Maldives Anantara presents luxurious wellness holiday

While being in a world away from home, put yourself on a path of wellness. Anantara Resorts in the Maldives is inviting guests to promote health and holistic wellbeing with a collection of resort events and activities.

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travelers. Anantara invites guests to embrace health and wellness as an integral element of their luxury holiday with its 2016 Balance series of resort-based events and activities in the Maldives. Anantara’s innovative wellness concept, ‘Balance’, offers total flexibility along with the freedom to relax and indulge to suit each guest’s personal preferences and time, complemented by Anantara Spa’s award-winning expertise.

‘Balance’ will enable you to start the year with a wellness boost that transforms into long-term lifestyle changes, as per the Healthy New You 2016 resolution. Guests can book private consultations and treatments with visiting practitioners, throughout the year. Besides this they can indulge in healthy cooking classes and incorporate juicing into their diet.  Also with Anantara’s complimentary gym kit service there is no excuse for idleness.

De-stress yourself with Carina Lindstrom

Here is a chance to de-stress and prepare yourself to be more mindful for the year ahead. Embark on the journey with Intuitive Healer, Carina Lindstrom as she takes residency at Anantara Dhigu Resort and Anantara Kihavah Villas offering subtle energy healing modalities, both ancient and modern.

Carla’s signature treatments methods which include Deep Relax Body & Mind, Slow brain wave movements and a combination of energy and intuitive healing will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated. Deep Relax Body & Mind is a powerful but light touch technique that allows the mind to settle into a deep relaxed Theta state. Whereas slow brain wave movements and a combination of energy and intuitive healing lead to improved clarity of mind and mind-body connection that can empower you to see your life differently and create a healthier view of your life, body and changes you can make.

Carina Lindstrom will be at Anantara Dhigu Resort from January 22 to February 23, and Anantara Kihavah Villas from February 23 to March 22.

Revitalize your body with Toby Maguire

A wealth of powerful natural benefits through ancient Eastern practices awaits you. Corporate Wellness Trainer and Natural Health Consultant, Toby Maguire will treat you with Eastern healing arts to create a healthier lifestyle and more positive way of thinking, to revitalize your energy levels or to let go of stress.

Toby Maguire has been treating clients with Eastern healing arts for nearly 20 years and has spent 13 years living and studying holistic modalities in South East Asia. He has worked with Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists, premier league football players and members of the England rugby team.

Toby uses a combination of acupuncture, massage, hypnotherapy, meditation, nutritional advice or life coaching to bring the body and mind back into balance.

Toby Maguire will be at Anantara Dhigu Resort, Maldives from March 16 to April 13, and Anantara Kihavah Villas from April 13 to April 28.

Lifestyle Health Retreats

Deepen your yoga and fitness regimes with the daily activities on Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli’s pristine sands and turquoise waters with Yoga Retreats from April 15 to April 22and Fitness & Weight Loss Retreats from May 20 to May 27.

Based in Thailand, the Lifestyle Health Retreat’s innovative programs combine three key, proven elements: diet and nutrition, fitness and yoga, massage and relaxation. Revitalize your body, empower your mind and uplift your spirit. Take part in the fitness program and return home looking and feeling better than ever.

Everyday Balance Wellness & Nutrition

Anantara is encouraging guests to make the most of their health-related facilities and initiatives by providing them complimentary work-out clothes and a daily laundry service. Pick up your Kit Concierge work-out clothes from the resort spa at Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli.

These are your possessions for the duration of your stay so that you can take advantage of the fully-equipped Fitness Centers and Anantara’s comprehensive program of activities. Under Balance Wellness take pleasure in a wide range of activities including morning Yoga, afternoon meditation, evening work-outs or simply power walking the beaches circumnavigating the island. So what are you waiting for pack your work-out shoes and leave for Anantara. Alternatively, at Anantara Kihavah Villas, pack only your fitness clothes and hire your running shoes at the gym.

Food delicacies

Choose any Anantara resort in the Maldives and start the day with healthy breakfast choices and a host of nutritious Balance Wellness juices. Anantara’s Spice Spoons cooking classes is especially dedicated to healthy food fanatics who can learn a range of Japanese detox recipes and healthy cooking techniques from our expert Chefs sharing their practical and delicious ways to eat clean.

To select your Anantara Maldives resort of choice and book your Balance Wellness activities while staying in the resort, visit their website www.anantara.com

Madhvani Group to invest INR 560 crore in India

According to a report in the Business Standard, Madhvani Group, one of the largest diversified private-sector groups in East Africa, plans to invest around INR 560 crore to open seven hotels targeting religious tourism in India. Going forward, it will also look at listing its hotel business in India.  Each property will have about 100-120 keys and will attract an investment of around INR 75-80 crore, said Roni Madhvani, Director, Madhvani Group. Recently Madhvani Group, had inaugurated a new property, which will be managed by Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, at the temple town of Tirupati. The Group is also looking at destinations which include Rishikesh, Shirdi, Purvi, Varanasi, Uttarakhand and others.

Dubai hosting mega yoga festival

Dubai is reportedly expecting over 10,000 people from various parts of the world to participate in mass yoga sessions in a two-day all-inclusive XYoga Dubai Festival on February 19 and 20.

Powered by XDubai and Dubai Tourism and dubbed as festival of the body and the mind, this open to the public free event, claimed to be the first lifestyle event and largest yoga event of its kind in the region, will be held at the Burj Park Downtown Dubai in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa, reports suggest.

According to reports, it will offer series of yoga sessions, workshops, meditation and talks from sunrise to sunset for people of all ages and abilities and shall be lead by globally-recognized yogis and will be an annual feature. Aim of this festival, which is anticipated as the largest mind-body festival in the region, is described as positioning Dubai as the leading destination for yoga in the region. XYoga Dubai also plans to hold other yoga events year round.

According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to an estimate, about 21 million Americans, including many celebrities, now practice yoga. Yoga is the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche.

Sikkim declared as the first organic state of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling visiting an organic products' exhibition in Gangtok

Sikkim was declared as the first organic state by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He made this declaration while inaugurating a National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in Gangtok, Sikkim. The Prime Minister handed over to the Chief Minister of Sikkim two commendations for its journey towards total organic farming. He also handed over commendations for two districts of Sikkim for achieving 100 percent coverage of soil health cards.  The Prime Minister described Sikkim as an example of resolve despite difficulties and struggle, towards organic agriculture. The whole world had recognised this effort of the farmers of Sikkim, he said. He said the winds of this organic effort would now spread across the country.  During the conference, a report on ‘Indian Organic Sector Vision 2025’ was presented by Association of Indian Organic Industry (AIOI), the apex body for organic food producers in India. Raj Seelam, Founder, 24 Mantra Organic, India’s leading organic food brand, in his capacity as the Chairman of the AIOI was instrumental in shaping the report .  24 Mantra today helps cultivate more than 1.5 lakh acres across the country through organic methods. The company also helps the farmers further achieve organic certifications and consistent quality for their produce and empowers the farmers to take advantage of the market linkages created by the company. 24 Mantra Organic has played a significant role to propagate the philosophy of sustainable farming to the remotest corners and is also working with the Governments of Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh to spur the growth of the industry.

Rajasthan unveils new tourism promotion campaign; aims to Double FTAs by 2020

Hawa Mahal The Government of Rajasthan launched Rajasthan Tourism 3.0 campaign, a multi-year, multi-modal, multi-narrative and multi-crore global campaign, to galvanise tourism in the state with a view to raise the annual tourist arrivals past the 50 million mark by 2020. The campaign aims of doubling the annual footfall of international tourists from 1.5 million to 3.0 million by the year 2020. In the same period, the Government also focuses to increase the domestic tourist traffic from the present 33 million to 50 million tourists annually.  Unveiling the campaign before a gathering of eminent stakeholders, including leaders from across the tourism sector, Vasundhara Raje, CM, Rajasthan said, “Tourism is the world's biggest industry and Rajasthan with its rich heritage is poised to fully exploit the opportunities the state offers. Our plan for tourism is nested within the broader Rajasthan model of development, which has three pillars – job creation, social justice and effective governance.”  The campaign also includes a new website and an advertisement Print, TV and Outdoor spots which are aimed at attracting both the seasoned traveller and the youth to explore Rajasthan in a whole new way. Ogilvy & Mather would be the creative partner for the Rajasthan Tourism 3.0 campaign. Rajasthan Tourism aim to implement an integrated plan that revolves around experience, infrastructure, cleanliness, security and marketing. The campaign also focuses on highlighting Rajasthan as a favoured tourism destination not just during peak periods but throughout the year. This campaign will also spread awareness about the lesser known destinations that the state has to offer. In the least two years the Government of Rajasthan has focused on strengthening the tourism infrastructure – not only through upgrading existing circuits but also by developing new circuits. Ahead of the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit held in Jaipur on November 19-20, 2015, Raje had launched a tourism unit policy which attempts to remove difficulties in setting up hospitality units, especially in rural areas. The state also inked 139 MoUs with an estimated investment of INR 6277 crores in the hospitality sector alone. These projects are expected to provide employment to about 20,000 youth.  “The scope for expansion of the tourism industry in India and specially Rajasthan is significant. Rajasthan with its rich heritage has enormous potential to attract travelers from across the globe and also create value for investors in the state.”  Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture, said The launch of a new tourism campaign is in line with the state’s efforts to provide a further boost to the sector and attract more tourists to the state. To achieve this, the state reinvigorated our world famous festivals through PPP model. These include the Pushkar Fair, Desert Festival and Kumbalgarh Festival. New events like the Bhakti Music Festival, Coke Studio, International Photo Fest and International Music Festival have also been added to the annual calendar.  “Global trends indicate that Asia Pacific’s share in global tourist traffic will rise from 22% to 30% in the next 10-15 years. Through our campaign, we aim to attract these travellers to India and especially to Rajasthan. Even a small rise in this traffic to the State will create tremendous opportunities for our state and its tourism industry.”  Shailendra Agrawal, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Art & Culture, Archeology & Museums, Government of Rajasthan said.

Georgia’s “No entry” to tourists with long beard

Tourists are miffed with Georgian officials after they were denied entry to the country. Though the Georgian embassy has not given any clarification to the tourist, the annoyed tourists are of the opinion that they had to face this injustice because of their beard and nationality.

Recently a banker family from Dubai was denied entry to Georgia. Faizan Hassan, a Pakistani HR manager at a UAE bank in Dubai, said he, his wife and two sons (aged six months and five years), flew from Dubai to the Georgian capital Tbilisi on December 18 for a winter holiday on a Fly Dubai flight. Upon arrival the family was treated rudely by officials in Tbilisi and was refused entry without an explanation.

However, an official at the Georgian embassy in Kuwait, which is accredited to the UAE, denied the claims and told a UAE newspaper by phone that “an explanation is provided to those denied entry”. “All persons traveling to Georgia may or may not be allowed entry, as per the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” he added.

Hassan, who said he was born and brought up in the UAE, added that there were three other families of Pakistani and Syrian nationality who experienced the same. Hassan emailed a complaint to the Georgian embassy in Kuwait on December 19 but has not received a response yet.

However an official from the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) has replied to his email to GNTA, apologizing that their trip “was ruined”.

This is not the first time that such an incident has been reported. Earlier in October, an Indian chartered accountant who lives in Ajman, Jainulabedin Hakimji, said that he was denied entry without an explanation. He believes the reason for his baring was because of his long beard, as his clean-shaven friend who was with him was allowed in.

Asia‘s largest Visa Application Center opens in New Delhi

New Delhi has a new accomplishment in its kitty to be proud of. The VFS Global on Dec 2 opened its largest Visa Application Center in Asia, at Connaught Place which is in the heart of the city.

With more than 12,000 applications to handle a day, the center has 153 counters and is spread over 67,000 sq feet at the Shivaji Stadium Metro Station. The new center is sure to improve the travel experience by creating a hassle-free environment. Taking into consideration the easiness of the travelers the center has also included a kids-area and a cafeteria.

VFS Global caters to 35 countries in India, of which 31 will be served by the new center, whereas the other four will be served from other locations. The opening of the new center was attended by diplomats from the 31 client governments served by the VFS Global, which is pioneer in the field of such visa application centers.

Abu Dhabi to Manila, now another three times a week

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will add three new weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Manila from May 1, 2016, offering a total of 17 return flights per week. All 17 weekly flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 777-300ER with 28 seats in Business and 384 in Economy.

