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AVIATION
Turkish Airlines introduces new ‘Business Class’ onboard its recently
launched aircraft, A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER
Skytrax awardee for ‘Best Airline
Europe,’ Turkish Airlines has introduced a new ‘Business Class’ on its daily
flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul. The New Business Class offers
fliers outstanding luxuries like 61 inches seat pitch, fully reclinable flat
beds for comfort and new improved in-flight entertainment. These facilities
are available on the business class of all the recently launched aircraft of
Turkish Airlines including A330-300 and Boeing 777-300 ER.
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Aviation ministry will challenge Star Alliance over Air India
membership
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry
has not accepted the ‘Star Alliance’s rejection to Air India's membership
bid’ lightly. The government is planning to contest the Star Alliance's
charges, that Air India did not fulfill all the joining criteria while, Star
Alliance in July told AI that it had fulfilled almost all basic joining
requirements and the rest had to be done after the joining date.
"The government will react in an appropriate manner. Star Alliance is trying
to dictate terms to the government for allowing a second carrier from India
to join the alliance. The decision of the Star Alliance is unacceptable and
AI had met with all the entry requirements," a highly placed aviation
ministry source stated.
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ASSOCIATION
The new TAAI President promises that the TAAI team will work towards
becoming the most important travel association in India
The 60th AGM of Travel Agents
Association of India was held on August 3, 2011 at Hotel The Grand New
Delhi. The AGM elected a new Managing Committee for the 2011-13 term. Iqbal
Mulla will lead the association as its President. N M Sharafudeen and N G
Shankar have been elected as Vice President and Hon Treasurer respectively.
Sunil Kumar continues as Honorary Secretary General. Other members of the
Managing Committee include Amarjit Singh Gujral, Harmandeep Singh Anand,
Ramesh Bhatia, Sunil Notani, Marzban Antia, Manoj Sogani and Pazhani
Murugesan. Lokesh Bettaiah and R Venkatachalam are the co-opted MC members.
Mulla, in his first address as the TAAI President assured that the new MC will
go all out to enhance the image of TAAI and ensure that its place as the
leading travel and tourism association of India continues.
Iqbal Mulla said he will with help of all members would bring out a ‘white
paper’ in a month’s time which would list all the critical issues which the
industry is facing presently.
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CRUISE
India’s first five star 29-cabin luxury river cruise ship to set sail on the
Brahmaputra in Assam on November 29, 2011
M V Mahabaahu becomes India’s first
five star luxury river cruise ship to set sail in the Indian waters.
Currently in the final stages of completion, the cruise ship will embark on
its maiden voyage on November 29, 2011. The ship will set sail on the river
Brahmaputra from Guwahati, Assam. It will offer a week long itinerary, both
upstream and downstream, between Guwahati and Jorhat. The 55-meter long
luxury river cruise ship will boast of 29 cabins across 4 different
categories, 3 bars, swimming pool, spa, satellite communication and
entertainment, a boutique shop and much more.
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HOTELS
Hyatt Hotels, a 314-key property opens in Goa
Hyatt Hotels has launched a 314-key
property (including a Royal Villa) under Grand Hyatt brand in Goa. Focussed
on both business and leisure segment, the property has an outdoor pool
complex, and an indoor swimming pool. Dining facilities include the
multi-cuisine The Dining Room, Indian restaurant Chulha and signature
restaurant 'The Verandah' as well as Pool Bar and Grill, The Bay View
Lounge, The Confeitaria and The Capiz Bar. Hyatt Hotels currently operates
Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa in South Goa.
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Lebua – a Thai luxury chain to open its first 400-room property in Dwarka in
Delhi
A 400-room property is coming up in
Dwarka and is in the final stage of construction with guests expected by
year-end. Apart from the one in Delhi, the hotel chain is coming up with two
other properties in Punjab and Mumbai. Lebua’s properties in India are
expected to be under management contracts and the Average Room Rate at
Dwarka is expected around Rs 10,000.
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NTO
Korea Tourism opens their representation office in Mumbai
In order to increase its visibility
in India, Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), which has its India office in
Delhi, has opened a representative office in Mumbai. The office will work to
promote Korea as a premium tourism destination to the travel trade, media
and airlines. The organisation plans to collaborate with travel agents based
in Western India, to introduce a wide array of travel options and is also
open for tie-ups with Indian tour operators, in order to promote the
destination. Korea is looking at a 20 per cent increase from the Indian
market this year. The country saw a total of 86,547 Indian visitors, which
was an increase of 18.9 per cent from 2009.
"Having a representation in Mumbai will heighten the awareness of Korea’s many
attractions and the state-of-the-art facilities in the country to further
develop business and leisure travel,” said Jae Sang Lee, Director of Korea
Tourism Organization (KTO) in India.
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STATES
West Bengal to spend Rs. 36 crore for beautification of the 10-km riverfront
stretch in Kolkata
A pilot project to transform a 10-km
riverfront stretching from Taktaghat in the south to Pramanik Ghat in the
north was recently inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee, CM, West Bengal to
enhance tourism in the region. The pilot phase of the project covering 900
meter stretch from Millennium Park’s northern face to Baje Kadamtala Ghat
will be financed by the tourism department and Kolkata Municipal
Corporation. The Rs 36 crore plan includes a 15 meter wide pathway and a
modern ferry terminal. Tenders have already been floated and the pilot
project is expected to be wrapped up in six months.
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Goa and Orissa sign MoU to promote tourism in both the states on mutually
beneficial terms
In a bid to jointly promote tourism,
Goa and Orissa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase
the tourist flow in both the states on mutually beneficial terms. According to
the MoU, both the states would mutually market their accommodations and
tourism packages. Speculations are rife about similar MoUs with states like
Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka where Orissa intends to
promote Wildlife and Religious, Beach and Heritage Tourism.
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Gujarat to roll out ‘Special Tourism Region Development Act’ to develop
tourism in an organised manner
The Gujarat government is under the
process of rolling out a Special Tourism Region (STR) Development Act on the
lines of the Special Investment Region (SIR) Act of 2009. The Act is aimed
at regulating the haphazard development in and around tourism hotspots and
developing the high potential tourism areas in a planned and organised
manner.
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J&K to launch special project to boost Pilgrimage
Tourism
The Jammu and Kashmir government
recently announced its keen interest to soon introduce a comprehensive
project for infrastructure, accommodation and other facilities for pilgrim
tourists. Over 12 million pilgrims visited J&K in 2010 and over 1.25 crore
are expected to visit the state this year. Officials said Jammu and Kashmir
government has launched pro-active awareness campaigns across the country to
promote the state as a safe tourist destination.
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Over 12 million pilgrims visited J&K in 2010
Over 12 million pilgrims visited J&K
in 2010 and over 1.25 crore are expected to visit the state this year. Of
these, 82.35 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in
Reasi district, 3.47 lakh visited cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir
and 7.2 lakh pilgrims visited Shiv Khori cave shrine in Reasi district. Two
lakh and 1.5 lakh pilgrims visited Shahdra Sharief and Nagali shrines in
Rajouri and Poonch respectively last year. Officials said Jammu and Kashmir
government has launched pro-active awareness campaigns across the country to
promote the state as a safe tourist destination.
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