TAFI signs MoU with Turkish Indian Tourism Council

NEW DELHI, April 11: Turkish India Tourism Council (TITC), the representative body of Turkish Tourism and the National Joint Council of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help promote bilateral tourism between the two countries.

The MoU was signed during the visit of the TAFI delegation to Turkey from April 6 to 10. The delegation had visited Turkey to have a first hand knowledge of the tourism potential of the country.

The primary objectives of the MOU are:

a. To help promote tourism between the two countries

b. Contribute to industrial and technological collaboration between the enterprises and economic institutions of both countries

c. Coordinate jointly in collecting the data in relation to tourism, technological cooperation and investments to the mutual benefits of the two nations

The Tourism Council will operate in the form of two National Divisions, one in India and other in Turkey and the members of the Council will meet in alternating years in Turkey and India.

Mr. Emin Cakmak, Chairman of the TITC and a signatory to the MOU stated that Indian tourists to Turkey currently stood at about 70,000 and that TITC has been actively conducting road shows in various Indian cities to attract greater numbers of Indian tourists and gain a significant share of the burgeoning outbound market.

Mr. Ajay Prakash, President of TAFI and the other signatory to the MOU stated that in spite of close to 14 million tourists who traveled out of Turkey last year, India got barely 10,000.

“Our countries share a number of similarities in culture, values and cuisine; as a matter of fact there are close to 9000 words in the Turkish language that are very similar to Indian words. We need to make a concerted effort to tap the outbound Turkish market and TAFI will take the lead to create greater awareness of India in Turkey through seminars and road shows.”

At the end of the signing ceremony, Mr. Cakmak stated that TITC will seriously work on the proposal made by TAFI to organize educational familiarization trips to Turkey for TAFI members who are actively promoting outbound tourism in order to give them an opportunity to see the destination for themselves.

The first of such tours are expected to start in August this year and TAFI members can look forward to a 5 to 6 night educational trip at a highly subsidized rate. Turkish Airlines is looking to expand its footprint across various Indian cities and is expected to partner actively in this venture.

India retains top slot in Lanka tourism

NEW DELHI, April 13: India remained the top tourist generating market for Sri Lanka in the first quarter of 2011, according to official figures released on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka received 37,476 Indian tourists in the first three months of this year, which is 43.4 percent more than the corresponding period in 2010, according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority figures.

After India, Britain was the second biggest contributor to Sri Lanka tourism industry, even as the number of British tourists went up marginally by 1.8 per during January-March cent to 27,984.

Besides, the number of Pakistan tourists visiting Sri Lanka even though quite small, also witnessed a dramatic increase with 3,829 tourists visiting Sri Lanka against 1,892 tourists during the year-ago period.

Further, Sri Lanka tourism authorities expect the number of holiday makers visiting the island this year to be about 700,000.

Tourism Minister Calls for Enhanced Focus on Rural Tourism

NEW DELHI, March 28: The Union Tourism Minister Shri Subodh Kant Sahai has called for enhanced focus on Rural Tourism. Presenting the National Tourism Awards for 2009-10 here today he said that the Ministry of Tourism will carry out an audit of its Rural Tourism Projects to ensure that this important initiative is not lost. He said that Rural Tourism while providing a varied and vivid experience can also expose the visitors to different ways to live life.

Shri Sahai said that the key for the development of tourism in future would be research, collaboration, innovation, public private partnership and sustainability.

“While culture and heritage is going to remain as mainstay of India tourism, the world is going to find our new products like Wellness and Medical Tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) Tourism, Adventure and Sports Tourism including Golf and Polo very attractive”, the Minister added.

Stating that India is an excellent destination for making films, Shri Sahai called upon the international film industry to take advantage of beautiful locales of the country.

The Minister also assured the tourism industry that the Ministry’s endeavor remains to work hand-in-hand with the industry and sincere towards its genuine demands and it would not hesitate to champion the cause of the industry with various authorities.

Lok Sabha Speaker Smt.Meira Kumar was the Chief Guest at the awards presentation ceremony. Cine artist Priyanka Chopra was the Guest of Honour.

Best State/UT award for tourism infrastructure and tourism related programmes under North-East category went to Sikkim while for rest of India it went to Madhya Pradesh.

Best tourism Film award went to “ Karnataka “ produced by Karnataka Tourism. Karnataka Tourism and Rajasthan Tourism were adjudged joint winners for Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Material by States/ UTs. Bhootgarh Rural tourism Project of Punjab won the Best Rural Tourism Project award. Caravan Bus of MP Tourism won the Most Innovative/Unique Tourism Project award.

