Nimantran. Three restaurants are set to open in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Sambalpur, which will push up the exotic quotient of the underrated offering. Not far behind is heritage hospitality, which is seldom associated with Odisha. Several heritage homestays are open to tourists, hosted by erstwhile royal families. We will also launch a scheme to encourage several more heritage hotels to open in the coming years.

Community-managed ecotourismOdisha’s most championed segment – is set for an aesthetic overhaul, through enhanced quality of accommodations and services, while preserving sustainability. We are targeting to double its capacity of nature camps from over 300 at present to 600 in the coming years. Keeping in mind the state offering visitor experiences along with also maintaining the increased awareness and need for responsible travel, Panigrahi further highlights the most critical parameters of the tourism sector’s post-COVID recovery.

Capacity Building: DoT conducted COVID-19 Risk Mitigation and Hygiene training sessions for OTDC and Ecotour Odisha community managers and staff collaboration. These sessions were conducted in collaboration with premier hospitality training institutions such as IITTM and IHM in batches to enable properties to open and operate in compliance with health and safety guidelines. Post opening of tourism in October, DoT has in collaboration with IITTM organised an all-inclusive Series of Workshops on “Facing the New Normal”.

Opening up strategy: In the run-up to October, when

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared tourism open, barring places of worship, we progressively opened destinations and products with protocols.

Information dissemination: We have developed a comprehensive “Safety First” module as a part of the award-winning website odishatourism.gov.in, which informs tourists of safety measures adopted by hospitality units, guidelines and protocols and updates on the opening up of tourist destinations in the state.

Preserving and enriching the event calendar: Having pioneered risk mitigation and revival strategies, Odisha has bounced back, case in example being the recently organised Konark Festival and Sand Art Festival 2020. It was inaugurated by our leader, Naveen Patnaik, to emerge as India’s first cultural festival post opening up of the lockdown – In complete adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols. Odisha Tourism will in 2021 add the Odissi Music Festival and a few other exciting events to its vibrant calendar.

Interstate cooperation: Transcending state boundaries, the Government of Odisha has emphasized the need for interstate cooperation to jointly develop, market and manage long duration itineraries spanning the region. It envisions the region comprising Odisha and neighbouring states such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh to develop into a tourism hotspot in general and favourite of road trip explorers and campers in particular.

Prioritising safety of tourists: The Department of Tourism has recently engaged with all the stakeholders and has provided training on COVID-19 protocols. Consistent with Odisha’s stellar management of the pandemic, the Eco Retreats will be implemented in complete compliance with guidelines and SOPs, as informed by the minister.

“While Odisha presents its exciting offerings, we also assure utmost safety to our visitors. We have been scrupulously implementing risk mitigation guidelines issued by the Govt. of India, and our partners in the hospitality industry are adequately adopting technology and SOPs to ensure that every tourist is served with safety.”

“Despite the looming apprehensions in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have considerably succeeded at convincing tourists of the proactive safety protocols instituted at each Eco Retreat, including good practices in contact-less check-in and check-out, PPE kits for staff, safe procurement of consumables, regular disinfection of all rooms, facilities and contact surfaces, thermal screening, provision of a comprehensive sanitation package for each checked-in guest, luggage sanitisation, social distancing norms and more,” he further informs.

Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, Minister of Tourism, Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha unveils the focus driven campaigns that the state is gearing up for in 2021. He also brings a spotlight on the state’s game-changing model of community-based ecotourism and the strategies on how Odisha is planning to maintain the consistency in promoting responsible and sustainable travel

Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi

ODISHA TOURISM TO GO VOCAL FOR LOCAL IN 2021



TravelScapes

Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) held its 8th AGM on the

virtual platform, briefing its members and media people on all that the association has been doing for the last one year. The AGM started by observing one minute’s silence in the memory of all the people who lost their lives in the pandemic.

Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, in his opening remarks said, “This has been an unimaginably difficult year for all of us. Never in our lives did we think that in such a fast-paced technology driven lifestyle there will come a time when everything will remain grounded and people will stay locked up in homes. However, I am hopeful that 2021 will bring better news for all of us. We all stand together in these tough times and OTOAI is there to help you every step of the way in whatever capacity we can.”

Shravan Bhalla, General Secretary, OTOAI, read out the ‘report card’ of OTOAI activities starting August 2019 and enlisted the various workshops, seminars, certifications programs, webinars, trade shows, roadshows etc. the associations has participated in during the last 15 months. “On April 1, 2020 we deferred the renewal

fees for our members keeping the tough times in mind. However, as situation got worse, OTOAI reduced the renewal fees for its members by 50 per cent for the financial year 2020 – 2021 and introduced a special price for its new members.”

Sidharth Khanna, Treasurer, OTOAI, presenting the balance sheet, gave an overview of the ‘financial standing’ of the organisation and detailed that with the addition of 66 new members in 2020, the current tally of OTOAI members stand at around 500.

Himanshu Patil, Vice President, OTOAI, gave the vote of thanks at the end of the AGM and thanked all the members for their support during these tough times. “I am certain that soon travelling will start again and 2021 will bring in more business for all of us. The new term ‘Revenge Tourism’ will give our industry the much-needed boost and by 2022, outbound from India will be booming again,” he said.

Vineet Gopal, Jt. Secretary, OTOAI, who was moderating the entire virtual session, thanked the media for their continuous support and reiterated the optimistic outlook shared by all the members of the association for a better 2021.

OTOAI virtually holds 8th AGM; hopeful for a better 2021

Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the

complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India and cause partner AIRDA is holding its India Tourism Mart – ITM, a buyer seller meet in a virtual format from Feb 18 to 20, 2021.

The buyer seller meet undertaken by FAITH in 2015 was inaugurated by the PM Modi. The one in 2018 was inaugurated by Union Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal and the 2019 event was inaugurated by Union Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari along with Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.

The India Tourism Mart which has been actively supported by Ministry of Tourism is a highly vibrant marketplace. It has seen active attendance from over 250 buyers from over 65 countries having B2B interactions from hundreds of tourism exhibitors from India including most of the State Governments, hotel companies, tour operators and travel agents and tourist transporters.

The elite international buyers reflect a strategic mix of target countries which are critical, developed and under developing markets for India. The tourism verticals in which B2B interactions take place reflect a mix between leisure, adventure, mice, heritage and niche tourism sectors.

Due to the pandemic, the format this year has gone virtual and online B2B interactions will be held between Indian tourism exhibitors and an elite group of global buyers who will be carefully selected from over 90 countries.

Additionally, the domestic focus will figure too prominently in the virtual format this year with domestic tourism buyers who too will be invited reflecting a mix of tourism trade, corporate and institutional tourism buyers. This will be in robust alignment to being more vocal for local and a stronger ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ from tourism.

Another landmark showcase this year will be a very engaging virtual knowledge tourism conclave which will look to bringing the best in tourism and policy makers to discuss how Indian tourism is strategic to India’s socio- economic goals.

Last spring, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, Prague Airport began to implement a

number of measures aimed at protecting the health of both passengers and airport employees. The correct steps taken by the airport in this area have now been confirmed by the issuance of the international ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) Certificate, which also appreciates the fact that the standards implemented at Václav Havel Airport Prague meet the requirements of international organizations in the aviation industry. At the same time, obtaining the accreditation proves that a high level of functioning protective measures ensures increased safety of passengers flying through Prague.

"Prague Airport has applied protection measures to its operation as one of the first entities in the Czech Republic. Therefore, we changed some check-in

procedures at the airport and took steps to make the airport safe. Due to the situation at hand, we also decided to implement new cleaning and disinfection technologies, to invest in protective gear for employees and in protective plexiglass. We have also increased the frequency of cleaning and at the same time launched a major educational campaign among passengers and employees. Our long-term efforts have now been confirmed by the receipt of the international ACI Airport Health Accreditation, which also proves that the set protection measures work, eliminate travel risks and thus increase the safety of flying from Prague," Vaclav Rehor, Chairman of the Prague Airport Board of Directors, said.

India Tourism Mart goes virtual from Feb 18 to 20

Prague Airport receives ACI Airport Health Accreditation

UPDATETRADE



While the incredible architecture, incomparable culinary delights, historical monuments, remnants of ancient civilisations and lavish golf courses boast the true essence of the state of Gujarat, liveliness and the surreal landscapes are synonymous with the magnificent beauty of its unique marvel called ‘Kutch’. Remarkably beautiful, Kutch, with its vast spreads of the white salt desert, comes to life during the winters when the Rann Festival is held. The enchanting scenic beauty and the vibrancy here cast a spell that is hard to break and there are plenty of believable reasons why Kutch is considered as the true ‘heaven descending on earth’. Here, we list the top reasons why Kutch should be your next choice for offbeat travelling…

Plunging into the surreal hues ofKaleidoscopic Kutch

Kutch being a hub of vibrant and traditional fairs and festivals enjoys a brimming life where people from different tribal communities like Rabari, Ahir, Marwada and others assemble and celebrate with extreme joy. One such carnival that is known for the abundance of colourful celebrations is Rann Utsav. Taking place every year between November to February, this colourful carnival, organised with the support of Gujarat Tourism, swanks the true culture of Gujarat and also features a plethora of activities including the huge camp settlements with cultural programs, camel safari, musical moments, handicrafts display and adventure activities like hot-air ballooning. One also gets the opportunity to visit the villages in Rann and understand how locals spend their lives here and stay in one of the traditional huts or Bhungas in the Rann. But what enhances the true beauty is the endless shimmering view of the landscape. Especially, during a full moon night, the natural white light flashing on the desert sand gives a sheer glimpse of a paradise found on earth. Call it a photographer’s delight, a must-see tourist attraction, a carnival capturing lifetime moments or a brimming profusion of natural beauty, culture and tradition, Kutch, never fails to impress!

RANN UTSAVCornucopia of Joy, Culture and Celebration1



One of the holiest lakes in Hinduism, Narayan Sarovar, is sacred to Lord Narayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Located 100 km away from Bhuj and near the Lakhpat Taluka in Kutch, the lake is an agglomeration of five lakes (collectively called Panch-Sarovar; Mansarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar and Pushkar Sarovar) and is considered a sacred pilgrimage destination for the orthodox Hindus. The origin of Narayan Sarovar dates back to the Puranas. According to Hindu mythology, it is said that there was a drought in the region and Lord Vishnu appeared in response to ardent prayers by sages. When he touched the land with his toe, a lake was immediately created, alleviating the locals from their misery and that’s the key reason why the lake has a great spiritual significance. A large number of temples like Shri Trikamraiji, Govardhannathji, Dwarkanath, Laxminarayan, Adinarayan, Ranchodraiji and Laxmiji surround the lake. Narayan Sarovar has a Wildlife Sanctuary, the Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary. You can find some quiet time to witness the rare Chinkaras, Red Antelopes here.

Dholavira is the larger of the two most remarkable excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan culture, dating back to 4500 years ago. Known locally as Kotada (which means large fort), Dholavira sprawls over 100 hectares of semi-arid land at the north-west corner of the island of Khadir, one of the islands in the Great Rann of Kutch that remain above the flood-plains in months when the rest of the desert is submerged by the monsoon. Placed on an island encompassed by the Greater Rann of Kutch, the remaining parts of Dholavira are a sample of the wonders of hydro-designing aced by the antiquated. Interestingly, the city was, perhaps, configured like a large parallelogram boldly outlined by massive walls with their longer axis being from the east to west. A journey to this stunning trip to the past is worth every minute of your trip as it sails you through the saline desert plains of the Great Rann, where you can also spot wildlife such as Chinkara (Indian gazelle), Nilgai and Flamingos. Around 250 km from Bhuj, Dholavira is reached via Bhachau and Rapar and the nearest airport is Bhuj.

NARAYAN SAROVAREvoking the Sense of Spiritually

DHOLAVIRAReminiscing the Bygone Era3 4

Once a famous port and now a famous tourist attraction in Kutch, Mandvi, famous for its beach and a centuries-old shipbuilding yard, is an ideal place where one gets to see the perfect amalgamation of sand, sun and sea. While the welcoming waters, white sandy shores and bustle of snack stalls make the beaches of Mandvi a must-visit, watching the sunset from here and walking barefoot on the golden sand, is a simple pleasure that one should not miss. Not just a serene place, Mandvi Beach is also known for its various avenues of adventure activities some of which include water sports like surfing, skiing, speed boating, water scooting, parasailing as well as camping adventures or simply relaxing ease with family or friends. Bollywood buffs and architecture lovers are sure to be enthralled by a visit to the nearby Vijay Vilas Palace that was built in 1929 by Rao Vijayrajji. You may also choose to head out to the nearby local markets that are known to sell rich handicrafts. End your day with a leisurely walk around the areas of the palace that are open to the public and marvel at the magnificently opulent architectural style.

MANDVISurrender to Serenity 2



The Little Rann of Kutch (LRK), a salt marsh in Gujarat, is a pristine, vast plain that stretches into the horizon. Sprawled over 3,570 sq. km, LRK is a unique landscape with characteristics of both wetlands as well as desert. This biodiversity of the landscape is due to seasonal rivers flowing through the area which goes on to meet the sea from the Gulf of Kutch. . Though a seemingly stark landscape, it is rich in biodiversity and is an ecologically important area for wildlife and many local and migratory waterbirds. It is known to be the world's last refuge of the Indian Wild Asses and acts as a major nesting ground for the gorgeous Lesser Flamingos--the only place outside Africa to serve as a conducive environment for the breeding of these magnificent birds. Additionally, LRK is famous as the last habitat for Asiatic wild ass apart from which, spotting of the desert and Indian fox, Jackal, Striped Hyena, Desert Cat and Indian Wolf is an added attraction in this area.

Dedicated to Maa Ashapura and located 138 kilometres from the city of Bhuj, Mata no Madh is a temple and one of the most sacred shrines of Gujarat. Ashapura Ma is believed to be the chief deity of Jadeja, the rulers of Kutch state and now well known as Mata No Madh. The original 1200-year-old temple was demolished twice due to earthquakes. This structure has now been constructed with more grandeur and better dimensions. The main temple stands out in the skyline of Bhuj and creates a breath-taking view for visitors. The temple that stands strong today has been built by Sunderji Saudagar. With great faith in goddess Ashapura, thousands of devotees and tourist visit Mata no Madh round the year. Several important religious activities are carried out at Mata No Madh and several Hindu festivals like Diwali and Navratri are celebrated with great fervour.

Carried on from generation to generation, the Kutch region is renowned for its handicrafts, produced by the very talented artisans in its villages who have played a crucial role in sustaining the traditional arts due to the authentic, local production. Many of the famous arts, such as bandhani tie-die and ajrakh block printing, originate from Pakistan. Migrants brought these arts with them when they came to Kutch more than 350 years ago. Also, ethnic style arts such as embroidery, weaving, pottery, lacquer work, leatherwork, mud and mirror work and Rogan art, patchwork, terracotta, wood carvings, pen knives and nutcrackers are prevalent in the region. It is also possible to drop into the villages and visit the artisans individually. Many villages have their styles and specialties; the best solution is to explore the area at your own pace and see what you find! Buying directly from the artisans here is a great way of endorsing the aspects of both rural tourism and travel benefiting the locals.

LITTLE RANN OF KUTCHA Rendezvous with Nature

MATA NO MADHRooted into Devotion

HANDICRAFTS OF KUTCHWeaving the Authenticity6

5

7


TravelScapes GUEST COLUMN

COVID-19 has changed the world as we have seen. The travel industry is starting to take a new perspective on how to rebuild travel. As we step into 2021, we have reason to be cautiously optimistic. Breakthroughs in bioscience and medicine are helping to reduce the risks of contamination and limit the spread of the virus better than ever before. Now, with rapid COVID-19 tests and mass vaccination programs being rolled out, people can dream of meeting up with friends and loved ones again. Hence, the global restart of the travel industry is linked to the increasing availability of rapid health checks and the wide rollout of effective vaccines. Today, new processes such as travel corridors or fully tested flights and a new ecosystem of key contributors are emerging in order to enable safe travel

Helping travellers get safely back on the road, in the air, on the railways and into hotel rooms is a top priority for the industry. It is also essential for the recovery of the global economy as 1 in 10 jobs is linked to travel and tourism. That’s why we’re seeing a growing number of industry initiatives from stakeholders such as The Commons Project and IATA’s Travel Pass.

To gain more insight into how the travel industry and governments can work to rebuild traveller confidence, Amadeus commissioned research to learn more about traveller’s top concerns and what types of technology would help travellers feel safe and comfortable enough to travel and help spur recovery of the travel sector.

Recent Amadeus research among 8,500 travellers discovered that 71% of respondents would travel immediately or within 1-3 months of restrictions being lifted. That shows there is pent-up demand for the freedom to do so. All that is lacking is the opportunity. It will take a sustained and collaborative effort for the

industry to fully regain traveller’s trust and confidence.Notably, the survey found that technology

receptiveness and preferences differ by country and demographic, underscoring the importance of personalization in gaining traveller trust.

The priorities Indian travellers wanted from technology were for it to minimize face-to-face or physical contact with others, reduce queues and congestion in public places, protect financial data and personal information and minimize the requirement for physical documents.

Ultimately, as stakeholders work to rethink travel, the top five ways to build traveller confidence worldwide include:

Amadeus sees a key role for technology in helping the industry deliver a frictionless and safe traveller experience. Specifically, we see technology helping in

3 key areas:• Health status indication • Travel information • Contact and touchless solutions

Safe travel is a hot topic right now and one that I believe will grow in importance over the coming months. In the coming days, we plan to meet with partners to explore their specific needs and how we can work together to rebuild the industry. It may take time, but at Amadeus, we are convinced that freedom to travel will return.

Travel and tourism will once again be a thriving sector that benefits stakeholders, communities and above all – travellers. We are excited to be collaborating together with our partners as together, we rethink travel.

1. Provide access to flexible change, cancellations policies and payment terms to avoid losing money

2. Limit the number of passengers on a plane

3. An ability for travellers to socially or physically distance themselves throughout the journey

4. Having visibility to and assurance of sanitization, hygiene and safety measures in hotels and accommodations

5. Effective test, track and trace programs in place

Shedding a light on what still needs to happen to create a future-fit tourism in

2021, Rakesh Bansal, CEO, Amadeus India and sub-continent, connects the dots and suggests the ways that

can work highly in favour of rebuilding traveller confidence

“WE ARE CONVINCED “WE ARE CONVINCED THAT FREEDOM TO THAT FREEDOM TO

TRAVEL WILL RETURN”TRAVEL WILL RETURN”

Rakesh Bansal


TravelScapesUPDATE TRADE

Nijhawan Group has been appointed as the official Sales & Marketing representative

for Burj Khalifa and Emaar Entertainment (L.L.C) in India. The Entertainment chain carries a distinctive portfolio of attractions that are ultra-modern and transcend into entertainment and leisure.

Its assets include some of the city’s most unique entertainment venues including At the Top, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, KidZania®, VR Park, Ekart Zabeel and the ultra-chic performing arts platform, Dubai Opera. Highlighted by its philosophy to ‘inspire joy’, each attraction opens the door to an exceptional world of excitement for visitors.

On this occasion, Priyanka Nijhawan, Director- Representations, Nijhawan Group said, “We take pride in announcing that Emaar Entertainment is the newest addition to our brand portfolio. India is the largest source market for Dubai and carries a huge potential that is yet to be explored. We are prepared to help magnify and pave the path for the biggest entertainment chain in the country to enhance its reach in the B2B space.”

A subsidiary of Emaar Properties, Emaar Entertainment is dedicated to delivering top-quality entertainment, led by unmatched industry expertise. Emaar Entertainment will continue to expand its incredible portfolio of world-class leisure and entertainment attractions through new experiences, both in Dubai and around the world.