The new services will increase capacity between the two cities by almost 2,500 seats per week enabling Etihad Airways to better serve the market in the UAE and the Philippines for point-to-point travel. The Abu Dhabi-Manila route is one of our strongest in terms of demand and has been capacity-constrained over the past few years.

The enhanced flight schedule also provides seamless connectivity over the Abu Dhabi hub; 1085 weekly connections to 58 destinations on the airline’s global network. This includes connections to Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh which are in the top 10 destinations for travellers to and from the Philippines.

Mr Hogan said the extra capacity would also enable Etihad Airways and its partner airlines in Europe to grow the business and leisure travel market from the UAE and countries such as the UK, France, and Italy.

The additional frequency is also expected to boost commerce and trade between the UAE and the Philippines. With a belly hold capacity of 18 tonnes, the B777-300ER offers the airline and its freight customers a significant opportunity to grow the export/import business, particularly in the area of electronics and fresh food.

Codeshare partner airline, Philippine Airlines places its PR code on the current 14 weekly flights Abu Dhabi-Manila operated by Etihad Airways. From 1 May 2016, the partner airlines will offer a combined total of 22 weekly flights between Manila and Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways commenced services to the Philippines in February 2006.

Luxury cruiser of the Nile

Luxury Nile Cruiser, ‘The Oberoi Philae’ will sail between Aswan and Luxor, offering a four and six night itinerary to the travelers, announced Oberoi Group.

Another luxury cruiser, ‘The Oberoi Zahra’, already operated by the Group will increase its presence on the Nile along with ‘The Oberoi Philae’. Besides adding to the luxury provided by ‘The Oberoi Zahra’, ‘The Oberoi Philae’ will offer guest’s unrivaled views of the River Nile, as they experience the legendary Oberoi service and explore 5,000 years of Egyptian culture.

The Oberoi Group, Executive Chairman, Mr. P.R.S. Oberoi said, "We are pleased to present The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser which offers the highest standards of luxury and hospitality. The Oberoi Group has been consistently recognized as amongst the best in the world, and I am confident that The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser will continue this tradition and offer travelers an unparalleled experience on the Nile".

Mr. Mahmoud Nourelden , Boat Manager, The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser added, "The luxury Nile cruiser will offer the discerning traveler an oasis of tranquility with service which is warm, intuitive and personalised. We are confident that the cruiser will add tangible value to the hospitality sector in the Egypt.”

Dubai’s Safari Park to open by mid 2016

With a whooping cost of Dh150 million, Dubai’s new zoo with Safari Park is expected to open by mid 2016. Covering a total area of 119 hectares, the new zoo will be home to almost 1,000 animals from around the world. The zoo will also feature more than 350 species of rare and endangered animals.

The Safari Park has been designed to be environmental friendly and will use solar energy. It will absorb sunlight, which will then be converted into conventional electricity during night time. A hybrid operational system will be used to run the irrigation network, which includes water recycling, waste disposal and other recycling facilities.

The cages have been customized to suit the local climate, and the animals will be comfortable and taken care of, as each cage will be temperature-controlled. The cages have been designed to use simple, water-cooled greenhouse technology.

The main attraction of the new zoo is that it comprises of several themed areas, including Arabian, Asian and African villages. Nearly 100 different kinds of plants will adorn the zoo, each related to the area’s theme, with over 2,500 trees.

In addition to restaurants and a food court, other attractions include an amateur golf course, a botanical garden and a butterfly garden. There will initially be 1,600 parking spaces over two designated areas, while further down the line, the municipality intends to expand it to 3,600 parking spaces over 9.4 hectares.

“The Village Safari area is almost complete, which will house the animals. The recreational areas providing umbrellas for visitors, and the cages for animals, have already been set up. We are now putting the finishing touches to the main building, as well as to the landscaping that will feature rocks, water and greenery,” said Eng Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.

The plans for opening a new zoo to replace the current 1.5 hectare zoo at Jumeirah Road have been in the pipeline for nearly a decade. However the construction on the project started taking shape from 2012. Once the project gets completed, the animals can be relocated to their new home at Al Warqa opposite Dragon Mart.

Taking a photo can be a crime in Dubai

The selfie lovers visiting Dubai should take a look at the new law in the United Arab Emirates according to which one can be arrested, imprisoned and deported for taking photographs without the consent of those shown. This cybercrime law not only applies to tourists alone, but also to locals and residents.

Recently two young men were arrested after they took selfie in front of a New Year's Eve hotel fire. The 63-story Address Downtown luxury hotel caught fire just before a fireworks display at the nearby Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The hotel burned through the fireworks display and into the New Year.

However the United Arab Emirates said it has released the two young men after investigators found "no evidence of criminal intent."

Jetwing Hotels supports Galle Literary Festival for 10th year

After a break of three years, the Galle Literary Festival was hosted in the historical city of Galle from January 13-17. In the five-day festival Jetwing Hotels featured as the hospitality partner as usual. It is a partnership that has spanned over 10 years, since the festival’s inception. Jetwing Lighthouse, Jetwing Kurulubedda, Galle Heritage Villa by Jetwing and Landesi by Jetwing were home to an eclectic set of workshops and events.

In addition to some exclusive events the Jetwing properties in Galle hosted exciting workshops by renowned personalities Padma Viswanathan, Shyam Selvadurai, William Sieghart, and Sebastian Faulks.

 The events included a literary lunch hosted by Mark Tully at Jetwing Kurulubedda (January 14), a cookery class and lunch with the Pourcel twins from France at Landesi by Jetwing (January 15), who will wrap up their visit to Sri Lanka with an intimate six course dinner at Jetwing Lighthouse (January 16) featuring five wines from Pierre Rougon, flown in specially for the evening in association with the Embassy of France and SriLankan Airlines.

Jetwing Lighthouse turned the venue for the grand finale on January 17. The event came to a close with the Grand Finale lunch and inauguration of the Edward Lear Prize for Poetry after sessions which included David Lough on Churchill and His Money, Sebastian Faulks on his French Trilogy.

“When we opened Jetwing Lighthouse over 15 years ago, we did so to transform the city of Galle and by extension the South of Sri Lanka into a destination filled with history, steeped in culture, and above all one of adventure and character. The hotel has since then become a pillar of the city’s Renaissance, and so has the Galle Literary Festival – the event itself has changed the city, the country, and the lives of those who are creatively inspired.” said the Chairman of Jetwing, Hiran Cooray.

Jetwing Hotels which has been in the tourism industry for the past 43 years is acknowledged for exhibiting traditional Sri Lankan hospitality. Considered a priority, sustainable and responsible practice is implemented through the award winning Jetwing Eternal Earth Program; with energy efficiency, community upliftment, and education of earth saving measures to schoolchildren being a few tenets of the Program.

Visit Maldives Year 2016

The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation together with Ministry of Tourism instigated the Visit Maldives Year 2016 campaign on 1^st January 2016 by welcoming the very first tourist to visit the country of the new celebratory year.

The Acting Managing Director of MMPRC, Haris Mohamed gifted a free holiday from Outrigger Konotta to Kate Holmes from United Kingdom, in an event organised to honor and mark the first arrival of a tourist in Maldives. A special stamp of the celebratory year was also launched in the event. As an indication of the special campaign it will be stamped on all the passports along with the arrival stamp throughout 2016.

The first tourist received a grand welcome as he was accompanied with boduberu and dancers to the VIP arrival hall. The staffs of MMPRC and MOT were dressed in traditional Maldivian dresses and the event exhibited Maldivian tradition and uniqueness. The tourism industry also plans to celebrate the arrival of the 500,000^th visitor of this year.

Visit Maldives Years 2016 is a yearlong campaign aimed to strengthen and heighten the country as a tourist destination. The nationwide campaign will be celebrated in many colorful events. The competitions and attractive prizes are aimed to create a hype to visit Maldives and experience the sunny side of life.

New Hyatt-branded hotel officially opens in Goa

Intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities are the specifications of the Hyatt Place/Candolim which is the newest Hyatt-branded hotel to officially open in Goa, India. After Hyatt Place Hampi, Hyatt Place Pune/Hinjewadi and Hyatt Place Gurgaon/Udyog Vihar, this one is the new addition.

Hyatt Place Goa 

Located in the heart of North Goa, the new Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim is less than 22 miles (36 kilometers) from Goa’s Dabolim Airport and 12 miles (21 kilometers) from Thivim Railway Station. The proximity to the state’s beaches, like Candolim Beach, Calangute Beach and Fort Aguada, as well as popular nightlife destinations will be an added advantage.

