TurboJET appoints Nijhawan Group its sales & marketing office in India
 
With Macau fast becoming a popular destination among Indian outbound travellers, Nijhawan Group has been appointed the sales and marketing representative of TurboJET, a high speed ferry service between Hong Kong and Macau. To celebrate the opening of TurboJET offices in India, the key players from both the companies will organise a gala evening for their strategic trade partners on 6th January 2011.
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AVIATION


India’s first seaplane service launched
 
In what is expected to give a big boost to coastal tourism in India, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, has launched the country’s first seaplane service. The service shall connect Port Blair with Havelock and subsequently other islands in North Andaman. A joint venture has been formed between Andaman & Nicobar Administration and Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited. The amphibian plane, Cessna 208A (capacity 2+8 passengers), will operate from the airport in Port Blair and identified waterdrome in Havelock and Diglipur.
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Air India to start intra-state services for corporate travellers in Gujarat
 
Air India is reaching out to business chambers in smaller cities with proposals to start intra-state services in Gujarat. The carrier is soon going to operate 40-seater planes on routes within states connecting cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Surat, Bhuj and Kandla. The airline could also take in Gujarat state governments as equity partners for regional services.
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Domestic passenger traffic continues to soar; up 19% during Jan-Nov 2010
 
According to the data released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, scheduled domestic airlines flew 48.75 lakh passengers in November 2010, the highest carriage recorded during a single month this calendar year. Overall, from January- November 2010, scheduled domestic airlines flew 468.09 lakh passengers compared to 393.53 lakh passengers in the corresponding period of last year, thereby registering a growth of 19 per cent.
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Kingfisher to connect Mumbai with Belgaum, Jabalpur and Indore with new flights
 
Kingfisher Airlines has announced the launch of five new flights on its domestic network. These flights from Mumbai to Belgaum will commence from January 10, 2011 and that from Mumbai to Jabalpur and Indore will commence from January 24, 2011. Presently, Kingfisher Airlines flies to 59 cities in India and 8 international destinations and has over 360 daily departures with a fleet of 66 aircraft.
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R H Khwaja to head the Hospitality Development and Promotion Board (HDPB) to fast track hotel projects
 
The Union Cabinet approved creation of ‘Hospitality Development and Promotion Board (HDPB)’ to facilitate hotel projects. Under the chairmanship of Secretary Tourism at the centre level, the Board would monitor, clear/approve hotel projects. It will act as a single point for receiving applications, expediting approval in a time bound manner. The Board would be headed by the Chief Secretary at the state level.
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RAK tourism authority considers to set office in India
 
After Ras Al Khaimah region’s RAK Airways started operations to India, RAK Tourism Authority is rolling out plans to open office in India for promoting the region among Indian travellers and the travel trade. The Free Trade Zone of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK FTZ) is appealing to Indian firms to invest in the tourism sector of both the countries.
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Sujit Banerjee, former Secretary, MOT to head 7-member Committee on Forest and Wildlife Eco-Tourism
 
Sujit Banerjee, former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, will head a 7-member Committee to firm up the guidelines for forest and wildlife eco-tourism in India. It will also examine studies conducted by the Ministry of Tourism on lodges and resorts around the tiger reserves. After the evaluation, the Committee will suggest measures and recommendations for regulating tourism in ecologically sensitive areas in and around tiger reserves. It will submit its final report within 45 days.
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STATE

Gujarat Tourism to privatise 30 state-owned properties
 
In a bid to sustain the growth in tourism in the state, and address infrastructure related issues, Gujarat Tourism has decided to privatise close to thirty state-owned properties. Vipul Mittra, Secretary Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Gujarat informed TravTalk that the privatisation process will commence early next year. He also said that the state’s role is to act as a facilitator and that privatisation drive is to invite the private sector to actively participate in tourism and infrastructure development and contribute towards growth.
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MTDC gets Rs 265 crore to revamp tourist attractions in Maharashtra
 
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will be revamping its tourist attractions like caves, forts, resorts and beaches with Rs 265 crore from the state government. The amount will also be used to promote and market the state on the national and the international level.
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Tourist Visa on Arrival facility to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines to be effective from 1st January
 
In the second phase of expansion of Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme, the facility will now be extended to nationals of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines with effect from January, 1, 2011. TVOA will be valid for a maximum of 30 days with single entry facility at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata Airports. Also, this facility will be allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year to foreign nationals with a minimum gap of two months.
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