FINAL_JANUARY-1ST-2016:TT Layout 1/4/2016 3:57 PM Page 1 Vol. XXVIII Issue 1; January 1st fortnight i ssue 2016 A DDP PUBLICATION Pages : 64+12 Pages Supplement ` 50/- ddppl.com TravTalkIndia.com FINAL_JANUARY-1ST-2016:TT Layout 1/4/2016 3:57 PM Page 2 FINAL_JANUARY-1ST-2016:TT Layout 1/4/2016 3:57 PM Page 3 JANUARY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2016 TRAVTALK 3 ddppl.com TravTalkIndia.com MOT’s focus on National Tourism Policy As the New Year begins with assurance of progress in the tourism sector, Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, gives a preview of what MOT has in store for 2016. gible changes that will that MOT will bring about sub- AHANA GURUNG enhance the overall focus of stantial changes in the tourism The new tourism policy and a 015 has been a chapter the industry. industry. “2016 will be the year different approach to publicity and of establishing and pro- where all the initiatives we social media will set into play. The 2moting growth in the Imparting the same mes- introduced in 2015 will come Indian tourism industry as sage, Suman Billa, Joint about in full swing,” he states. National Tourism Policy, most likely several initiatives were under- Secretary, Ministry of Tourism “Things such as the new to come into effect by early 2016, taken by the Ministry of says, “In a way, 2015 has tourism policy and a different Tourism, such as the develop- marked new beginnings for approach to publicity and will definitely change the face ment of the eTV, release of MOT–it was a build-up phase social media will set into play. of the Indian tourism industry. the National Tourism Policy where we put several plans in The National Tourism Policy, draft and formation of the play. It was a year where we most likely to come into effect Suman Billa Swadesh Darshan and consolidated and did a lot of by early 2016, will definitely Joint Secretary PRASAD schemes, among ground work for a number of change the face of the Indian Ministry of Tourism many others. Ushering in the initiatives to take off.” tourism industry.” New Year with gusto, the MOT Furthermore, he gives a pre- is all geared up to make tan- view of 2016 and expresses Contd. on page 10 Ushering a new era for tourism As we welcome the New TT BUREAU I believe there is significant Year, the travel industry scope for expansion of both We are expecting the number transport infrastructure and looks forward to a of passengers to increase man- the hotel and accommodation ifold this year and several sector, particularly outside significant upswing. reforms put in place by the major cities and in more finds out from tourism Indian government in 2015 to rural areas, which would further support and nurture the benefit from an increase of industry players about their growth of both domestic and tourism spending in the coming year. international airlines next year. expectations and plans for Rajan Dua Wolfgang Will Managing Director, Udaan the year 2016. Director - South Asia, Lufthansa Passenger Airlines Contd. on page 12 FINAL_JANUARY-1ST-2016:TT Layout 1/4/2016 3:57 PM Page 4 FINAL_JANUARY-1ST-2016:TT Layout 1/4/2016 3:57 PM Page 5 BULLETIN State roadshows needed: ADTOI The Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) recently held a meeting where insights were given about religious destinations like Anandpur Sahib and new-age accommodation concepts like BnBnation. A NUPRIYA B ISHNOI DTOI conducted its General We are planning to hold the convention by AHouse Meeting on third week of March. State tourism boards December 26 where the top agenda besides taking the asso- are coming forward to help us; we are just ciation forward, was to have trying to narrow down on that and decide informative sessions and pre- sentations for the members. where to hold the convention. Jyoti Kapoor, President, ADTOI said, “The main agenda was to Jyoti Kapoor have sessions and presenta- President, ADTOI tions. We had a session on the Service Tax levied by the government. Also, there was a presentation on Anandpur Sahib boards are coming forward to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh tourism is the backbone of our where members were shown help us; we are just trying to and J&K. In fact these country but we need to regu- how culturally rich the place is. narrow down on that and decide states want to host us. But we late it and we need to have Then we had a presentation on where to hold the convention. are just waiting for the dates to state tourisms to organise BnBnation which is a new age But by January 7 or 10, we get finalised.” mega roadshows because accommodation in India.” should be able to finalise