 “The opening of Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim is a significant milestone for the Hyatt Place brand as it continues to expand in India and across the globe,” said Kurt Straub, Hyatt’s vice president of operations, India. “Goa’s first Hyatt Place hotel will be a vibrant and dynamic hotel that combines comfort and style that fits right into the region’s holiday capital.”

India offers adventure tourism

The 12th annual convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) will be held from February 12^th to 14^th in Madhya Pradesh, at Hanumantiya, on the banks of Indira Sagar Dam. The theme of the convention is Adventure Travel - Changing Dynamics.

Convention Chairman Tejbir Anand who is a former president of ATOAI said that the meeting will have brainstorming sessions and activities for active tour operators. The convention will help the delegates as to how they can make themselves compatible in adventure tourism in changing times.

In recent years India has given a lot of importance to adventure tourism and has been offering attractive options to travelers from within the country as well as from abroad.

India establishing world-class motoring tourism

By spreading awareness both inside and outside the country, India is trying to establish itself as a world-class motoring tourism destination. 

The founder of 21 Gun Salute Vintage Car Rally, Madan Mohan’s vision will become reality when the 6th edition of the rally will be held in Delhi on February 6 and 7. The historic Red Fort in Delhi will witness the opening event. A cultural fiesta with music and dance will be held in which different states and countries will take part. Assorted corporate, tourists and others will come to see and take part in the two-day rally.

With classic vintage cars and motorbikes coming to the Indian capital for the event, the rally is attracting participation from several countries across the globe. The car rally will be held at the Buddh International F1 Track in Greater Noida on February 7.

Madan Mohan is a big name in the transport sector and runs a unique restaurant in Gurgaon, the 21 Gun Salute, which is an attraction by itself.

House boats are ready in Pondicherry

For the first time in the history of Pondicherry tourism, government is going to introduce house boat services. A joint venture between Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation Limited and the Mantra House Boat Pvt. Ltd. had entered into an agreement to construct a House Boat at Chunnambar Boat House.The House Boat is nearing completion and it will be inaugurated by the  chief minister  on 28-01-2016. The entire expenditure to build the House Boat rest on Mantra House Boat Ltd. and the Corporation has allowed the firm to utilise its shore for building House Boat and allotted 2400 sq. feet of land for constructing hut like structure for the usage of tourists who like to travel in the House Boat.

The House Boat consists of two decks.  In the lower deck, there are three A.C rooms attached with rest room, a dining hall, a kitchen existing. In the upper deck, sufficient space provided for conducting mini conference, recreational events, etc.  Apart from that, the House Boat is equipped with TV, Music Player, sophisticated furniture for the benefit of travelers. The vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes will be prepared and served immediately on demand.

The journey will start at 11.00 a.m. from the main land of Chunnambar Boat House and the passengers will be served with either tea or fruit juice on deck.The House Boat will reach Paradise Island by 12.00 noon.There, passenger can ordered for the vegetarian or non-vegetarian food. Both will be prepared by eminent chefs and supplied immediately.  After lunch, passengers can go to Paradise Island for time pass or they can take nap in their room comfortably.By 3.00, the boat will continue its journey and this time, tourists can enjoy the natural beauty coincide with the riches of coconut grooves. By 6.00 in the evening, the boat will be anchored and the passengers have to spend their night in the house boat.  They can wait TV, hearing music, playing games among themselves. They can sleep at ease throughout the night.  In the next day morning, they can witness the sun rising and the break-fast will be served on deck. The House Boat will slowly start the return journey and reach the alighting point by 10.30 a.m. For safety measures, the House Boat is fitted with fire-fighting equipment and sufficient number of life jackets.  Further, medical facilities and expert swimmers are also made available. The ticket rate is Rs.10,000/- per room for two persons including food.  