Nijhawan Group appointed as India Rep. for Burj Khalifa & Emaar Entertainment (L.L.C)

Yas Island Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s premier leisure and entertainment destination, has closed off 2020 on a high

note achieving 35 awards and accolades for its attractions, infrastructure projects and developments, as part of its ongoing global recognition for its outstanding and unique experiences.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said, "We are honoured and delighted to witness yet another year of international recognition from leading industry bodies, which reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence, and is testament to Yas Island’s steadily growing position as a top global destination for leisure, entertainment and business. Home to award-winning attractions and experiences, Yas Island is an integral part of our efforts in supporting the overall growth of Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, and we look forward to building on its success story as we gear up to 2021 and beyond.”

Encompassing theme parks, motorsports and golf venues, a versatile hospitality offering, as well as an impressive portfolio of projects in the pipeline, Yas Island was recognised as the ‘Middle East’s Leading Tourism Development Project 2020’ at the World Travel Awards.

Home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi received not one, but two accolades from the World Travel Awards – first being named ‘Middle East’s Leading Theme Park 2020’ and crowned as the ‘World’s Leading Theme Park 2020’. The park also took home the ‘Best CSR Campaign on Speedy Recovery Program’ at the MENA Leisure & Attractions Council (MENALAC) and was awarded ‘Travelers Choice’ by Tripadvisor.

Yas Waterworld took home the ‘World’s Leading Waterpark’ award for the third year running, in addition to being recognised as the ‘Middle East’s Leading Waterpark’ in 2020 by the prestigious World Travel Awards. MENALAC Awards 2020 and Global Brands Magazine both recognized Yas Waterworld as ‘Best Water Park’.

Throughout 2020, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi received an incredible eight awards in total, including three MENALAC Awards for ‘Best Day Out’, ‘Best Theme Park’, and ‘Best New Leisure/Entertainment Concept’ for its Teen Titans Training Academy, in addition to winning the award for the ‘Middle East’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the World Travel Awards.

As part of the 49th UAE National Day celebrations, Yas Mall broke the Guinness World Records for the ‘Largest Sand Art Structure’, after artists created eye-catching sand visual in a giant sand art bottle, illustrating the National Day of the UAE. Yas Links Abu Dhabi was awarded the ‘United Arab Emirates’ Best Golf Course 2020’ and ‘Abu Dhabi's Best Golf Course 2020’ during the World Golf Awards.

Indians are likely to put off international travel plans due to concerns over the

spread of new variant of coronavirus in some countries and possibility of flight bans by nations like Dubai, France and Singapore, a survey has revealed.

The survey, which is based on over 15,000 responses from over 10,000 people from across 204 cities and conducted by online platform LocalCircles, also revealed that as many as 42 per cent of the respondents did not have any travel plan for domestic travel at all. Post lockdown, the government hasn’t yet allowed regular operation of international flights, instead it operates transport bubbles with 23 countries, including the UK via the Vande Bharat Mission.

However, India imposed a temporary on flights from and to the UK from December 23 till December 31 following the detection of the new variant of the virus in the UK. LocalCircles has conducted a survey to understand the impact of this new strain of coronavirus on international travel plans of Indians in the next three months.

The platform has observed an increase in citizens’ posts suggesting that many may hold back on their travel plans to any international countries as fear and anxiety of getting infected by this new strain as well

as the possibility of flight bans from other airline hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Paris, etc. has increased, LocalCirles said in a release. The survey also tried to understand people’s plan to undertake domestic travel in the next three months as with reducing case-loads and COVID fatigue setting in, many more have started to travel since October, it said. "The aggregate feedback of consumers suggests that the new virus strain that was recently detected in the UK and related flight bans, the majority planning international travel in the next 3 months are likely to hold back," the survey revealed.

Overall, the survey indicates that the mutant coronavirus and related flight bans have led to 66 per cent of consumers planning international travel in the next three months to hold back.

Yas Island concludes 2020 with 35 industry accolades

Indians may put off travel plans amid spread of new virus strain: survey

Priyanka Nijhawan


TravelScapes UPDATETRADE

Thomas Cook India and its Group company, SOTC Travel, surveyed over

2700 customers across India’s Tier 1 & 2 cities in a recent survey to identify emerging consumer behaviours and trends that will drive travel preferences during the COVID era. The companies have released key findings in their Second Holiday Readiness Report (December 2020). In comparison to the survey conducted by the companies in May 2020, the data reveals a significant increase in consumer confidence in travel.

Confidence in travel on the upswing – Indians display strong appetite for holidays: A combination of lockdown fatigue and strong pent-up demand, coupled with positive sentiment due to announcements on the vaccine saw 89 per cent respondents displaying keen interest to resume travel; 11 per cent are unsure/ undecided.

67 per cent respondents are willing to travel in the next six months while 33 per cent indicated that they would wait for launch of the vaccine. 71 per cent respondents displayed confidence in air

travel and this has been substantiated by the increased demand for flight-inclusive packages at both the companies. While short driveable holidays were preferred post lockdown, only 29 per cent respondents now show preference for road travel.

52 per cent of respondents stated that they are likely to take a domestic holiday. Preferred destinations in India include Goa (38 per cent); Himachal Pradesh (29 per cent); Ladakh & Kerala (20 per cent); North East (19 per cent), Kashmir & Andamans (15 per cent).

Given easing of travel restrictions, international destinations are seeing an upward demand trajectory with 48 per cent of respondents likely to take an international holiday. Europe tops the leader-board at 58 per cent; favoured destinations include Switzerland, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. This is followed by strong interest for short haul destinations (50 per cent) such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Maldives and Indonesia.

89% travellers keen to resume travel: Thomas Cook, SOTC joint report

BLS International has commenced accepting

appointments for visa applications for the Embassy of Brazil in China. The five-year exclusive contract from the Embassy mandates BLS to operate 15 centers across China. The company is expected to process 4,00,000 applications during the contract.

Shikhar Aggarwal, Jt. Managing Director, BLS

International said, “We are pleased to partner with the Embassy of Brazil to provide efficient visa application experience. BLS will work together with the Embassy to create a distinguished practice for all its valued applicants. This is a second contract bagged by BLS International from Brazilian Embassy, wherein the first was in Lebanon.”

The leading destination management company

in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence Travels, was recently awarded the ‘Safe and Secure’ Tourism Certificate of Compliance (SLTDA/SQA/TA/2020/044) by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, through an independent assessment conducted by KPMG Sri Lanka. The certification is compliant with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) for safety travelling.

The company followed a strenuous auditing process inclusive of a wide-ranging study on complete tour operations. The auditing procedure takes into account all health guidelines stipulated by the health authorities and SLTDA. Aitken Spence Travels Managing Director Nalin Jayasundera said: “We are delighted to be one of the first and very few DMCs to be awarded the ‘Safe and Secure’ Tourism Certificate of Compliance. Most of the requirements for the auditing process were practices already followed at the onset of the pandemic by Aitken Spence Travels. This is due to the company placing a heightened importance and priority on safety of all visitors, both local and foreign."

International arrivals fell by 72 per cent over the first ten months of 2020, with restrictions on travel, low

consumer confidence and a global struggle to contain the COVID-19 virus, all contributing to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.

According to the latest tourism data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019. This translates into a loss of US$ 935 billion in export revenues from international tourism, more than 10 times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis.

“Since the start of this crisis, UNWTO has provided

governments and businesses with trusted data showing the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global tourism. Even as the news of a vaccine boosts traveller confidence, there is still a long road to recovery. We thus need to step up our efforts to safely open borders while supporting tourism jobs and businesses,” Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO, said.

Based on the current evidence, UNWTO expects international arrivals to decline by 70% to 75% for the whole of 2020. In this case, global tourism will have returned to levels of 30 years ago, with 1 billion fewer arrivals and a loss of some US$ 1.1 trillion in international tourism receipts. This massive drop

in tourism due to the pandemic could result in an economic loss of US$ 2 trillion in world GDP.

“A coordinated approach to easing and lifting restrictions on travel whenever is it safe to do so is essential. This will not only open destinations up to tourism again, but clear and consistent rules between countries will go a long way towards building back trust in international travel and boosting consumer confidence,” Pololikashvili adds.

Data on international tourism expenditure continues to reflect very weak demand for outbound travel. However, some large markets such as the United States, Germany and France have shown some signs of recovery in the recent months.

Embassy of Brazil signs agreement with BLS International

Aitken Spence first DMC to be awarded ‘Safe and Secure’ Tourism Certificate

International arrivals fall by 70+ per cent


TravelScapesUPDATE TRADE

Aviation consultant Centre for Aviation (CAPA) has predicted that demand recovery

will remain uncertain even in 2021, especially for international traffic. According to CAPA, international traffic is only expected to recover 35-40% of financial year 2020 levels, while domestic traffic in financial year 2021-22 is expected to reach 70-80% of financial year 2020 levels.

It stated that discretionary domestic travel segments (business, institutional, MICE, leisure and foreigners travelling on the domestic network), that accounted for an estimated 55% of the market before the Covid-19 outbreak, is unlikely to return until the pandemic is under greater control or

deployment of a vaccine is widespread.CAPA also said that even outbound travel will

continue to be impacted by border restrictions and poor consumer confidence until there is effective roll-out of a vaccine.

According to CAPA, there has been very limited discretionary travel demand that could be stimulated through lower fares. Though some carriers opposed pricing restrictions, CAPA expects no major push to change the regulations.

CAPA also said that aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) will need to be reinvented as professional, independent

institutions, to be able to serve the aviation industry of today, which includes generating funding directly from industry operators and consumers.

“The need to modernise these agencies can no longer be ignored as the entire industry will soon be market-driven. Hiving off and corporatising the air navigation services division of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), in line with global best practice, is another overdue reform that should now be pursued. The AAI requires a new long-term business model given that the largest airports will have been privatised,” CAPA said in a report.

CAPA predicts air travel demand recovery to remain uncertain in 2021

As revealed by Dr Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group,

October-December period, which is traditionally the peak season for Indian hospitality industry, was of course not as busy but hotels did decent revenue per room as there was pent-up demand among domestic travellers. Staycations and Drivecations emerged as strong trends for hotels. Luxury hotels witnessed demand for intimate weddings as well.

