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| for the week ending 8th March 2009 |
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ASSOCIATIONS TAAI's Tourism Council meets NTOs in Delhi & Mumbai Travel Agents Association of India’s (TAAI) newly-formed Tourism Council organised a meeting in New Delhi recently. The meeting that virtually witnessed a 100 per cent attendance of National Tourist Offices (NTOs) was aimed at exchanging ideas and sharing tourism blueprint to benefit the NTOs and its members. At the meeting it was disclosed that TAAI’s Tourism Council plans to significantly enhance tourism connection with national or state tourism boards and international tourism boards and also organise roadshows, exhibitions and trade fairs to promote tourism to and from India. The move is aimed at encouraging its members to aggressively sell tourism products along with traditional ticketing. A similar meet was organised in Mumbai along with the NTOs based out of Mumbai. For more details click here Top
AIRPORTS The Central Government has announced that all airlines flying from Delhi and Mumbai airports will collect Airport Development Fee (ADF) from passengers while issuing tickets, which will be remitted to the two airport operators - Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). The airlines will receive collection charges (not exceeding Rs. 5) per passenger from airport operators, which will not be passed on to passengers. IGI Airport, Delhi implemented ADF from March 1, 2009 for a period of 36 months at Rs. 200 per domestic and Rs. 1,300 per international departing passenger. For Mumbai Airport, the ADF will be Rs.100 per domestic and Rs.600 per departing international passenger for a period of 48 months with effect from April 1, 2009. On the sidelines of a recently held meeting, Praful Patel, civil aviation minister, government of India, hinted that some other airports operated by AAI are likely to charge ADF in the near future for modernisation works. He remained non-committal when questioned about additional burden on air travellers at this time of crisis for the aviation industry. For more details click here Top
The Royal Thai Government has passed a decree
to exempt the fee of Rs. 1,400 for tourist visa applications for a
three-month period, effective March 5 to June 4, 2009. Thailand presently
gives visa on arrival for citizens of India for a stay not exceeding 15
days. Visa fee exemption will be applicable for tourist “MT” visa for
medical treatment as well. In addition, a visa exemption scheme for
transit passengers through Suvarnabhumi International Airport has also
been introduced. The waiver will allow transit passengers to temporarily
leave the airport premises without a visa.
The state tourism department of Gujarat has
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IL&FS to identify
innovative and high revenue generating tourism projects and develop them
on a public private partnership basis. Some tourism projects have already
been identified. MoUs worth Rs. 43,000 crore of investments were signed in
the tourism sector during Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor’s Summit 2009
held in January. In addition, the government of Gujarat is marketing Kutch
as a major tourist destination. The state government has decided to make
Rann Utsav an annual event to be held every December. Gujarat Tourism is
also focussing on Saputara region, which is a densely wooded hill station
situated in Dang district. The state government is planning to launch Rama
Trail and Krishna Circuit to boost religious tourism.
Amadeus has launched a joint promotional offer
with Jet Airways called ‘1A Jet Set Go’ for promoting bookings of Jet
Airways and JetLite on Amadeus, which will be valid up to March 31, 2009.
According to Amadeus sources, this promotional campaign has been planned
in such a way that all types of travel agencies would be able to
participate and take away awards and prizes. The prizes range from weekly
cash vouchers, fortnightly free air tickets to domestic and international
destinations, monthly prizes like X-Box gaming systems to a bumper prize
of 3 nights package to Dubai where the hotel stay has been sponsored by
the Taj Hotels. |
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