Goa Carnival in Feb

Goa Tourism is hoping to host around four lakh tourists for this year’s Goa Carnival slated for February 6 to 9, in Goa. The main float parade, the key attraction of the Carnival, will be held in the capital city, Panjim, on February 6 and will travel to other cities of Margao (Feb. 7); Vasco (Feb. 8) before concluding at Mapusa on February 9.  For the first time, Goa Tourism has joined hands with European Commission’s Cultural Exchange programme in Goa carnival, which will go on for three years.This will help artists among the three Carnivals of Asia (Goa); Europe (Liverpool) and Africa (South Africa) to learn and adopt unique aspects of these carnivals among themselves. European Commission funded Cultural Exchange programme Goa Tourism is also organising the annual Grape Escapade, the largest wine festival in the country, between February 4 and 7along with the Goa carnival. Going into its 11th edition, Grape Escapade will be held at DB Bandodkar Grounds, Panjim. Goa Tourism is expecting about 2 lakh people to visit the Wine Festival. There will be wineries from Australia, South Africa, besides domestic Indian wineries participating in the four-day festival.  Grape Escapade is one of the most vibrant wine festivals in the country. There will be wine tasting sessions, grape stomping, fashion shows, live entertainment, etc. alongside the festival.

Ministry of Tourism plans to offer pre-loaded SIM cards to Intl Tourists on arrival

Tourist info line services in 12 foreign languages will begin from January 26 In order to provide convenient communication access to international tourists arriving in India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is planning to offer a pre-loaded local SIM Card to foreign tourists along with the Incredible welcome kit. This will avoid the usual delay of getting a new SIM card and getting it activated. Tourists can use the SIM through their stay in India. A formal decision in this regard is believed to have arrived at during a meeting of the Union Ministers for Telecommunication, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Union Minister for Tourism, Dr Mahesh Sharma. ,  The Minister said that the Tourist info line services in 12 foreign languages will begin from January 26, 2016. All information required by foreign tourists will be made available in the language they want through this info line service.

Go tenna !

Don’t worry if you get lost in a place where there is no network available on your mobile.  goTenna, a new device, will help you enable to use your smart phone to text & share locations at at a time when your mobile phone doesn’t receive a single bar of mobile service. The device with a six-inch antenna that can be paired with your phone through a Bluetooth connection turn your smart phone into a two-way radio.

goTenna is a cognitive digital radio combined with an app that generates its own signal and automatically coordinates with other units within range. You can chat 1-to-1, with a group, or even broadcast openly to anyone nearby. The range of the reception varies from nine miles if you are deep in a valley to 50 miles if you are on a peak. The text messages exchanged between two parties are completely private and they can be set up to be erased once they are read. Current market price is $ 199.99.

Kochi to feature in Cruise Tourism Map

If all goes well, then Kochi, the most sought-after port in India for international cruise lines, will be included in the coastal tourism circuit, along with Mumbai and Goa by the Central Government.

The Cochin Port Trust’s offers which includes a host of amenities such as walk-in-berthing, sufficient draft, bunkering and freshwater services has all added to the advantage of cruise tourism. The Port Trust has also constructed a cruise passenger felicitation terminal named Samudrika, near the Mattancherry wharf to facilitate statutory procedures such as Customs and Immigration clearance for passengers.

The proximity to heritage sites and the State’s major tourist destinations is another pulse point. Besides, the city has shopping malls of international standards, facilitating shopping of handicrafts, oriental clothing, spices and antiques.

Earlier, the Cochin Port set a new record in cruise ship handling by playing host to 43 vessels between April 2007 and March 2008, pushing Mumbai and Goa far behind.

India ranks first in Uzbekistan tourism market

Uzbekistan, a central Asian country, is directing its efforts to lure in more Indian tourists. Uzbekistan Airways, along with Aeeroworld Aviation, has been actively involved in promoting the destination through roadshows across India.

During their recent promotional event Uzbekistan Airways, which currently operates flights only from Delhi and Amritsar, has revealed its plan to connect Mumbai with Uzbekistan with flights from Taskent to Mumbai. Uzbekistan’s location has been one of the most stressed factors, which facilitates combined tours to Central Asia and Russia, bringing more tourists to the country.

While speaking to the media, tourism division chief of Uzbekistan Airways, Rustam Kurganbaev said, “With more than 25,000 Indian tourists visiting Uzbekistan each year, India ranks first in Uzbekistan tourism market.”

During the event, Kurganbaev also highlighted Uzbekistan’s cultural, historical and heritage attractions, along with nature and adventure activities.