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India presents National Tourism Awards to various segments of the travel and tourism industry every year. These awards are presented to State Governments / Union Territories, classified hotels, heritage hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, individuals and other private organizations in recognition of their performances in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promote tourism.

The National Tourism Awards have over the years emerged as the most prestigious recognition of achievements in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors of the country since its inception.

Following is the text of the Tourism Minister’s speech delivered on this occasion:

“The Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry in India stands poised for unprecedented growth in the coming years given the buoyancy of Indian economy.

“We are making all efforts to make tourism as our main political and economic agenda given its proven role in stimulating inclusive economic growth, employment generation and social integration.

“My Ministry is committed for the integrated development of tourism with active participation of various State Governments, Union Territories and other stakeholders in the industry.

“Though, last year Foreign Travel Arrivals to India registered a growth of 8.1% over the year 2009, one of my major concerns which remains today is the stagnant share of India Tourism in the world tourism market. We have to think afresh about our strategies and realign them with the lates global trends after undertaking necessary research.

“The key for the development of tourism in future, in my opinion, would be research, collaboration, innovation, public private partnership and sustainability.

“We must monitor and analyze the global tourism trends to maintain our competitiveness. We must increase our collaboration and improve information exchange mechanism with the industry, international organizations and educational institutions.

“Our endevour today remains to work hand-in-hand with the industry. We are sincere towards the genuine demands of the industry and would not hesitate to champion the cause of the industry with various authorities.

“Innovation can play a leading role in the growth of tourism by way of introducing new products, adapting to new economic conditions, improving resource management and introduce new technologies for service improvement like introduction of e-visas.

“I have no doubt that tourism is going to be one of the main drivers of Indian economy in the years to come. We, in the Ministry, are trying to create a competitive framework with strong public private partnership which can stimulate investment, innovation, cooperation, capacity building, and remove existing obstacles.

“The developing countries like ours will have to understand the full potential of tourism industry and encash it in a sustainable and responsible manner for their socio-economic development. Our aim together should be to use our resources rationally for the benefit of coming generations.

“One of the key challenges for development of tourism in future would be to take community along. Unless community realizes and recognizes the benefits of tourism and becomes an active partner in tourism promotion and development, the whole effort can be brought to naught. Realizing this, we initiated social awareness campaigns with Mr. Aamir Khan as our brand ambassador. These campaigns have been well received. I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Aamir Khan for his selfless service, commitment and support to the cause of India Tourism.

“While culture and heritage is going to remain as mainstay of India tourism, the world is going to find our new products like Wellness and Medical Tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) Tourism, Adventure and Sports Tourism including Golf and Polo very attractive.

“Films form an important and integral part of tourism. Priyanka ji would agree with me that India is an excellent destination for making films. I invite the international film industry to India and take advantage of our beautiful locales.

“Tourism, if remains an urban activity in India, will not benefit the common man. Considering the fact that the majority in India lives in villages, our focus should be on Rural Tourism. I have asked my Ministry to carry out an audit of our Rural Tourism projects so that this important initiative is not lost. Rural Tourism while providing a varied and vivid experience can also expose the visitors to different ways to live life.

“While international visitors remain very important from the point of view of foreign exchange earnings, the domestic tourism retains its key focus in our scheme of things with huge potential for income distribution and social equity. The Ministry will continue to promote both international and domestic tourism in the coming years.

“To promote excellence and recognise the efforts put in by various stakeholders in development and promotion of India Tourism, this Ministry instituted the National Tourism Awards. I congratulate all the winners of the National Tourism Awards and wish them success in their future endeavours.

“In the end, I would like to urge all my friends in the tourism industry and every citizen of this country to work together to stimulate Indian tourism growth with combined efforts.

“I am personally grateful to Meira Kumar ji and Priyanka ji to have graced this occasion on our request.”

Indian wine industry seen at Rs 2,700 cr

NEW DELHI, March 28: The size of the Indian wine industry may touch the Rs 2,700 crore-mark by the end of 2012 due to rising disposable income, increasing tourism and suitable tax structures, an industry body study has said.

In 2008, the size of the wine market stood at Rs 800 crore, the survey by Assocham said.

"Besides changing lifestyle and drinking habits, favourable government policies, rising disposable income and growth in tourism sector are paving the way for growth of the industry," it said.