the they have to create a visibility. venue and the date.” He believes that state Domestic tourism still needs to Also the ADTOI tourism boards should promote be branded because Incredible Convention is in the offing. According to Kapoor themselves more to have more India doesn’t talk about Kapoor said, “We are planning state tourism boards have visibility. Kapoor believes that domestic tourism. I believe to hold the convention by third been helpful. He said, “We are domestic tourism is moving for- Incredible India should be pro- week of March. State tourism working with Punjab, ward. He said, “Domestic moted within India.” FINAL_JANUARY-1ST-2016:TT Layout 1/4/2016 3:57 PM Page 6 STATISTICS Over 15% growth in domestic air traffic In 2014-15, air passenger traffic in India registered a robust growth compared to previous year. While the domestic passenger traffic registered a growth VIEWPOINT of 15.52 per cent, international passenger traffic witnessed a growth of To a great 2016 6.15 per cent during the same period. Market Share (%) in terms of Domestic Market Share(%) in he National Tourism Policy, likely to be domestic market demand (RPK) terms of passengers carried Tout in June 2016, is the most-awaited development of the year. eTV led to easing of the visa regime to a Indigo IndiGo 3.6 9.4 great extent as FTAs from January to 15.3 Air India Jet Airways 0.8 16.9 15.4 4.4 1.0 November, 2015, stood at 7.10 million. The 15.5 Jet Airways Air India 9.3 0.3 0.4 growth for many businesses has come from 1.3 SpiceJet SpiceJet 17.3 0.2 18.0 1.8 0.3 the domestic segment. A further rise in Go Air Go Air domestic tourists is expected in 2016. Betting 37.5 JetLite 34.2 Jetlite big on this segment, many State Tourism Air Costa Air Costa Boards are upping their act. They are investing in modern structure and offer a combo of Alliance Air Alliance historic and state-of the-art venues and hotels. Air India Express Air India Express Outbound travel will also increase considerably as many countries are targeting In the year 2014-15 in terms of passenger carried, IndiGo had maximum market share followed by Jet Airways, Air India and SpiceJet. India. Trends for 2016 show that the youth, the Millennials, are keen on travel. Many airports will be upgraded as new airlines will be granted permits to operate from several Indian cities. Though the implementation of Goods & In terms of Passenger Load Factor (PLF), a measure of Service Tax (GST) will remove multiple capacity utilisation of taxation and bring ease of doing business, airlines, SpiceJet registered everyone is a bit sceptical about the rate at the highest PLF of 81.8 per which it will be capped. In addition, these tax cent followed by JetLite rates tend to vary across different states in the (80.1 per cent), IndiGo country. This is affecting the growth of the (79.4 per cent), and GoAir industry in India and India is losing out to other (79.1 per cent). low-cost destinations. GST will offer reprieve to a highly-taxed tourism industry, provided it is capped at a lower rate. After Marriott International bought Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Market share (%) of top 15 scheduled recently, AccorHotels acquired FRHI Holdings operators-International operations, 2014-115 Ltd (FRHI), parent company of Fairmont, Raffles, and Swissôtel chains, consolidating Jet Airways 14.47 the fact that mergers and acquisitions are the Air India 11.93 way forward in the New Year. Out of total 75 scheduled international Operators, 6 Emirates 11.39 The industry must focus on sustainability airlines accounted for 50 per cent of International practices in the wake of the havoc Air India Express 5.23 Passenger traffic. Jet Airways had the maximum share wreaked by the rain and floods in Chennai. A Qatar Airways 4.05 followed by Air India, Emirates, Air India Express, Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria Air Arabia 3.82 Qatar Airways and Air Arabia. for India (STCI) for three major segments of Etihad Airways 3.45 More than half of the traffic to and from India is tourism industry has been launched by the IndiGo 3.18 accounted for by the countries in the Africa & Ministry of Tourism (MOT). The tour operators Saudi Arabian Airlines 3.10 Middle East. approved by Ministry of Tourism have to sign Oman Airlines 2.72 a pledge for commitment towards Safe and The domestic passenger traffic registered a growth of Honourable Tourism and Sustainable Tourism Sri Lankan Airlines 2.68 12.03% (CAGR) over the period from 2005-06 to to fully implement sustainable tourism Singapore Airlines 2.63 2014-15 while International passenger traffic grew at practices.