Vol. XXVIII Issue 21; November 1st fortnight i ssue 2016 A DDP PUBLICATION Pages : 92 ` 50/- ddppl.com TravTalkIndia.com FINAL_TT_NOVEMBER-1ST_WTM-2016.indd 2 07-11-2016 12:02:09 Maya returnsAward to enthral Pix North India The 3rd edition of North India Travel Awards honoured excellence in the travel and tourism industry on October 21, 2016, at Hyatt Regency Gurgaon. The star-studded event was attended by the who’s who of the industry including Om Prakash Singh, Tourism Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Guest for the evening, along with Parvez Dewan, Advisor to the Governor of J&K; Dr. Jyotsna Suri, CMD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group; Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group; Sham Nijhawan, Chairman, Nijhawan Group; Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet; Guldeep Singh Sahni, Chairman of Weldon Group of Companies and President, OTOAI; Sarab Jit Singh, MD, Travellite, and Gladrags Mrs. India Dr. Tanushree Pandey. Speaking on the occasion, SanJeet, Mentor, India Travel Awards, said, “The awards are a true specimen of the contribution of various companies/ individuals to take the travel industry to greater heights. India Travel Awards will make a difference to the industry through recognition of regional talent and thereby raising the bar for the industry players.” MICE on MOT radar Vision for the industry To leverage MICE in India, the Ministry of Tourism With the Tourism Policy at a fairly advanced stage, has constituted an exclusive advisory body and Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, will also appoint professional consultants to study Government of India, says the ministry is also the market and chart out an action plan. forming an advisory committee. initiatives. While the initiatives TT BUREAU PEDEN DOMA BHUTIA are being undertaken and the ICE segment of travel We are going to have a beautiful pavilion, buzzing he Ministry of Tourism, MOT has been aggressively is the fastest grow- with different events andnd many states Government of India, promoting the country, every- Ming and high yielding which will be joining us.s. Being the Thas been working re- one in the industry is waiting segment of tourism which lentlessly to focus on improv- patiently for the Tourism Policy. can act as a means to tide partner country, we haveave certain ing the inbound figures for over the seasonality of the additional facilities and eeventsvents the country. Recently on the When asked about the status tourism industry, feels Vinod sidelines of Kerala Travel Mart, of the policy, Billa says, “The Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of allotted to us. We are tryingrying to Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Tourism Policy is at a fairly Tourism, Government of India. make the best use of it.t. Ministry of Tourism, talked advanced stage, it has been “India’s efforts in attracting big about the ministry’s various concurred to by all the min- conventions to its shores need Vinod Zutshiutshi to be re-imagined, moving Secretary, Ministry of Tourism,ism, away from the current model Suman Billa Government of Indiandia MOT’s plan for WTM Joint Secretary of supporting integrated Ministry of Tourism, Government of India operators to generate busi- Y Most of the states are participating and some of the states ness to more reserved are sending very high-powered delegation to WTM, some istries. It's been to the Prime oriented framework. In addi- of them being the chief ministers themselves. Minister's office and they've tion, pre-and post-leisure ac- Y A hall – Indian Exhibition Centre at the Reed Exhibition approved it too, now we are tivities need to be leveraged upcoming budget, MOT will crore in case of a project. It Centre – is going to be dedicated to India and India-based just waiting for the formal as a way of increasing the val- propose the constitution is unfortunate that not a sin- programmes for the three days of WTM. Some states will process of placing it before the ue of MICE tourism,” he says. of a corpus fund which would gle request was made for also be organising their events which will be supported by Cabinet for formal approval. help bring in big international this grant in my tenure of two the Ministry of Tourism. It’s a process determined by Initiatives conferences into India, in- years. The private stakehold- the cabinet it’s the preroga- The government offers formed Zutshi. “We have a Vi- ers have to realise that such Y A cultural programmes is being organised where India will tive of the Cabinet Secretary various revenue generat- ability Gap Funding Scheme schemes can be availed,” be showcased along with a few other countries. In terms on when he chooses to place ing schemes to help fund which allows us to grant 25 says Zutshi. of branding, a huge amount of work is going on in the it before them.” the bidding process for per cent of funding of the Greater London area. large conventions. In the complete amount up to `50 Contd. on page 17 Contd. on page 17 FINAL_TT_NOVEMBER-1ST_WTM-2016.indd 3 07-11-2016 12:02:12 FINAL_TT_NOVEMBER-1ST_WTM-2016.indd 4 07-11-2016 12:02:13 BULLETIN 10 years of Responsible Tourism This year’s World Responsible Tourism Day marks two significant anniversaries for World Travel Market (WTM) and for the development of responsible tourism across the industry as a whole. TT BUREAU Vasudevan, Principal Secretary, Kerala Tour- ovember 8th will see the ism, and responsible Ncelebration of the 10th for the state’s develop- anniversary of World Re- ment and promotion of sponsible Tourism Day, held responsible tourism. at WTM in London every year Dr. Auliana Poon, since 2007. Over the last Managing Director of decade this annual occasion Tourism Intelligence has grown considerably, so International, and au- that events now takes place thor of the original not only at WTM in London, South African white but also across WTM's glo- paper. Justin Francis, bal portfolio in Africa, Latin founder of responsib- America and the Middle East. letravel.com and of the annual responsible World Travel Market’s it is 20 years since South To mark this year’s multi- travel awards held at WTM. Senior Director Simon Press Africa published its ground- ple anniversaries, 2016 will see Jane Ashton, Director of Sus- will open the day, assessing breaking White Paper on the the spotlight turned onto some tainable Development at TUI the impact of what has grown Development and Promotion of the pioneers of responsible Group. Adama Bah, Director to become the world's largest of Tourism in South Africa, tourism themselves. of the Institute of Travel and annual event dedicated to re- widely seen as a founding Tourism of Gambia. And Dr. sponsible tourism. As well as document for the develop- WTM has assembled a Harold Goodwin, organiser reflecting on WTM's decade ment of responsible tourism panel of leading figures from of WTM's responsible tour- of commitment to promoting and the first time the principles around the world, all of whom ism programme and for many responsible tourism, Press were committed to by a coun- have long been instrumental years a leading voice pro- will look at the other major try for the development of in developing responsible moting responsible tourism anniversary — the fact that its destination. tourism. They are: Dr. Venu around the world. FINAL_TT_NOVEMBER-1ST_WTM-2016.indd 5 07-11-2016 12:02:17 GUEST COLUMN Tapping domestic travel potential In an uncertain environment, the Indian travel industry is coming to realise that VIEWPOINT domestic tourists are and will be their primary audience. olidaying is fast becoming figure on most of the pay- ing, medical and shopping been packaged as the ‘Dream Ha priority with the Indian ing Indians’ touring list, often purpose, whereas 17.7 per Season’. There are other at- An old winter’s traveller, revealed the 2015 seen as a budget destination. cent wants to travel outside tractions — yoga, Ayurveda, Kuoni-SOTC Holiday Report. But in recent times, this trend their state. Maharashtra had wellness camps — thrown As a result, domestic tourism has changed. maximum movement within in. Tourists prefer to travel to travel trail has increased considerably the state followed by Uttar domestic spa resorts as op- during the last couple of dec- Tourism boards have Pradesh. Considering visi- posed to overseas spas. With inter is finally here and the season ades. Larger income, longer started focusing on domestic tors from outside states, Uttar no visas required, the ease of brings with it travellers from far and holidays coupled with lowered tourists. They have TV and Pradesh was the most visited travel domestically has also W room rates and discounts of- print campaigns for them state followed by Rajasthan. attributed to its appeal. The ru- wide, all keen to experience Incredible India! pee’s travails have also given The onset of winter is perfectly complimented This is by far the largest segment of market On the other hand, for an accidental push to domes- visitor-trips with leading pur- tic tourism. with various activities that keep everyone on with a potential of 20 crore local tourists their toes, starting with the much-awaited poses business, social, reli- gious and pilgrimage, educa- WTM London. This year at WTM, India is a travelling annually. Even if 10 per cent of the (The views expressed population travels outside the native state, it tion and training and others, are solely of the author. partner country and why not, after all, India Uttar Pradesh was the most The publication may or may is now prioritising tourism and is pulling out involves a massive movement of over 10 crore visited state followed by not subscribe to the same.) all stops to woo foreign tourists.