In volume terms, consumption of wine in the country is expected to grow by 35 per cent from 4.6 million litres in 2008 to 14.7 million litres in 2012, the survey added.

It said that Mumbai accounts for 30 per cent of the total consumption in India, followed by Delhi and Goa, contributing 20 per cent each, Bangalore 15 per cent and Punjab 5 per cent.

ADB funding $890 m hydropower and tourism projects in Himachal

SHIMLA, Mar 28: The Asian development is providing financial assistance to the tune of USD 890 million for hydropower development and creation of tourism infrastructure, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told the Assembly today.

Replying to a question of Gobind Thakur (BJP), he said that USD 800 million had been provided for hydropower projects while USD 95.16 million would be spent on creation of creating tourism infrastructure in the state. He said that two separate MOUs were signed for these projects with ADB during September 2008 and August 2010.
He said that eight-year multi-tranche were financing construction of four run-of-river hydropower projects namely Sawra Kuddu (111MW), Kashang I, II and III (195MW), Saiji Project (100MW)and Shongtong-Karcham(450MW) power projects with combined capacity of 808 MW.

He said that a MOU was signed on September 11, 2008 between ADB and Government of India for funding USD 800 million projects, which have been approved for Clean Envergy Development Investment Programme under CDM regime (Clean Development Mechanism). Dhumal said that total cost of four projects was estimated at USD 1,500 million and the funds meeting the investment gap would be raised from other financial Institutions and Government of Himachal Pradesh in the ratio of 16.7 per cent and 30 per cent respectively.

The multi-tranche financing facility allows ADB to engage the state government in a continuous long-term dialogue on its clean energy policies, besides providing multiple loans to support a range of projects under the state's clean energy development programme, he said.

He said that being a special category state the that funding would include 90 per cent grant from centre and 10 per cent loan. Chief Minister said that under infrastructure Development Investment programme for Tourism ADB approved USD 95.16 million (70 per cent assistance). The first phase of the project included development of parking lots, Tourists information centers, camping cites, treks, bird watching tower at Pong Dam and restoration of Masooor Temple.

Chief Minister said that five HEP namely Tidong, Kashang Stage IV, Gyspa, Renuka Dam and Chirgaon Majhgaon had also been proposed for funding by the state government for ADB assistance and were consideration of the Union Government and the ADB.

UBM acquires Indian travel tradeshow SATTE

NEW DELHI, March 26: United Business Media Limited announces that it has acquired SATTE, India’s largest travel and tourism exhibition. UBM has acquired the event on behalf of UBM Asia from Cross Section Publications Pvt Ltd.

Launched 17 years ago, SATTE takes place each January in New Delhi and is now India’s largest travel and tourism event. The show performed strongly in 2011 attracting approximately 600 exhibitors and 9,300 attendees from more than 40 countries. SATTE has progressively expanded beyond its original focus on inbound travel to India and now also supports the outbound market. This reflects the rapid rise of domestic Indian spending on international travel. The 2011 edition of SATTE took place on 27 January.

SATTE is supported by T3, a controlled circulation monthly publication with a circulation of around 10,000. T3 focuses on the travel industry in India and has become an official publication at many of India’s travel industry events. T3 contributed around 15% of the business’s $1.6m revenues in 2010. Completion of the acquisition of T3 is subject to Indian regulatory approval. Approval is expected to be granted by the end of April. As at 31 March 2010, SATTE’s gross assets were £630,000.

Navin Berry, SATTE’s founder, owner and publisher of Cross Section will remain with the business post-completion. In addition to Mr Berry, the business employs 12 staff in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. The acquisition is anticipated to exceed UBM's cost of capital criterion in its first full year of ownership.

Jime Essink, President & Chief Executive Officer of UBM Asia said: "The acquisition of SATTE brings us a leading position in India’s rapidly-growing travel and tourism industry and adds to our portfolio of tradeshows in India where we are already one of the country’s largest commercial event organisers. We are committed to continuing to invest in and expand our business in India, leveraging UBM’s existing worldwide interests in the travel and aviation markets.”

UBM Asia is the leading exhibition organizer in Asia, staging the leading events of their kind across the region. UBM Asia is the largest commercial exhibition organizer in China. In total, UBM Asia operates around 150 tradeshows and conferences, 34 publications and 14 vertical portal websites in 16 market sectors, serving more than a million exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world.

UBM Asia is headquartered in Hong Kong and employs more than 800 staff at its offices and in its subsidiaries located across Asia, from Japan to Turkey. UBM focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets.