India tourism thread

[centralized pandemonium]

India emerges as the new hotspot in global tourism

http://indianexpress.com/full_story....ntent_id=65336

[sudipta_rch]

Centre to formulate cruise shipping policy soon

Six major ports identified for the Indian cruise shipping circuit including Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin and Chennai in the first phase. Kolkata Port and minor ports like Porbander and Port Blair will be added in the second phase.

[sudipta_rch]

India's now a backpackers' paradise

Highlights :

If India is shining it is surely in the tourism sector . A highly successful Incredible India campaign together with steps taken by the government have pushed India to the top of the heap.

The figures prove the success of “brand” India. Last year over 3 million foreign travellers visited India, a record high.

The future for the Indian tourism sector seems even brighter. WTTC predicts that by 2014, India’s travel and tourism sector is likely to generate over $90 billion in revenues and close to 28 million jobs.

This year the Incredible India campaign will have Rs 140 crore to continue spreading awareness in important global markets. To improve tourism infrastructure the government has earmarked Rs 350 crore.

[drwho]

Tourist arrivals in India rise 17.3 pct in Feb

http://in.news.yahoo.com/050310/137/2k39l.html

[kronik]

NRIs pour money for mythological park in India

Indian Americans have extended their support to Ganga Dham, a hi-tech mythological theme park to be set up in India on the lines of Disneyland with characters like Hanuman instead of Mickey Mouse.

The park is to be built on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar, Uttaranchal, and will bring together an entire pantheon of Hindu gods, including Ram, Krishna and Hanuman.

Ganga Dham, to be set up on a 25-acre site, will feature high tech rides, with Hanuman, among others, recreating great moments in Hindu mythology, an animated mythological museum, food courts, a temple city, a sound and light show and a petting zoo.

The first phase of the project will cost about Rs.300 million (about $6.5 million). Sagar wants to raise about $2 million in the US. "There is a tremendous interest among NRIs. We have already raised $1 million," he said.

Ganga Dham will be an "infotainment destination". The park will capitalise on the status of Haridwar as the "Vatican for Hindus", Sagar said. He intends to blend the hi-tech with traditional art to present information with entertainment.

"We will have a live Ram Lila show. We also intend to tie up with an American company for the supply of robots for animatronics presentations," he said.

Sagar is confident the project would be economically viable, considering that 20 million people visit Haridwar every year. "The 1998 Kumbh Mela attracted 30 million people. We are expecting a much larger number at the 2010 Kumbh Mela, by which time the park will be fully operational. The ticket will be only Rs.35. Our intention is to make it accessible to everyone. It is a business certainly, but we also have a spiritual motive. It is not just about making money."

[drwho]

Since the festival of colours is dovetailing with Easter, the season is imbued with the Holi spirit! And travellers, taking full advantage of the extended weekend, are going on short holidays, giving the travel sector a high.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/1061940.cms

[Anniyan]

Tourist spend on Visa cards to grow 60% in 2005

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/h...0504051701.htm

With India emerging as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations worldwide, plastic money major Visa expects 60 per cent growth in spending on its cards by foreign and domestic travellers in 2005

[drwho]

Taj Business to set up 2 hotels in all metros

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...0801400400.htm

[drwho]

Tourists pour in, but there's no room!
¨


http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/09spec1.htm

note:few years ago there was a limit to reach 1 million tourists,this year tourist arrivals will hit 3.37 million.
Also 6 million Indian tourists will fly to other destinations this year,some year ago that figure was 4 million.

[kronik]

Orchid group to hit the highways with `Kamfotels`

It’s destination Gujarat for the Mumbai-based Orchid Group. The hotel major plans to open 12 hotels in the state within the next three years and has identified highways as ideal locations for its projects.

Sensing the tremendous opportunity presented by the increasing traffic on the national and state highways, the group plans to open two-star hotels across these highways. This would help in expansion and revenue generation.

Orchid would be opening 50 such hotels in the next five to seven years.

[Ubermensch]

Originally Posted by drwho

Tourists pour in, but there's no room!
¨


http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/09spec1.htm

note:few years ago there was a limit to reach 1 million tourists,this year tourist arrivals will hit 3.37 million.
Also 6 million Indian tourists will fly to other destinations this year,some year ago that figure was 4 million.

With tourists pouring in, we really need to get started on the airport improvements programs.

[sudipta_rch]

Here is the press release - STAR CRUISES INTRODUCES SUPERSTAR LIBRA IN INDIA

Photo of the ship "Superstar Libra" -


Route map -

[kronik]

Himachal okays ski village project

The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the construction of a Rs 2,000 crore ski village near Manali and would soon announce a new tourism policy to attract more visitors to the state.

Besides, the government would soon announce its new tourism policy which envisaged increased rail, road and air connectivity, parking, accommodation, recreation, sports, adventure, pilgrimage and facilitating construction of more budget tourist accommodation, Bali said.

The tourism department would run luxury buses for tourists in tribal areas through special packages and organise events like marathon runs, apple blossom festival, paragliding, bird watching, river rafting and food festivals, to attract more tourists.

The film industry, which has already chosen Himachal as a favourite destination, would also be wooed to give wider exposure to the state, he said. Efforts would also be made to expand and improve the existing airports in Shimla, Kullu and Kangra to accommodate the landing of bigger aircrafts.

In another development, Bali also said as many as nine parking places would be developed in Shimla to facilitate parking space for about 3,000 vehicles, providing major relief to tourists and local people.

[drwho]

Tapping into the Indian tourist...


http://www.todayonline.com/articles/48824.asp

This is a must read!

the highlights: Vegetarian food,cricket,bollywood ,

[drwho]

18.3 pc increase in tourist arrivals

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1348871,0002.htm

[drwho]

Tourist spend in India up 40% despite tsunami

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_f...ntent_id=91497

[kronik]

NRI plans 5 luxury hotels in India

NRI hotel entrepreneur Sant Singh Chatwal, founder-president of the $750 million Manhattan-based Hampshire Hotels and Resorts, is all set to invest $100 million in India to develop five luxury 'boutique hotels' at prime locations.

"We will shortly begin work on a 200-room boutique hotel in Bandra-Kurla in Mumbai at an investment of $40 million. This will be followed by an acquisition of a Palace hotel in Jaipur," he said.

"The Jaipur property will cost around $17 million," he said.

In India, Chatwal's hotels will be under the brand name 'Dream hotels'.Chatwal said he is considering opening hotels in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Amritsar.

"I have visited two sites in and around Delhi. It looks promising. In the next three years, we will be opening at least three hotels in Mumbai, Jaipur and Delhi," he added.

[kronik]

The world's highest gondola moves up the slope at Afarwat at an altitude of 14400 feet near Kashmir's premier hill resort, Gulmarg, 28 May 2005.

[Anniyan]

AP Tourism plans intl beach resort

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is planning to develop an international beach resort in the Chennai-Nellore stretch

The corporation aims to tap the opportunities by locating the beach resort closer to Chennai which has international airport and is also an attractive destination for foreign tourists

“We want to develop a beach resort with international features which will be just around one-and-a-half hours drive from Chennai. Our idea is to package the resort with the Pulicat Lake, a famous bird sanctuary, so that the international tourists can have enjoy bird watching during their stay....

http://www.business-standard.com/com...&autono=191264

[nik]

NewIndianExpress
Submarine tourism to make a splash in city soon


KOCHI: The West may be dreaming of space tourism, but Kochi is ready with an even daring experiment: Submarine tourism.

Two months from now, one can make a real splash, dive like a dolphin or swim like a tuna off Kochi backwaters once the Pioneer Underwater Tours readies their tourist submarine, another first to call at this port city.

The project, first of its kind in India, is a joint initiative of Kochi-based Pioneer Underwater Tours and the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC).

It has already received clearance from the Indian Navy on condition that the area of operation of the vessel must be earmarked and it must steer clear of dense shipping and coastal traffic.

KSINC has signed an MoU with Pioneer Underwater Tours extending office assistance and supporting vessels.

“Except for the submarine crew, a few get the opportunity to explore the country's marine wealth. This venture offers a six-month-old to 92-year-old to take an underwater journey in complete comfort and safety and get an enchanting view of the underwater world through large view ports,” said Bhaskar K, chief executive officer of Pioneer Underwater Tours.

This is the first venture of the company, which was launched recently.

Bhaskar, a marine engineer, has served many companies in India and was in UK for about seven years.

The vessel is built by Silvercrest Submarines in UK at a cost of around Rs 12 crore. It will be delivered by the end of August and the company is hoping to float the project by the second week of September.

“The KSINC jetty at Marine Drive will be refurbished by that time and the passengers will be taken in our boats from here to the submarine,” said K N Satish, managing director, KSINC.

The submarine will be anchored about seven nautical miles away from the coast. The vessel has been designed to operate at depths of 100 m and the depth of Kochi waters is quite negligible on that scale. It operates with a maximum of 24 passengers and two crew members.

Initially, the crew will be British and they will be giving training to their Indian counterparts.

Of the total three-hour expedition, 45 minutes is the actual diving time. The plan is to conduct 10 dives, eight in the day and two after sunset. The passengers are insured while on voyage as per IMO regulations.

The vessel has external lighting, through-water communications, obstacle avoidance sonar systems and an entire range of safety features, which include life support and environment control systems and oxygen system, among others.

The experience will be available for corporate entertainment, sales promotions, birthday parties and special occasions. So, if you are ready to shell out Rs 2,500 per head, then what you get to see probably will be tropical fish, reefs, shipwrecks and whatnot.

Wow !!!