Further sharing his thoughts for the year ahead, he said, “It has been a tumultuous year for the hospitality industry. Even post lockdown when businesses began to reopen, hotels had to walk a tightrope as all protocols and safety measures needed to be in place to restart. However the hospitality industry has shown resilience and managed attracting decent occupancies offering best rates to domestic travellers and staycationers. The industry is focussed on contactless

dining, gourmet deliveries and experiential travel.”

Talking about the challenges, Bhatia adds, “So while there have been green shoots of recovery, the industry continues to grapple with a weak demand and high costs. There hasn’t been any help from the government but we are hoping that in the Budget in New Year the government will not give short shrift to the sector that employs millions. With vaccine now almost here, we are hoping that the sector will revive in 2021 but that also depends how soon international travel starts and domestic airline capacity returns to pre-Covid levels. It’s important that the international flights resume as most of the countries around the world have a defined quarantine procedures and passengers can decide accordingly. Since international travel hasn’t started, travel and hospitality sector continues to suffer.”

“Indeed 2020 has gone down

the annals of aviation history as the watershed year for all the wrong reasons. Airlines bled with losses mounting crores per day. Allied industries such as airports, hospitality and travel trade have been hit hard as well. Thousands of travel agents have shut shop and many have been rendered jobless.”

While India continues to operate Vande Bharat flights, scheduled international flights are still not operating and the situation continues

to look grim for the sector. But being hopeful of government’s support, Bhatia says that for now, starting the international flights at least to countries where we have current air bubble arrangement would give a required push. “Normal Pre-Covid Civil Aviation rules and norms should be reinstated now as each country has defined its quarantine procedures and it should be left completely to the passengers who would like to travel,” he states.

“Normal Pre-COVID Civil Aviation rules and norms should be reinstated now”

Dr Ankur Bhatia


TravelScapes LOOKING AHEAD

Madhya Pradesh is among the popular Indian states which has taken a major shift in a way the tourism segment is being marketed. The focused areas for development under Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board have always included the sustainable tourism practices, skill development, identification and development of tourist destinations and infrastructure, promoting key destinations, unique campaigns showcasing the aspiring travel stories and more alike. And the pandemic is no exception for MP either. Rather, we have seen the state getting more actively involved in boosting tourism through various campaigns that intent to rekindle confidence in the tourism industry with safety measures in place.

Padole highlights, “Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been actively promoting tourist destinations in the State through Social and Digital media, we had launched many of the social media campaigns like:

#MPMonsoonMagic to promote the monsoon destinations of Madhya Pradesh.

#BufferMeSafar to promote the buffer areas of Tiger Reserves to the potential wildlife enthusiasts.

#IntezaarAapka carried out through a series of Social Media Posts covering various destinations of Madhya Pradesh.

#Intezar khtam hua, a traveller centric campaign with two influencers on a road journey through the State in a caravan.”

“Keeping in mind the new normal, our focus is more on the destinations that fit into the frame of experiential activities that include responsible tourism, activity-based tourism, wellness and mindful tourism. We are into the promotion of Homestays, Gramstays and Farmstays as a safe and culturally rich stay option for the guests to experience the Rural Culture, Food

and Traditions of the state and have healthy tourism. We have also created special itineraries for our source markets to promote destination Madhya Pradesh,” he adds.

As states gradually open up for business, MP tourism board has amped up its campaigns across social media platforms to drive interest and pique curiosity while also keeping in mind the importance to regain traveller’s confidence and ensure full safety. “We are in the process of building confidence and trust amongst the travellers through social media platforms and Handles to ensure them that all the norms for safety against COVID-19 i.e., wearing of a mask, social distancing, hand sanitizing, temperature checking and other safety measures are followed. Hotel staff

has been trained to attend the Guests with minimal contact,” Padole shares.

Since the tourism sector is worst hit due to COVID-19, Madhya Pradesh tourism along

with the initiatives to bring back the travellers’ confidence, is also aiming to promote balanced and sustainable tourism to establish Madhya Pradesh as a destination that provides not just a safe but also a complete tourism experience. “The state has developed its version of responsible tourism to meet local needs, economic vitality, environmental conservation and social awareness and to provide enjoyable experiences for tourists through increasing participation of local community encouraging healthy and respectful interactions, cultural exchange between hosts and guests and ensuring the maintenance of our natural and cultural heritage which enables socio-economic development, generates employment opportunities and establishes Madhya Pradesh as a destination that provides a variety of tourism experiences. We are aggressively promoting our tourism products; we are already in the process of conducting both virtual and physical roadshows for all our stakeholders in various source market cities in the country,” Padole informs.

Yuvraj Padole, Deputy Director, (Events and Marketing), Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board speaks about the focus-driven campaigns by the state that primarily aim at building confidence and trust amongst the travellers while also keeping the audience engaged and entertained during the monsoon season and beyond

MADHYA PRADESH TOURISM TAKES THE TRAVELLER CENTRIC ROUTE

"The state has developed its version of responsible tourism to meet local needs, economic vitality, environmental conservation and social awareness and to provide enjoyable experiences for tourists through increasing participation of local community

Yuvraj Padole

By Gagneet Kaur


UPDATE TravelScapes

One of India’s most popular hospitality brands, ‘Welcomhotel’ is spreading its footprint far and wide. Building a remarkable growth trajectory, Brand

Welcomhotel is taking a giant leap, soon touching 26 hotels. A huge addition of nine new Welcomhotel properties in the next 12 months; almost one new hotel every month makes this brand one of the fastest growing brands in the country with an extensive location spread in every region in India.

Welcomhotel has launched its first property in Himachal Pradesh, Welcomhotel Shimla. Tucked away in an unexplored village with experiential stays, lush green expanse and breathtaking views of the hills, Welcomhotel Shimla does the ideal getaway destination for those wanting to reconnect with Nature. Blessed with pristine beauty, natural streams, bountiful orchards and lush green coniferous forests, Mashobra is a quaint, serene destination that attracts nature lovers, peace mongers, thrill seekers and history buffs. With a 25-hour check-in / check-out, all Welcomhotels give you that additional hour to explore more or simply bask in the warmth of your hotel.Welcomhotel Shimla offers a great view of the green splendor with all 47 rooms and suites overlooking the picturesque Mashobra valley.

The design philosophy of the hotel is modern with minute elements of the old world charm and has all the makings of a “Green” hotel with commitment to sustainability - Ecological, Social and Economic. ITC Hotels’ specialized design team was mindful that the authenticity of the land was maintained. Aligning with ITC Hotels’ Responsible Luxury philosophy of conservation of resources, all grey water is treated in-house and used for horticulture. Non-carcinogenic wooden materials are used around the property and intelligent controls have been built in the elevators to maximize movement efficiency.

Speaking on the launch, Nakul Anand, Executive Director – ITC Ltd. said, “With domestic travel and wellness experiences regaining popularity, we believe it is the perfect time to launch our latest Welcomhotel outpost in “Devbhoomi” Himachal Pradesh. With stunning 360 ° mountain views and striking architectural and interior design, we aim to attract discerning leisure and business travelers with our heightened safety measures in place and the quintessential Welcomhotel hospitality at the forefront.”

Fortune Hotels, a member of ITC’s hotel group today announced the signing of four individual operating agreements for hotels in Candolim

(Goa), Deoghar (Jharkhand), Haldwani (Uttarakhand) and Tirupur (Tamil Nadu).

With these new signings, Fortune Hotels, the leading hotel chain in mid to upscale segment, forays across the cardinal directions of India thereby solidifying its presence in these regions, adding more depth to its business and leisure portfolio. Highlighting the group’s expansion strategy, Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels Limited, said, “We are pleased to announce our entry into various growth markets of India. With these additions, we not only increase our appeal in the domestic market but also offer a very interesting destination mix to our business and leisure customers, thereby opening up new vistas for their travel.”

“We are a truly Indian brand presently in our 25th year of operations. This Fortune Advantage brings a plethora of rich experiences to the table- be it our strength in operating multifaceted hotels pan India, in-depth knowledge of the local markets, or our acumen in curating culinary experiences in food & beverage for our guests. It has always been our endeavour to share our expertise with potential ownerships and help them find fortune with us. We have great confidence in the India growth story and know that the opportunity lies in tier 2 and 3 markets of India. We are currently exploring many new alliances with hotel investors in these markets and are hopeful to close more such alliances in the near future," he added.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has opened its first seaside resort in the salubrious and invigorating surroundings of the union territory of

Daman. The Fern Seaside Luxurious Tent Resort, Daman promises to indulge you in the lap of nature amidst the most scenic and serene settings.

This is the 8th hotel which the company has opened this year. Overall the company’s count has extended to 76 hotels across the country and in Nepal and Seychelles.

The Fern Seaside Luxurious Tent Resort is situated right on the beach in Moti Daman. The resort provides a refreshing stay in 30 spacious and luxurious tents, all with beach and sea views. The resort is in close proximity to the business hubs and prime residential areas of Daman and Vapi in Gujarat. Offering a blissfully laid-back atmosphere ideal for a gathering of family and friends or small meetings and conferences, The Fern Seaside Luxurious Tent Resort is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed beach vacation.

The resort offers two different categories of accommodation - Winter Green Tent and Winter Green Premium Tent. Other delights at the resorts are swimming pool, cycling, chess, carom, badminton, putting green, hammocks and direct access to the beach.

ITC Hotels launches Welcomhotel Shimla

Fortune Hotels expands its footprint in India

The Fern Seaside Luxurious Tent Resort, Daman makes a debut

HOSPITALITY

Samir MC


UPDATETravelScapes

Increased privacy and flexibility are two of the stand-out trends that

leading data and Analytics Company GlobalData notes will shape the lodging industry in 2021, alongside longer stays, improved hygiene procedures and more no-touch technology. As 2020 draws to a close, Travel & Tourism Analyst Ralph Hollister offers his view on these trends.

Hollister notes, “Hotels that cannot provide more secluded spots or offer increased booking flexibility could be at risk of losing out even further in 2021. Rate plans to accommodate longer stays need to be offered, whilst the marketing of no-touch technology and increased hygiene procedures needs to be increasingly visible.”