Eco-tourism complex at Devkund

Tourists visiting Devkund tourist site, in Odisha can now be happy as an eco-friendly tourism complex has started to function there. Mayurbhanj District Collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil inaugurated the eco-tourism complex planned with a budgetary outlay of Rs 30 lakh.

Two permanent eateries and sale of local handicrafts along with four green toilets and water supply are the new attractions of the tourist spots located at a distance of 60 km from the district headquarters town of Baripada.

Apart from this the site was beautified with installation of stone statues and the local residents were trained to manage the activities under supervision of the forest department. A picnic spot and paid toilet complex would soon come up as up-gradation of facilities for the tourists.

Located at the foothills of the Similipal sanctuary, Devkund attracts a large number of tourists to the pristine beauty of forests and its alluring 60 m high waterfall.

Kerala to attract US tourists

A delegation led by Kerala tourism minister A P Anil Kumar held roadshows in California and participated in the New York Times Travel Fair. For the one week journey which started on 7^th January, he was accompanied by a delegation comprising of chief secretary Jiji Thomson, tourism secretary G. Kamalavardhana Rao and 10 industry stakeholders, in an effort to boost tourism to the state, and also attract investment.

Kerala’s choice destinations and tourism products was showcased and investment opportunities were presented to CEOs of selected multi-national companies at Silicon Valley Corporation.

In 2014, Kerala attracted 77,616 U.S. visitors from the US, which was followed by United Kingdom, France and Germany. It was 8.41 per cent of the total foreign tourist arrivals.

In the same year, tourist arrivals from the United States to India were 11,18,983 and the share of 14.57 per cent was the highest among the 10 top source countries of foreign tourist arrivals.

INTERNATIONAL DE VICTORIA

Seychelles Tourism Board has informed that Carnaval International de Victoria, considered as the carnival of carnivals, will be held from 22nd to 24th April. The event is notable to bind together different cultures and people from around the world under an umbrella.

The carnival is known to be the biggest cultural manifestation in Seychelles, bringing together the best carnivals of the world to its shores. The list includes some of the most prestigious festivals including the Brazilian group, the Notting Hill Carnival Roadshow Company of the UK, Düsseldorf carnival of Germany, the Italy Carnival and the Indonesian Carnival.

The Seychelles Carnaval continues to establish a close correlation between carnival attractions that bring together the arts, culture, history and heritage of Seychelles as it works in tandem with other countries that are proud of their own culture to showcase to the world.

Cultural Troupes from the Community of Nations have also descended on the islands to parade alongside with delegations of the best carnivals of the world. The carnival celebrated its fifth anniversary last year and the three-day event was attended by top international dignitaries.

MP develops Hanuwantiya Island to promote water tourism

Narmada River

Madhya Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation (MPTDC) has developed Hanuwantiya Island, a tourism destination to promote water tourism in the state. The island is located in the reservoir of Indira Sagar Dam on river Narmada. It has 10 cottages for tourists. One cruise and two motorboats are also arranged along with the water sports complex.

The tourism corporation has constructed a boat club and restaurant at Hanuwantiya with an investment of Rs 8 crore. 

MPTDC will organise a Water Festival at the island from February 12 to 21. For this, a tourism tent city with over 120 tents will be set up.

The festival is being organised at a grand-scale to promote water tourism in the state as desired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with his secretary and MPTDC Commissioner H R Rao personally monitoring the preparations.

MPTDC has also decided to conduct a 10 day water fest as a part of promotional program of state water tourism. The fest named ‘Jal Mahotsava’ will be occurring in Hanuwantia Island in Indrasagar dam from February 12-21. Indrasagar dam is one of the biggest water bodies in the state. It has become even more beautiful with about 10 islands there.

Indra Sagar Dam

To mark the beginning, first three days will witness the national convention of adventure sports by Adventure Tour Operator Association of India. They will be organizing adventure water sports activities along with other adventure sports like trekking, mountain cycling etc. Island activities will include bird watching, treasure hunt, night camps, cultural activities, volley ball, tug of war, paragliding, hot air balloon, para motor, kite flying etc. Special cottages are already built in the island for the convenience of the tourists and instead of cabs and other transport, bullock carts will be available for roaming around nearby villages and tourist destinations.