“We have come to the realization that 2021 will not be free from the effects of COVID-19. Travelers will be looking to take fewer trips – if not forced to due to ongoing travel restrictions - but those that do travel

are expected to also stay for longer to grab what they can when they can. Uncertainty is strife and it may lead to people going ‘all out’ on one big trip, rather than risking several smaller ones that could be cancelled. “Long stays will be particularly popular with digital nomads, students and business travelers.”

The need for more private forms of accommodation has surged during the pandemic, which is understandable given that 79% of global respondents to a survey* by GlobalData noted they are still concerned about the outbreak. The privacy trend has benefited companies such as Airbnb, which posted a surprise profit for Q3 2020. However, many traditional hotels that naturally cannot offer the same levels of privacy have not witnessed similar growth.

Improved levels of hygiene and sanitation will continue to be required by guests in the coming years.

Marriott International has announced the expansion of its

footprint in Japan with the debut of six of its hotel brands in the country in 2020.

Newly introduced brands include AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, EDITION, JW Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Reserve. With these additions and other openings during the year, the company will end 2020 with a total of 63 open properties in Japan represented across 18 brands.

“With its beautiful contrasts between modernity and traditions, future-forward cities and breathtaking rural landscapes, Japan has always been an important market to Marriott International as a preferred destination

for travelers,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Marriott International Asia-Pacific (excluding Greater China). “Our expanded portfolio with highly distinctive brands provides travellers in Japan with more choice to meet their needs and interests across a wide range of segments.”

EDITION, the brand envisioned by Ian Schrager and Marriott International, premiered its first of two planned hotels in Japan, The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, on October 20. The new luxury lifestyle hotel represents a very delicate balancing act between the refined, elegant, simple and pure approach of Japan’s culture, style and traditions.

Hyatt has announced the launch of Hyatt Delhi Residences in

New Delhi, India. With an all-new luxury experience curated for the discerning traveller, Hyatt Delhi Residences include 124 well-appointed apartments, divided into 70 one-bedroom, 42 two-bedroom and 6 three-bedroom apartments and 2 two-bedroom and 4 three-bedroom duplex townhouses, with spacious interiors paired with Hyatt’s signature service excellence.

Guests can choose from one, two and three bedroom apartments, or from two-or three-bedroom duplex townhouses. The 124 apartments and townhouses are fully-serviced, fitted with

elegant wooden flooring, practical kitchen & bathroom amenities and walk-in wardrobes, and provide views of the runway, the pool and lush green lawns.

Hyatt Delhi Residences is strategically located between Delhi and Gurugram business districts, and provides guests with the opportunity to travel across both cities with ease. With close proximity to the airport, it is also well connected to other parts of the city through the Aerocity Metro Station. Guests can easily visit some of Delhi’s renowned restaurants, shopping hubs and many local sites which are located in the vicinity.

Indian Hotels Company’s (IHCL) iconic brand, Taj has announced the opening of Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa, Darjeeling in the state of West

Bengal. The resort is situated in the world renowned Makaibari Tea Estate, founded in 1859, and home to the world’s first tea factory.

Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The Indian Hotels Company, said, “IHCL with its pioneering spirit has put many destinations like Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala on the tourism map. We are delighted to step into another new destination in the East – Darjeeling. Taj Chia Kutir & Resort is a welcome addition to our existing hotels in the magnificent Himalayas.”

Nestled amidst sun-kissed tea gardens, Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa is spread over 22 acres. The 72-room resort, often enveloped in mist, has panoramic views of the rolling hills. The design is inspired by the meandering tea terraces and blends with nature.

Increased privacy and flexibility to characterize lodging industry in 2021, says GlobalData

Marriott expands footprint in Japan in 2020

Hyatt launches Hyatt Delhi Residences

Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa opens in Darjeeling

HOSPITALITY


UPDATE TravelScapes

To reignite trust and confidence in guests, Accor in a strategic

partnership with prominent Indian airlines such as Vistara and IndiGo, has introduced ‘Welcome Back Program’. As part of the initiative, Accor is inviting its clients from corporate, leisure, wedding, M&E and TMC segments to showcase the services, hygiene and safety norms followed by its hotels and airline partners during these unique times. Multiple familiarisation trips have already been initiated with Vistara, IndiGo and other airlines to cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Kochi, and Jaipur with many more to come.

Through this initiative, hotels and airlines pledge to enable a seamless and safe service experience for their clients. Accor and airlines’ sales teams mutually identify potential clients from their organization and manage their end-to-end travel. A very detailed itinerary is crafted by the hotels to make sure the guests are well looked after and taken to

local sightseeing on one of the days to experience the local culture.

Kerrie Hannaford, VP, Commercial, Accor India and South Asia said, “Our foremost priority is to bring back confidence in our corporate partners and clients. With this initiative, we are going one-step ahead in our approach and feeling excited to invite our clients to our safe hotel premises. We also plan to have International FAMs as soon as the government allows more relaxation through the air bubble initiative.”

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has entered into a franchise

agreement with 50 Third Street Owner LP for Park Central San Francisco to join the Hyatt portfolio as an affiliated hotel.

The hotel is managed by Highgate and expected to rebrand to Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa, following significant renovations. The 681-room Park Central San Francisco,

located in the heart of San Francisco’s south of market (SoMa) neighborhood, will undergo a multi-million-dollar renovation starting in early 2021, that will include a full redesign of guestrooms, transformation of the meeting and event spaces, ground floor lobby area and food and beverage experience, as well as a relocation and expansion of the fitness centre.

“Hyatt continues to prioritise thoughtful growth in locations that matter most to our guests, World of Hyatt members and customers. We are thrilled to further grow Hyatt’s presence in the great city of San Francisco, which is an important market for Hyatt,” said David Tarr, Senior Vice President of development, Americas, Hyatt. “The renovation of Park Central San Francisco will be truly remarkable, and we look forward to having the hotel join the Hyatt Regency brand to offer a seamless, intuitive experience for guests.”

While the year is coming to an end, global communities

continue to work tirelessly to combat the spread of Covid-19. It is no secret that the hospitality industry has been placed in an incredibly vulnerable position, but within that sobering reality, it is important to be resilient but also flexible, nimble and open-minded, says Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President of the Middle East & Africa, Radisson Group.

With no doubt there will be several long term changes to how the travel and hospitality industries will function and interact moving forward, he notes.

"Another key aspect to consider is how travellers and guests themselves will ultimately evolve with regards to their behaviours, expectations and preferences. But, the hospitality industry has survived countless challenges and periods of economic downturn, and Covid-19 will be no exception. As we all know, this has been a year of absolute

firsts for so many, and there’s been an enormous amount of learning and stretching in between. In times like these, we need to plan for the future, inspire our teams and remind them that there will be an end to this crisis, and that the hospitality industry will come back stronger than ever," Cordon opines.

"As we all look ahead to 2021, Radisson Hotel Group remains prudently optimistic and determinate to continue implementing the five-year development and growth plan in the coming three years. We are confident that travel will continue to rebound, and more capital will be invested in the industry from both the private and public sectors," he says.

"Throughout the past 12 months, our teams have been working tirelessly to keep these hotel signings and openings on track, and I am very proud of what we have achieved this year," he adds.

With the emergence of recovery indicators,

the hospitality sector has also witnessed a revival in room night demand in the last quarter of 2020, as compared to the previous quarters of the year. Occupancy levels have grown month on month since September 20 to cross 35% sector-wide in November 20 (as per STR data), which is the highest since beginning of the nation-wide lockdown in March 20. The revival of the sector has primarily been driven by leisure ‘revenge travel’ during weekends and the festival season, weddings and food & beverage demand.

Goa, India’s most sought-after leisure market, witnessed considerable growth in recent months achieving a market-wide occupancy level of almost 55% in

November 20. Luxury and upper upscale hotels in Goa performed well in November 20, achieving healthy occupancy levels ranging between 60% and 70% as compared to occupancy levels in Nov’19 that ranged between 65% and 75%.

Hotel investments in 2020 started on a good note with two large transactions totalling INR 547 crore. Despite investment activity being paused since Mar’20, there are emerging signs of re-valuations and a slow demand revival, improvised cost structures and reduced profit levels in the next two years. Serious investors are giving prominence to debt service ratios, operating costs and supressed demand from corporate travel, conventions, conferences and exhibition business.

Accor initiates ‘Welcome Back Program’ with airline partners

New Hyatt Regency Hotel planned in San Francisco

Radisson Hotel Group looks ahead to the future

Hotel occupancy improved to 35% in Nov 2020 on back of domestic travel

HOSPITALITY

Kerrie Hannaford


TravelScapes

International arrivals fell by 72 per cent over the first 10 months of 2020, with restrictions on travel, low

consumer confidence and a global struggle to contain the COVID-19 virus, all contributing to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.

According to the latest tourism data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019. This translates into a loss of $935 billion in export revenues from international tourism, more than 10 times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “Since the start of this crisis, UNWTO has provided governments and businesses with trusted data showing the unprecedented impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on global tourism. Even as the news of a vaccine boosts traveller confidence, there is still a long road to recovery. We thus need to step up our efforts to safely open borders while supporting tourism jobs and businesses. It is ever clearer that tourism is one of the most affected sectors by this unprecedented crisis.”

Based on the current evidence, UNWTO expects international arrivals to decline by 70 per cent to 75 per cent for the whole of 2020. In this case, global tourism will have returned to levels of 30 years ago, with 1 billion fewer arrivals and a loss of some $1.1 trillion in international tourism receipts. This massive drop in tourism due to the pandemic could result in an economic loss of $2 trillion in world GDP.

Travel restrictions continue to weigh on the recoveryAsia and the Pacific, the first region to suffer the impact of the pandemic and the one with the highest level of travel restrictions to date, saw an 82 per cent decrease in arrivals in the first 10 months of 2020. The Middle East recorded a 73 per cent decline, while Africa saw a 69 per cent drop. International arrivals in both Europe and the Americas declined by 68 per cent.

Europe recorded smaller decreases of 72 per cent and 76 per cent in September and October compared

TOURISM BACK TO 1990 LEVELS AS ARRIVALS FALL BY MORE THAN 70 PER CENT

developing states in the Caribbean. Secretary-General Pololikashvili added: “A

coordinated approach to easing and lifting restrictions on travel whenever is it safe to do so is essential. This will not only open destinations up to tourism again, but clear and consistent rules between countries will go a long way towards building back trust in international travel and boosting consumer confidence.”

Demand remains weak overall despite a slight improvement in some marketsData on international tourism expenditure continues to reflect very weak demand for outbound travel. However, some large markets such as the United States, Germany and France have shown some signs of recovery in the recent months. Furthermore, demand for domestic tourism continues to grow in some markets, including both China and Russia.

Looking ahead, the announcement of a vaccine and the start of vaccination are expected to gradually increase consumer confidence. At the same time, a growing number of destinations are easing or lifting restrictions on travel. According to the latest research from UNWTO, the proportion of closed destinations has dropped from 82 per cent in late April 2020 to 18 per cent in early November (expressed in percentage of international arrivals).

The extended scenarios for 2021-2024 presented by the United Nations specialised agency for tourism point to a rebound by the second half of 2021. Nonetheless, a return to 2019 levels in terms of international arrivals could take between two-and-a-half and four years.

to other world regions, following the slight though short-lived recovery in the summer peak months of July and August. The resurgence of the virus across the region has led to the reintroduction of some forms of travel restrictions. However, Europe is the region in which more destinations (91 per cent as of November 1) have eased such restrictions, mainly among Schengen Member States.

At the other end of the spectrum, Asia and the Pacific continued to record declines of nearly 100 per cent in September and October, reflecting the ongoing closure of borders in China and other major destinations in the region. The Americas has seen a gradual improvement since June with comparatively lower decreases in international arrivals through October. This reflects the reopening of many destinations in the region, including small island

REPORT

A RETURN TO 2019 LEVELS IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS COULD TAKE BETWEEN TWO-AND-A-HALF AND FOUR YEARS


Strolling by the streets of Old Town of Kaleiçi Combining the visuals of the old and the new, chic and the traditional, Kaleiçi, the old city centre wrapped around the old harbour and the seaside town of the city, is made for strolling. One is taken by surprise at how beautifully the narrow cobblestone streets are lined up by a plethora of boutique hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops along with the perfectly restored mansions that date back to Ottoman times. Being one of the most frequented areas of the city, the streets in the Kaleiçi town look as if they’ve come straight out from a fictional novel– and you’ll want to take pictures at every corner, in every street!

The serene sun-setting views at The Old HarbourTaking a leisurely walk by the old quarter, moving through the bazaars in the colourful lanes, seeing the yachts at the harbour, looking out at the shimmering Mediterranean or sipping a cocktail or a cup of hot coffee while watching the sunset- the feel of this very visual is more than incredible, right? Antalya's Old Harbour is indeed a picturesque cluster of sun, sea, chic cafés and bustling bazaars. The same Old Harbor was once the main port and a major economic hub between the 2nd century & mid-20th century and is now a major tourist attraction in the city. While most of the shops here sell gifts, traditional Turkish lamps and souvenirs aimed at the tourist market, the restaurants, especially those that have dining on the lane or have the inner courtyard can please your senses with delectable food and spectacular ambiance. The best time to be here is the summer season as the visitors can joyfully laze around the harbour or take a swim or just prefer the basic sightseeing.

Luxury resorts with an all-inclusive conceptBeing one of the frequently visited destinations in Turkey and with a landscape that is dotted with an unparalleled variety of tourist attractions, Antalya is considered to have one of the world's best stocks of luxury resorts, most of them being sea-facing. What is remarkable about the resort concept here is the all-inclusive package that has, over the past few years, played a major role in the tourism developments of the city. While the two main resort districts include Belek and Lara, you may find a plethora of options for holiday resorts and lodging houses, apartments and boutique hotels and self-catering bungalows easily in the city centre.

Astounding glory of AspendosOne reason why the city of Antalya has become famous amongst tourists and history buffs is because of this spectacularly preserved Roman Theater called Aspendos. Built with a classic Roman semi-circle architecture, this theatre covers an area so spacious that it can easily accommodate over 15000 people at a time. The atmosphere here around the antique ruins of the Roman era is surreal and this attracts hundreds to thousands of tourists every year who mostly prefer to get clicked here in either a classic snapshot or a straight out of the movie style. The theatre building has a stage in the middle which has 5 doorways for entry to the front of the stage. Aspendos today has also become a venue for hosting operas, concerts and major city events like the Antalya Film Festival and more alike.

Doses of entertainment at the Land of LegendsA day trip to the Land of Legends Theme Park is an absolute fun and exciting package. With over 40 water slides, around 20 thrilling rides, roller coasters, fun animal encounters and spectacular shows, the Land of Legends offers the visitors quite a unique experience, so much so that you will have something new to discover every moment. Adjoined with the theme park is the Kingdom Hotel that is an epitome of colourful décor along with the specially designed suites and other award-winning facilities. The specially designed fairy-tale and cartoon-inspired rooms and suites add to the mental comfort and entertainment level while offering unique holidaying opportunities. Both the adrenaline-filled moments and excitingly different ambiance are not-to-be-missed. Currently, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, tours, attractions and venues here may be temporarily closed.

By Gagneet Kaur

One of the oldest and largest cities in Turkey, the gem of Turkish Riviera and truly a paradise, stretching along the Mediterranean

coastline, Antalya, is the prominent pearl of the country which is now also preferred among the most visited tourist destinations in Turkey. What adds to the peerless experience of visiting this classically beautiful city are some of the most eloquent resorts, clear sunsets, beautiful and serene beaches, the narrow, colourful lanes of the seaside antique town wrapped around the old harbour, some of the most incredible historic sites with grand ruins and the buzzing local bazaars. Here, we list the personally experienced top five experiences that add to the absolute magnificence of Antalya

A STROLL THROUGH THE AMAZING ALLEYS OF ANTALYA

GLOBETROTTER


UPDATETravelScapes

Moscow Tourism Committee concludes its India digital roadshow

Qatar Tourism showcases culinary scene to the world

In order to keep up with the travel preferences of the people

of India, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau specially cooperated with local professional consultants in India. After nearly a year of online conferences to discuss and edit, the new "A travel guide to Taiwan" travel brochure and three themed travel brochures were officially launched It will be officially unveiled before the beginning of the spring of 2021. The aim is to combine Taiwan's global recognition in pandemic prevention and to convey the message that Taiwan is the preferred destination for travel once the pandemic has cleared.

The Singapore Office of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau stated that due to the great potential of

large-scale corporate incentive travel (MICE) in the Indian market, the travel brochure contains all the information needed for corporate incentive travel. The content includes a large collection of Indian restaurants from all over Taiwan. Sightseeing information including night life attractions for all ages, shopping, and leisure attractions are included, and 4 days and 3 nights tours are launched for travellers; in addition, three themed travel brochures are planned separately for culture, shopping and food and various tourism highlights and the travel brochure is presented in A5 size version, which is convenient for passengers to carry and browse.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to attract new investments worth

SR220 billion (USD 58 billion) by 2023, and more than SAR500 billion until 2030, its Minister of Tourism Ahmad Al-Khatib, said during the 2021 Budget Forum.

He added that investors are keen to invest in the tourism sector, and the primary beneficiary is the private sector. “The Ministry of Tourism has to go a long way to boost the sector’s contribution to the national economy,” Al-Khatib said.

The Kingdom is optimistic about the tourism sector for the next five to 10 years, as

Vision 2030 put focus on it and developed necessary plans, the minister noted. He pointed out that the tourism sector constitutes 3.5 per cent of the total gross domestic product (GDP) in the Kingdom, and the Ministry aims to raise it to 10 per cent. The tourism sector contributes 4 per cent of the total employment in Saudi Arabia. Al-Khatib added that the Kingdom did not face any challenges during the summer campaign despite the travel of 8 million people, indicating that this campaign was successful and raised the hotel occupancy rates from 10 per cent to 80 per cent.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau launches a variety of themed tourism campaigns

Saudi aims to attract USD 58bn tourism investments by 2023

More than 40 countries have now banned arrivals from the UK

over mounting concerns over a new, more transmissible mutation of Covid, although health officials there stress that there is no evidence it is Moscow City Tourism Committee, in collaboration with AVIAREPS India, successfully concluded its very first digital roadshow in India. The four-day panned virtual event was specially curated to present the “City of Moscow” as an attractive travel destination to the vibrant Indian outbound travel fraternity spread across 15 major cities PAN India.

The virtual event concluded on a positive note with the participation of 25 inbound tour operators and hotels from Moscow. The presentation made by Moscow City Tourism Committee not just touched upon the tourism landscape in Moscow post-pandemic era but also gave deep insights by covering all aspects of the city including the topic on e-visas. More than 1200 B2b meetings were successfully conducted for the 600 participants representing the Indian outbound tour operators and agents, OTAs, MICE companies and media partners.

Spotlighting the simplified E-Visa procedures for a visit to Moscow, Ksenya Boykova, Head of International Affairs & MICE, Moscow Project Office for Tourism and Hospitality Development said, “From January 2021 tourists from 52 countries including India will be able to apply for e-visas, opening Russia to millions of tourists from across the globe. It will be very easy to visit Moscow or any other city in Russia now as all applications will be processed online without the need to visit a consulate in person or fill out any paperwork. We hope that the introduction of e-visa will lead to the increase in the tourist flow from India to Moscow.”

Moscow is launching the #DiscoverMoscow e-learning platform for foreign travel agents to help them in staying abreast with the new tourism products of Moscow through various differently themed online courses. The platform is free, however registration is required. This program can be useful for agents to learn more about Moscow, its history, places of interest, and the latest trends.

Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) gives the world an insight

into its expanding food scene through a new online video series with some of the country's most renowned chefs, including Chef Filippo Alberto from La Spiga and Chef Justin Yu from CUT by Wolfgang Puck.

The nine-part series, 'Chefs of Qatar', visits some of the country's top culinary experts as they take viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey of the restaurants they lead as they prepare one of their signature dishes, which are often inspired by Qatari culture and cuisines.

Available to watch on Visit Qatar, the episodes demonstrate Qatar's commitment to excellence in hospitality and feature the creation of dishes, such as short ribs, Machboos, Toban Yaki and Taj Barreh.

Secretary General of Qatar National Tourism Council and Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, said, "Chefs in Qatar are

committed to serving the very best of Middle Eastern and international dishes, while providing excellent service and hassle-free hospitality. Since Qatar is home to over a hundred nationalities, our ever-expanding culinary landscape is diverse."

Qatar has maintained a strong focus on bolstering its destination experience, and is committed to opening many more restaurants by 2022, bringing even more choice to its shores.

OUTBOUND


TravelScapesUPDATE OUTBOUND

The Government of Thailand announced the opening of its borders for tourists

from across the globe with stringent visa policies thereby strengthening safety measures. Thailand is now allowing visitors to apply for the Tourist Visa (TR) or ‘Special Tourist Visa’ (STV) with mandatory 14-day quarantine at Government-approved quarantine facilities.

According to the new protocols, travellers who wish to enter Thailand must have 1 of the aforementioned valid visa and the Certificate of Entry (COE).

Tourist can opt for the visas as per the nature of their stay. At present, there are two type of visas applicable for leisure travellers – Tourist Visa (TRV) and Special Tourist Visa (STV). TR visa caters to the tourist visiting Thailand for a short-term stay, while STV caters to tourist planning for a long-term stay. However, COE certificate, health insurance covering COVID-19 and a 14-day quarantine is mandatory for both. One must apply for the COE certification post receiving the visa.

Vachirachai Sirisumpan, Director Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi office added that “Thailand is gradually opening up for international

tourists including Indian travellers and we hope that regular flights between the two countries will be starting soon. Once tourists arrive in Thailand they should ensure to follow all safety measures of “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration Certification” or SHA which covers every touch points of tourist experience in Thailand. Tourist can be confident on safety and have a good experience while travelling in Thailand as well.

The ‘Land of Smile’ is waiting to welcome you all. Please refer to the below table to understand the type of visa and the procedures.

Dubai Airshow is set to return for its 17th edition on November 14-18, 2021 and will be held under the patronage of His

Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

One of the most successful air shows in the world, the event will be held with the support of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, the UAE Ministry of Defence and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and organised by Tarsus F& E Middle East. The event will be the only Airshow of its kind to take place in a live format, highlighting Dubai’s leading response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the world-class safety measures implemented in the emirate. Dubai Airshow will be the most important and critical point of convergence in 2021 where the future of global aerospace industry will be showcased and analysed. Welcoming experts from commercial and business aviation, defence and military, aircraft interiors, air traffic management, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), space and air cargo, the show will serve as an ideal platform for re-thinking strategies, navigating uncertainty and scaling up operations to ensure the smooth re-establishment of the industry in general.

More than 40 countries have now banned arrivals from the UK over mounting concerns over a new, more transmissible

mutation of Covid, although health officials there stress that there is no evidence it is more deadly, said the UN.

Experts also denied that the mutated virus would not respond in the same way to the vaccines cleared for emergency use, the UN report added.

“The bottom line is that we need to suppress transmission of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses as quickly as we can,” World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a regular press briefing. “The more we allow it to spread, the more opportunity it has to change.”

In early 2021, $4.6 billion in additional funding will be needed to purchase Covid-19 vaccines for at least 20 per cent of low and lower middle income countries, according to the WHO chief.

“This will ensure health workers and those at highest risk of severe disease are vaccinated, which is the fastest way to stabilize health systems and economies and stimulate a truly global recovery,” he said.

While the pandemic has exploited the world’s vulnerabilities and inequalities, it has also shown that “in the face of an unprecedented crisis, we can come together in new ways to confront it,” said Tedros.

Thailand opens its international borders, prioritizes safety first

40 countries ban arrivals from UK over virus strain fears Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is

expecting a huge influx of exhibitors and visitors from Israel and further afield, wanting to take full advantage of the first-ever participation of Israel in a major travel event in the Middle East.

ATM, which has already announced that the 2021 edition of its annual showcase, will take place live at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 16 to 19, has witnessed a massive spike, not only in enquiries from Israel, but from travel companies around the world that specialise in tours to that region.

“Following the signing of the Israel–UAE normalisation agreement, the Israel Ministry of Tourism is planning significant steps to promote Israel as a tourism destination in the UAE. This will include participating for the first time in the Arabian Travel Market with a large booth and a delegation of Israel tourism industry representatives, as well as attending high level conference sessions,” said Ksenia Kobiakov, Director of New Markets Development Department, Israel Ministry of Tourism.

“The interest shown by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as well as other travel professionals based in Israel and international operators specialising in tours to Israel has been extraordinary. This is a brand new market for both inbound and outbound operators and will provide a much-needed boost to regional and international travel,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.

2019 was a record year for tourism and pilgrimage with over 4,550,000 visitors, a 10.6 per cent increase over 2018 and more than 350,000 arrived in December 2019, another record.

Israel confirms first ATM participation

Dubai Airshow to return in 2021

Ksenia Kobiakov


Since the resumption of operations in May, IndiGo has been rapidly refunding amounts

owed to customers whose flights had been cancelled during the lockdown. The airline has already processed close to INR 1000cr of refunds, which is approximately 90 per cent of the total amount owed to our customers. IndiGo is committed to complete payment against all pending credit shells latest by January 31, 2021.

Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “The sudden onset of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown brought our operations to a complete halt by the end of March of this year. As

our incoming cash flow dried up, we were unable to immediately process refunds for cancelled flights and had to create credit shells for the refunds that were due to our customers. However, with the resumption of operations and a steady increase in demand for air travel, our priority has been to refund the credit shell amounts in an expedited manner. We are pleased to commit that we will disburse the full 100% credit shell payments latest by January 31, 2021. We would like to thank all our customers who stood by us for their patience and understanding during this unprecedented crisis.”

IndiGo to disburse customer credit shells and refunds by Jan 31

The civil aviation regulator DGCA has granted operation permit to Air Taxi India, making

the company the newest airline in the country. According to a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation official, the airline has received the last month. The airline is set to launch regional operations. It plans to deploy the Tecnam P2006T VT-ATC aircraft which has a twin-engine and capacity to ferry three passengers on short-haul routes. It is manufactured by Italian firm Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam.

Vistara said recently that the passengers could now directly search and book tickets

on its flights using Google. The passengers will not be directed to any other website while booking the tickets using the integrated 'Book on Google' feature, the airline said in a statement.

"We are sure that this new 'Book on Google' feature will enable an even more hassle-free experience and bring greater convenience to our customers," Vistara Chief Commercial Officer Vinod Kannan said.

The airline said this new feature has been made possible through a technology partnership with Amadeus.

The domestic air passenger traffic of India continued to improve on a monthly basis in

November, but declined by more than half on a yearly basis. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 63.54 lakh domestic passengers travelled by air in November, which was 20.54 per cent higher than the air passenger traffic recorded last month. Domestic airlines flew 52.71 lakh and 39.43 lakh passengers in October and September, respectively. The domestic air traffic, however, dropped 50.93 per cent as compared to corresponding period last year.

Meanwhile, total number of passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-November 2020 was 556.84 lakh, 57.54 per cent lower

than 1,311.54 lakh during the corresponding period of previous year, the DGCA data showed. As per the data, IndiGo carried 34.23 lakh passengers in November, constituting 53.9 per cent share of the total domestic market, while SpiceJet flew 8.4 lakh passengers (13.2 per cent of market share). Air India, GoAir, AirAsia India and Vistara carried 6.56 lakh, 5.77 lakh, 4.21 lakh and 3.97 lakh passengers, respectively, in November. The DGCA data indicated that IndiGo had the best on-time performance of 97.5 per cent at four metro airports -- Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. AirAsia India and Vistara were at second and third spot at these four airports in November with 95.6 per cent and 94.8 per cent on-time performance, respectively.

SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka

and a member of the oneworld alliance has won the prestigious ‘World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’ title once again at the World Travel Awards Grand Final held in Moscow.

SriLankan Airlines’ Chairman Ashok Pathirage said the latest accolade demonstrates the Airline’s commitment to delivering the Government of Sri Lanka’s vision of making Sri Lanka an aviation hub in Asia and the company was building on its business plan to strengthen its position as a fully-fledged international airline. “Yet

again, SriLankan Airlines has made a tremendous mark in the region. We have a proud history that spans over four decades of operations,” he said. “Winning the World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’ for the fifth-year running is commendable

especially given the current situation with COVID-19 which continues to cause disruption to the aviation and travel industry. It is proof of the National Carrier’s superior and dedicated focus to its service and operations time and again which gives SriLankan Airlines resilience to face any adversity.”

The Airline has been winning the coveted title since 2016 and this year, it not only won the title as ‘Asia’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’ but also was honored with the title ‘Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign’ at the WTA Asia ceremony in 2020.

India's newest airline, Air Taxi gets permit to start operations

Vistara allows passengers to book tickets directly on Google

Domestic air passenger traffic grows 20.5 per cent in November

SriLankan named the ‘World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean’

UPDATEAVIATION


The first flight operations from Belgaum (Karnataka) to Surat (Gujarat) to

Kishangarh (Ajmer) were flagged off in December under the RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) of the Government of India. The officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Airport Authority of India (AAI) were present at the inauguration. The launch of the flight operations on the Surat-Kishangarh-Belgaum route aligns with the government’s objective to provide air connectivity with metros to the tier-II and tier-III cities of the country under UDAN. More than 300 routes have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme, and the flag off marks the inauguration of the 303rd route under the ambit of the scheme.

In its constant endeavour to link the unconnected regions, Star Air was awarded the Belgaum-Surat-Kishangarh route during the UDAN 3 bidding process last year. The

airlines are being provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable and accessible for the common people. The airline will be operating thrice-weekly flights on the route and will deploy its 50-seater Embraer-145 aircraft. The route marks the commencement of the 20th UDAN route by the airline.

The aerial connectivity on this route had been one of the most awaited demands of natives. People frequently visit the famous Nine Planets temple, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Pushkar Lake, Phool Mahal Palace, Roopangarh Fort, in Kishangarh. Furthermore, the city is also known as the Marble City of India and is a big market of red chilies. Until now there was no direct mode of transport available from Belgaum to Kishangarh. The travellers were compelled to take a train till Agra, and further, they had to opt for a bus to reach Kishangarh.

First flight flagged off on Belgaum – Surat – Kishangarh route under UDAN

IATA urges govts to consider aviation workers as essential for vaccination

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) renewed its call on

governments to ensure that employees in the aviation sector are considered as essential workers during the impending Covid-19 vaccine campaign, once health care workers and vulnerable groups have been protected.

IATA’s 76th Annual General Meeting (AGM) had unanimously adopted a resolution to this effect.“We are not asking for aviation workers to be on top of the list, but we need governments to ensure that transportation workers are considered as essential when vaccine roll-out plans are developed. The transportation of the Covid-19 vaccines has already begun, and as calculations show, it will require the equivalent of 8,000 Boeing 747 freighter aircraft for global distribution. It is therefore essential that we have the qualified workforce in place to ensure a functioning

logistics chain,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

IATA’s call is aligned with the proposed Roadmap for Prioritizing Uses of Covid-19 Vaccines by the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). This recommends priority populations for vaccination based on the respective epidemiologic situation and vaccine supply scenarios. Within this framework, SAGE has included transportation workers alongside other essential sectors outside health and education sectors including police, for example.

The AGM also reiterated the vital role of air transport in facilitating the global response to the pandemic, including the timely distribution of medicines, testing kits, protective equipment and eventually vaccines around the world.

Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, will

operate five weekly flights to Dubai with service starting on January 11.

Flights to and from Dubai will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.

Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman's airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft,

which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to increase safety and several other steps have been taken to ensure that the airline's guests and crew are safe at all times.

Guests who are planning to depart from Oman should ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements, which are provided at omanair.com, as well as the requirements at their destinations.

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest national

flag carrier, announced in a virtual press conference that it is resuming its daily flights from Dubai to Manila starting December 14.

This increase in frequency coincides with ‘Juan Love’ campaign to help create sustainable local tourism in the new normal. Cebu Pacific has also announced a string of multi-layered safety initiatives to boost travel confidence.

This new development is a result of the growing demand for both passenger and cargo flights in and out Dubai while staying committed to providing affordable air transport services for everyone. Since the re-opening of the international borders, Cebu Pacific has been continuously increasing its flights between Dubai and Manila—from once a week in July to twice a week in August, and then to four times a week in October.

Oman Air to add flights to Dubai

Cebu Pacific to resume daily Dubai-Manila flights

TravelScapesUPDATE AVIATION


TravelScapes

With the recent authorisation of Dhaalu Airport to handle

direct international private jet arrivals and departures to and from the archipelago, arriving at Niyama Private Islands Maldives has just become the swiftest and safest arrival experience in the country.

The airport in Maldives’ southern Dhaalu Atoll now offers the ultimate convenience for private jet guests, with the luxurious Niyama Private Islands a mere seven-minute private speedboat glide away.

Dhaalu Airport (code: DDD) can now handle and process long range jets up to 111 feet in length, with 96 hours’ notification required to arrange

a private international landing and departure, including immigration, customs and legislated health checks and requirements for arriving passengers. This eliminates the need for non-commercial passengers to pass through and clear arrival procedures at the nation’s main international airport in Male before flying on to their island destination in paradise.

Niyama Private Islands Maldives recently reopened its doors once again offering guests an abundance of space and privacy and a multitude of opportunities to create their own exceptional island experiences, all with the laid-back vibe that Niyama is known for.

Dhaalu Airport authorised for private jet arrivals

Emirates has announced that it will be operating its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft

on the Dubai – Sao Paulo route between January 9 and 30, 2021. The Emirates A380 will be deployed four times weekly to Sao Paulo in response to the summer season increase in demand for travel to and from Brazil.

This will be the first time that the iconic aircraft returns to South America since the suspension of passenger flights due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March. Emirates resumed passenger flights to Sao Paulo in August on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Lufthansa Group airlines and Sabre Corporation, leading

technology provider to the global travel industry, have signed a new, mutually flexible distribution agreement that enables modern airline retailing as well as technology innovation.

Under the agreement, which covers the carriers Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines, Sabre will continue to distribute Lufthansa Group airlines’ content through traditional connectivity to hundreds of thousands of travel agents and thousands of corporations through its global distribution system (GDS).

In addition, the agreement enables the distribution of Lufthansa Group airlines’ content via the New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard in the Sabre travel marketplace. After the planned launch next year, the diversified NDC program will give Sabre-connected travel agencies globally the ability to access Lufthansa Group airlines’ content through the Sabre marketplace and by signing up to one of the two available commercial models for NDC. The agreement supports Lufthansa Group airlines’ strategy to implement NDC technology and deliver personalized price offers through the newly launched Continuous Pricing.

US-based United Airlines on Saturday launched its new daily non-stop service between

Delhi and its hometown hub of Chicago. These daily flights will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

With the introduction of this new route, United will operate four daily nonstop flights from India. The airline additionally operates daily year-round services from Mumbai and New Delhi to New York/ Newark, and from New Delhi to San Francisco. United also expects to introduce a new daily nonstop service between Bengaluru and San Francisco commencing May 8, 2021. United will be the first U.S. carrier to provide nonstop service from Bengaluru to the U.S.

and will offer more nonstop services from India than any other U.S airline.

“We are excited to inaugurate our daily, nonstop service between New Delhi and our hometown Chicago O’Hare hub,” said Harvinder Singh, United Country Manager India. “This new flight strengthens our international route network and provides our customers from India with even greater travel choice, as well as the option of our Polaris business class service with flat-bed seats. With a network of connections from our Chicago O’Hare hub to 84 other destinations across the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, the new service opens up opportunities for both business and leisure travellers alike.”

Emirates to deploy its flagship A380 to Sao Paulo in Jan 2021

Lufthansa, Sabre sign new distribution agreement

United Airlines launches new daily Delhi-Chicago non-stop service

UPDATEAVIATION


TravelScapesON THE MOVE

PROMOTED AT: Mövenpick Hotel ColomboTO: General Manager

Mövenpick Hotel Colombo welcomed Roshan Perera as their new General Manager on December 15. Perera started his career as a trainee in 1986, at the InterContinental Hotels Group, after which he worked for leading hotel companies such as Lanka Leisure Management Services (Pvt Ltd), Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, The Blue Water where he served as the General Manager for 4 years and then as the CEO for the group, Union Resorts Ltd.

PROMOTED AT: Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh TO: Hotel's director of food and beverage

The soon-to-open Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh is already elevating its culinary appeal with the appointment of Sandeep Jinarajan as the hotel's director of food and beverage. Located within walking distance to some of the city's biggest attractions including the Royal Palace and the Mekong River. With more than 20 years of food and beverage operation experience, Jinarajan will be fully in charge of the hotel's five dining outlets.

PROMOTED AT: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. TO: Vice President

Eng San Quek has been promoted to Vice President, Finance, APAC at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. She will oversee the company's financial strategies and opportunities as the company forges ahead with accelerated growth in the region. Eng San has an extensive 20 years of experience in hospitality finance which encompasses finance, accounting and FPA experience. She previously held leadership roles in IHG.

PROMOTED AT: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel CompanyTO: GENERAL MANAGER

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is pleased to announce Mark Hehir as its General Manager of the highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, set to open in Q2 of 2021. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality industry and 20 years of experience in Maldives, Hehir is truly an accomplished resort executive in the region. His first role in the region was with the pre-opening of Hilton Rangali Island (now Conrad Maldives)

PROMOTED AT: The Standard, Huruvalhi MaldivesTO: GENERAL MANAGER

The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, the brand's newest resort, announced the appointment of Jesper Soerensen to General Manager for the property. A Danish national boasts more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked at properties around the world, from England, Singapore, and the U.S. to Qatar.

PROMOTED AT: Grand Hyatt Kuala LumpurTO: GENERAL MANAGER

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has appointed Olivier Lenoir as the general manager who will be overseeing property operations in his role. Lenoir will be noted as only the second GM to grace Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur with his presence since its inception. The Swiss native carries an extraordinary experience as a hotelier since the beginning of his career 23 years ago with two decades dedicated to Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

PROMOTED AT: Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives,TO: General Manager

Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, situated at the Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives, announced the appointment of Philippe Claverotte as the resort's new General Manager. The resort recently launched 40 new overwater villas, completed in December 2019. Claverotte's career spans almost 30 years and includes luxury hotel groups. Prior to joining the Atmosphere Group in the Maldives, Philippe was previously the GM of Shangri-La Maldives.

PROMOTED AT: Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island ResortTO: GENERAL MANAGER

Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Savino Leone as General Manager at the prestigious hotel. Joining the hotel as of the 1st November 2020 with more than 25 years of hospitality experience, Leone has an extensive international career, having held previous roles spanning the globe in countries including Japan, Egypt, the UK, Dubai and France.

PROMOTED AT: Fairmont JaipurTO: Director of Operations

Fairmont Jaipur has announced the promotion of Amit Sangwan from Director of Food & Beverage to Director of Operations, with all four verticals of Food & Beverage, Culinary, Front Office and Housekeeping reporting directly to him; he will also be responsible to maintain and enhance guest satisfaction. Prior to joining Fairmont Jaipur in August 2019 as Director of F&B, Sangwan was previously associated with renowned hotels.

ROSHAN PERERA

SANDEEP JINARAJANENG SAN QUEK

MARK HEHIR

JESPER SOERENSENOLIVIER LENOIR PHILIPPE CLAVEROTTE

SAVINO LEONE

AMIT SANGWAN

RNI No. - DELENG/2013/48401 • Licence No. : F.2(T-3) 2013 • Posting Dt. 9-10/1/2021 Place of Posting: NIEHOND 110028 • Reg. No. - DL(W)10/2208/2019-2021 • Date of publication 3-4/1/2021

ENTERING THE EIGHTHtravelscapesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/... · 2021. 1. 7. · Tour Operators delegation consisted of 15 tour operators who drove into Goa to experience

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